Mahinda’s honeymoon is over
Mahinda Rajapaksa’s war honeymoon is over. In the past month there have been crippling petrol and student strikes, plus a wholesale collapse of the national electrical system. Water, ports and railways have also threatened strikes.
Any plans for the economy? www.daylife.com
These are mundane things, but they are the type of grievances that topple governments. The only thing missing is a narrative to bind them together.
Focus
Mahinda had a plan for the war. It was a simple plan, marketed, funded and executed ruthlessly. He has no such plan for the economy. The basic idea seems to be to ride the wave of post-war prosperity. That does not, however, actually solve the structural problems in our energy, education and legal systems.
While mega-projects deliver instant headlines and commissions, they do not actually create many jobs (except for the Chinese). The daily wages I have seen in Hambantota and along the east coast rarely exceed Rs. 400. These projects are good in the long term, but they’re not putting food in people’s mouths now.
Cost of living
And people are hungry. We have sacrificed tremendously in terms of the direct cost of war and its collateral drag on the economy. Money printing has also caused inflation which robs the poor and rich alike. Moreover, the increasing size and decreasing competence of government is a constant and humiliating burn. There are literally people going on two meals a day or less.
People were willing to tolerate this for a reason, but that reason is over. The war is conclusively done. People were happy and they put the stickers on their buses, but once the petrol runs out they won’t be so supportive anymore.
Strikes
If the power, petrol, water and transport staff strike at once it will shut down the entire country. Most of these people have already struck separately, plus the perennial parade of university students. They strike for their own reasons, some foolish and some wise, but if they were united by a narrative they could actually change something. All that’s lacking now is a catalyst, some common story to put these various grievances together into a movement, preferably behind a common candidate. Ranil Wickremesinghe is an old story and unable to tell the new. However, if someone just had the courage to just listen to people’s problems they might find a powerful wind at their back.
Of course, the political process is designed to kill or corrupt such prospects, but it seems like the problem is now more with the opposition than the ‘dumb’ people who voted Rajapakse in. Many voted for an end to war and they got it. Now they want a better life, and some seem ready to demand it, even vote for it. Now if only there was someone to vote for.
Excellant article. This is the truth. It is high time a corrupt President enriching himself and his kith and kin should be kicked out allowing an exceptable strong person preferably with military background to be our President.
Although we are living abroad our hearts are with our beloved Sri Lanka.
you call this an article? this is an opinion piece deserving of the lowest quality tabloid status. like everything else in this paper, there are no journalistic standards or ethics, Truth, balance and fairness. How sad it is that our media can’t attack government policy without attacking people personally, and how they can’t provide coverage of the other point of view. How sad our politicians can’t provide constructive criticisms or an alternative solution. Just talk rubbish and print garbage
Dear Mr. Waruna,
whilst complimenting you on exposing your ignorence, in journalism, let me say this; you are surely another stooge who surely has immensly benifited by the present regime. My family and I personaly argued, bashed others who spoke against the war and the the Presidents efforts to win the war, and he did–we were extremly happy with the outcome, then we said to each other , hope the economy war will be won as promised, ney, it never happended and the signs are it will never, and exposing this on a tabloid or even a rag is ok as long as its the stark truth which guys like you,dont want to admit( if u do , you are finished) . Any way it looks you do read the sunday leader–good for you
bye licker of—–ar…s
Fazal
Fazal,
I like your opening statement “whilst complimenting you on exposing your ignorence, in journalism…”
Dear Fazal:
You are a great reason why Muslim families in Sri Lanka should stop inbreeding and try marrying out of the family circle. You truly are a buffoon.
Good day!
p.s. Stop F’ing your sister, SL can’t afford to have more idiots like you
Sammy,
wat kind of person r u?
its there religion which dont allow them to get married to people from other religion. Can u plz be a little bit decent. U have no right to talk about his sister…ur evil.
Y isnt sunday leader removing this guys comments?
god…ur mentally ill….ur such a bad person
YOU are like an ostrich living with your head buried under the sand!!! Wake up Waruna, dont live in a dreamworld. What has been reported is the TRUTH and a great piece of news to make everyone like you, open their eyes to all the corrustion and horrible things going on in Sri Lanka and the struggle going on in the middle classand poor peoples lives to put a decent meal on thier tables for the family to eat whilst the rich kith and kin of the ruling party eat like kings. Long Live the Sunday Leader.
Sam you should be commended for saying this, as it is absolutely correct and a lot of us who are no more in Sri Lanka feel the same way. We want our country to prosper and not the way it is happening now where the President, his kith and kin and all the corrupt politicians are living like kings and exploiting the very people who voted them into power and stood by them throughout the hard times so far. Come on people in Sri Lanka. Wake up before it is too late!!!
Ragging to stop
by Cyril Wimalasurendre
KANDY – Ragging freshers of the University of Peradeniya this season is likely to end today 31, University sources said yesterday (30), according to a decision taken by the raggers who are mostly second-year undergraduates.
They have decided to end the course following the traditional friendship meeting scheduled for yesterday (30) afternoon, University sources said.
Ragging that lasted for over three weeks was believed to be the worst, in the history of the Peradeniya campus, according to the spokesman.
According to the spokesman, several new-comers were subjected to severe torture with several students being hospitalised.
Fourteen seniors arrested
Is the ghost of Lasantha Wickrematunge emerging to avenge his brutal murder?
Lol! what a fantasy! we get funny comments & stupid ones!
Gen Sarath Fonseka would be a god-given President. He ran one of the most efficient armies in the world, there is no taint of corruption against him ( like the Helping Hambantota racket) although he could have made huge money like some of his predecessors. He can restore law and order, and he has expressed the need to root out the causes that led to people like Prabhakaran coming up. General will focus on finding a political and social solution to the frustrations among the Tamil community. Rajapakse has not bothered to look at that. Anymore of Rajapakse will mean the doom of Sri Lanka. Hurrah for Gen Sarath Fonseka!
Why can’t people think out of the box! Inguru dee miris gatta wagey!. Army rules doesn’t work on democracy. Gen Fonseka proved himself as a good commander to a 5% democratic government. What we need is someone who is 6 -10% democratic!
There is this old joke about when expatriate Sri Lankans visit Sri Lanka after a long time, they comment of a SLFP government being in power when they see a queue of ships waiting to enter the Colombo harbour. Everytime the SLFP was in power, the economy was a mess. Unlike the UNP, the SLFP has time and again proven that they cannot manage the economy well. The Rajapakses can only sell the war victory so much and then what?
Well we the people have not forgotten war victory. If this is all that Mahinda has to show so it. As it was the ultimate achievement we all wanted. To be roaming around the country without being killed a bomb. No worries of kids returning safe from school. Far better than Ranil who would have sold the country. There is a world recession & any country will have all these issues. The Govt has done wonderfully well for its people by not only winning the war but standing up to USA /UK/ UN / western counties etc.. not bowing down to anyone. Biased UNP media like the Sunday leader can only shout in vain. Ask what u did for the country & not what it did for you. unafraid & unbowed or unethical?
By the way VERNY, It was Sarath who finished the war. While Mha Raja busy robing..
its is easy to “FINISH” the war when all you do is bomb everything in sight!
yeah right if we bombed we dont have to fight for 25yrs? if we did that we wl be under a UN force by now. it was Gota behing the success of war of course not forgetting sevice commanders! little knowlege is a dangerous thing!
It is not under UN forces is because of black politics in UN. The states supporting Srilanka‘s, tract record is no different to what happened in Srilanka. China is worming in to Srilanka Africa and other parts of the world. Russia’s did bomb people. Karunanidhi Tamil nadu state minister will go 6 feet under with corruption charges unless he does what the central government dictates to him. Central government of India believes that if they give in for all what Sinhala government wants then, GOS will not entertain the Chinese. India will come to know very soon that they are wrong and will regret for supporting the bombing. Gota is on strings for orchestrating the bombings.
mala or malayali – oh poor people were bombed go break some coconuts in your kovils person for the terrorist? are u ignorant that more tamils were killed by ltte than anyone else? all tamil interlectuals massercared by ltte. christian tamils dragged to kovils in the north to become hindu again by force? those whos faith was strong & refused were beheaded! prabha beheaded with a axe??? karma in this birth!!!!! lol
MAHINDA REAJAPAKSA DID SOMETHING GOOD BY ENDING THE WAR.NOW WHAT TO DO IS TO GIVE THE NORTH PART OF SRI LANKA TO IT’S DUE OWNERS,THE NORTHERN TAMILS BY A REFERENDUM THROUGH UNITED NATIONS.WITHOUT DOING THE JUSTICE AND TRUTH,PRESIDENT IS CONSTRUCTING DOZENS OF MUD ‘VEHERA’ TO CLEAN UP HIS ‘SINS’ TO SATISFY HIS GUILTY FEELINGS OF INVOLVING KILLING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.BETTER GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO A NEW MAN FOR A FRESH START TO DEVELOP THE SRI LANKA ECONOMICALLY,INDUSTRIALY AND A COUNTRY WITH RULE OF LAW.
keep dreaming! the right ful owners of this land are Srilankans! others demanding a seperate state can go to TN. killing a terrorist is not a sin & yes if u talk abt karma u can see what happened to your leader Prabha! the Govt is strong as ever to lead its people. anyone trying to divide the country will be given same treatment of prabha & his family. for a bastered who killed innocent families saw in agony his family suffer same fate in front of him. long live our king!!
hahaha….
mahinda…the king?
lol
wat u mean by the land belongs to sri lankan?
so dont u have the guts to say it belomgs to sinhalease only?
have u visited Singapore VERNY?
just open ur eyes and visit other countries.
there is no racism and people who talk like u about races r jailed.
everyone talking about war is over, prabha is killed.
fine……but dont u guys still think how was prabha created?
its coz of the racism and mahinda never ever gonna give a solution and without a solution, this country will never develop.
once again i’m telling u, i arnt taking the side of LTTE.
“tamils were killed by ltte than anyone else”…so u mean killing tamils is fine as far as LTTE kill more tamil than army?
who celebrated the war victory in Colombo when the war was over?Colombo composes of 30% or more tamils and can u show one tamil who got down in the road to celebrate?
the real victory for tamils is when we get a solution.
our businessmen get kidnapped for millions of Rs, Police OIC’s in colombo arrest us and demand 300,000 or 500,000 to release us even if he knows we r innocent.
300,000 of us there in camps under some tents and imagine u in that situation, wat would u do?
so u dont wanna bow to U.S,U.N.,U.K then y going behind E.U for gsp+.
Sri lanka is a poor country and we need international help and aid to develop unless u wanna be like North Korea.
look at the history, commanding an army is different from being the head of the state. People need democracy and not dictator ship.
kugan our problems were created by the LTTE who are more racist than majority. we will antogonize the sinhalese as long as we ask for seperate state / land & idiotic eelam. i agree that land belongs to all srilankans. by the way who took our lands forcibly is it govt or LTTE? you are definitly a LTTE supporter. well living abroad u say no racism?? ha ha plenty in uk!
Well Sam he did something good for the heart of majority voters. Not for tamils heart.
After reading the above article and the present situation in Srilanka I am thinking a way forward in the interest of both Tamil & Sinhalese people who are actually affected. Politician and people like you are interested in personal gains, fanatics, believer of holocaust and Hitler regime.
Your words ‘you continue to taunt the majority they will get back to you with vengence!’ This is sounding like a large predator preying on a small chicken on the ground. This is the reason why Tamils need a safe haven. I think during 1953 or 1958 riots Tamils from South were sent to North by ship. North East was the safe haven for Tamils then. Tamils needs protection from Majority which British fail to make sure before they left. Now there is no safe place in Srilanka for Tamils. Tamil are in army run camps for which even Srilankan government officials has no control or access. Tamils are leaving Srilanka in boats risking their lives. How desperate they must be to take this kind of risk to cross the big ocean looking for a safe place to live. How insecure they must be in their own homeland Srilanka.
If a married couple cannot live together, they are solving the problem by an amicable divorce, which helps both parties to get on with their lives independently and also it helps the children. If majority Sinhala and minority Tamil cannot live together, sensible solution is an amicable divorce. Both Tamils and Sinhalese can build up their lives independently and it will help the future generations. All are human. All have the right to live on this planet. All human including Tamils are entitled to have freedom, self determination, democracy and GOS should recognise it especially when it has signed up for all international laws, instead of following the countries which are not. Tamil are of a different race with a unique language, culture traditions which needs to be protected. I am talking about two different races sharing a piece of land. Europe is a piece of land shared by several races, several nations. Srilanka can be shared by Tamils and Sinhalese in such a way that both will have democracy, aspirations satisfied, live in harmony, build up both nations separately and becomes the great nations in the whole world. Religion, LTTE, Tamil killing Tamil, Hindu Karma does not come in this equation.
If you are a real lover of our Paradise Island you have to accept that there is no other way. God Bless you
Sad to see what is happening to Lanka. I hope when the Govt. topples the new folks make sure these thugs don’t leave the country. Sarath is in the US visiting his daughters and trying to maintain his GC status. Word is that US government wants to question him for killing civilians. Hope they waterboard his ass!
This country needs a top down clean up of every government run department. Every sector is a mess. There are so many capable educated Sri Lankans living abroad who would love to take on the challenge. But if they were to return taking the presidents recent call what can they expect? Nothing except a thank you very much for currency brought in and a kick in the back side. There are no jobs no prospects of any kind. All this while thousands of paid staff languish doing virtually no work but protecting their jobs and staying put. I recent;y spoke to a gentleman who worked for the TRC. I asked him why there is not one technical vacancy at the TRC or SLT. His reply “Those at the top wont retire. Those in the middle have no promotions and those at the bottom are hanging on for sustenance. No expansion to projects no reason to add staff. Somthings got to give you cannot carry on like this. The expose on the polic department is another prime example. The question is who is capable enough to do it. The task is so enourmous that there needs to be a team. It is just too vast for a president to takle single handedly. Having buffoons for ministers for example is a recipe for disaster
Rajapakse’s end is expected. He and his family have shown their ruthlessness for which they will pay sooner or later. They have become rich for generations to come. Srilanka is classified as a middle rich country and now it is moving to the poor country band. Students are on strike. Pirabaharan was a student when he started the freedom movement. It is the student population who started fighting for their rights. Innocent people, children, elderly were killed, gassed, buried alive and now in camps facing torture starvation ill health and slow death. War is not over until the root problems are attended to. Large sums of money that could have been spend in developing the country was spent in developing the army and also to keep the army as they know very well that another Pirabaharan will emerge.
We are all human race and we all need a place to live. Tamils and Sinhala people are of two different origins with different culture food clothing mentality etc and cannot live together in harmony as the majority will never give equal rights to all minority people in the island. People are of killing each other and the entire nation is suffering. The only wise decision would be to give the North & East to Tamil people to exercise their freedom and self determination (Eelam state) under Srilanka. The entire Srilanka will prosper within few years and will move to the rich country band. No wars, No killings, no fear of another freedom movement and no fear of Chinese or Russian taking over the country.
You are clearly delusional – democracy demands that the majority will always rule – refer Tamil Nadu. When the Tamils in the 70’s had a de facto independent state in the north with Tamil spoken everywhere, every elected official being a Tamil and schools run on Tamil medium Prabhakaran came and destroyed all of that.
The North was prosperous doing trade with the south and the Singhalese had no real interest in an arid area, being essentially quite lazy. There was a token Army presence of around 200 in Point Pedro and the occasional DRO and the bakers – who by the way, spoke only Tamil – who were non-Tamil. I was there at the time and you can verify this with any resident of that time.
If there was any subjugation, it was by the Tamil landowners and the upper castes that humiliated and abused the so-called lesser Tamil to their advantage and to gain huge wealth. The Tamils must look at the devastation that was caused by the LTTE to the Tamils themselves and accept the folly of his thinking
I wonder who is delusional. You are completely off the tract. You are saying that democracy is for the majority. Why not for minority? All are human with red blood flowing through. Let the Sinhala majority have their social equality/ democracy in the south and give the North East for the Tamil people to have their social equality, self determination and safe haven. Ever since independence Tamil people were fighting for equal rights for all in the island including the upcountry Tamils who were brought in from India by the British. Sinhala only became the national language. Discrimination was all over including in jobs, university entrance. Tamil students needed 3 A grades to enter medical school while a Sinhala student needed 3 ordinary pass. They were supported throughout their course with additional classes and tutorials. Tamil students were discriminated in the university. People who did not get through the Sinhala grade 3 examinations lost their jobs, increments stopped and Promotions stopped. Prabaharan was the product of this discriminations and the racial riots, people killed burnt alive, hacked to death (recent U tube video where a mentally ill Tamil youth killed in the sea by Srilankan police) the students rose to fight against evil, for safe haven, against discrimination, for equal rights, freedom and self determination. Every man women and child on this planet is entitled for it and what the Tamil people wanted is legitimate. Sinhala people and Sinhala Buddhist government should acknowledge it and release the Elam so that all Tamils and Sinhala people in Srilanka can enjoy their real independence. After 9/11 in USA the whole world could not differentiate between the freedom fighters and the terrorist. It appears that international community has learnt it from Srilanka.
eelam is only a dream. you will never ever have it. majority rules in any country. in middleeast if u do not get thru arabic 50% pass mark in any grade they fail entire exam. govt consist of all races. you continue to taunt the majority they will get back to you with vengence! many tamils get in to univercity due to all examiners being tamil have supported them & pass mark is lower in north /east. as long as you live in this so called tamil dream you will end up being discrmenated. others who think like srilankan will march on. those terrorist supporters who dream of eelam should know the fate of their leader & family as hindus say karma!!!
hey all pls note mala s comments is his own & not all tamils. srilanka has given equal rights to us more than india. does any indian airline announce in Tamil? Srilankan does. we face more discrimination elswhere & from the LTTE basteds than majority who has treated Tamils well.
Prabha, you would be disgusted to see the sign boards and to hear the announcements in tamil if you are tamilian. What the Sri Lankan government is doing is language genocide by killing the language. Incorrect signages and incorrect tamil announcements.
I totally agree with you Sam!. Look at their government websites? I am not sure if this is naivety or a deliberate attempt by the government.
http://www.imexport.gov.lk/TA/index.php
Look at the header in here. Is this equal rights Prabha?
Aayu Bowan Sammy!
If you thought the comment you made on Mohamed Fazal was funny, then it shows how low your sense of humour is. On the other hand, if you were serious, then it shows how ignorent you are. It just reminds me of a secondary school bully. Its time you grew up.
Fazly:
I see my comment and intent has been lost on you! Well one can’t always win.
A current fact file. A person with common sense, a non-hardliner would totally understand the nucleaus of this article. Weldone “Leader”.
GET RID OF THESE THIEVES AND CHEATS FROM LANKAN GOVERNMENT.THEY CAN ONLY KILL AND DESTROY.NOT,DEVELOPMENTS.ALLOW SMART BRAINS TO COME IN TO GOVERN THE COUNTRY.YOU CAN IN 10 YEARS TIME,LANKA CAN BE A VERY SUCCESSFULL STORY.
Verny!
You are a master piece. A true chuvanist and may be a pervert?