Lessons Learnt From Mahinda
People follow leaders. Thus, there is a great danger that President Mahinda Rajapaksa is teaching people all the wrong things. He is teaching that violence can resolve conflicts, that opinions can be silenced and that laws can be bent. The imminent danger is that people are taking him seriously.
Many children today are growing up with the story that war was the solution to the ethnic conflict. The fact is that war has simply ushered in Southern dominance. The payoff is stability, not justice, but the lesson is that justice is not that important.
The public has seen that journalists can be jailed like Tissainayagam or killed like Lasantha Wickrematunge. The lesson is that the way to deal with different opinions is through repression or violence. If you have different opinions, the way is silence.
The public has also seen courts hopping to political masters. People have seen that and digested the corruption of the courts, the knowledge that loyalty is more important to law.
On a personal level, no one accepts these things. No one likes being physically assaulted, being told what to say, or being persecuted in the courts. On a societal level, however, we have accepted all of these things as long as our own lives are generally left alone. This is the deal we have made, but chickens come home to roost.
Mahinda has been able to implement broader order through a series of little injustices. He has been able to use bad means to achieve good ends. Many would say it’s the only choice he had, and that the results speak for themselves. Few, however, would say so if those means were applied to them.
The danger now is that this moral decay has seeped into more and more of our society. Violence has always been a part of life, but some today feel free to threaten violence on those with less power, knowing full well that the President has done the same. Admittedly, the President had a strong justification, but the gusto with which he took up the sword is a dangerous value to transmit.
He has even publicly enshrined this value by appointing Mervyn Silva Minister of Public Relations. This character is known for violence and intimidation and his son is known for a random application of the same. Now Mahinda is saying that this is essentially how things are done.
What this means in government offices and businesses and streets, homes and nightclubs is that might essentially makes right. Many feel free to threaten the weak with violence knowing full well that the government does the same. It is not the law of the land, but it is its application. This is a dangerous lesson to learn.
Another lesson Mahinda has taught is that people can be attacked for their opinions. Mervyn Silva has publicly assaulted the state TV station for what they did not say and countless journalists have been killed, beaten or abducted. The government claims no involvement in the latter incidents, but it’s certainly not a culture they did anything to stem. Indeed, through gazettes and public announcements, the Rajapaksa family made clear that disagreement meant treason and the traitors would get what’s coming to them.
The sad effect this has on our society is that people feel more free to take dissent personally and even to react violently. If someone talks bad about you, the implication is that you can beat or silence them and be justified. These are schoolyard rules, but at least there you could assume that the teacher would impose some higher order. Now the teachers are in on the game.
This value of un-free speech has been ingrained so far into our society that even well-meaning people will counsel others not to speak out, essentially self-censorship. It is accepted that speech can have physical consequences and that this is simply the way it is. That if someone speaks their mind, whatever happens is their own fault. This has gone so far as to become a joke. When people meet a journalist they often say ‘not killed yet’ or ‘watch what you say’. They say this quite casually because Mahinda has made quite a few public examples. The sad fact, however, is that this repression is a tragedy, not a joke.
Finally, legal corruption has become the law of the land. The courts have always favored the rich and powerful, but the top at least paid lip service to the idea of justice. Under Mahinda, however, the courts have repeatedly pushed for political decisions. The Tissainayagam trial is a classic case in point. The maneuvering is all done in public and the message is quite clear. If not the fists, then the court can get you, it all depends on Mahinda’s will.
The lesson learned in society is that the courts can be influenced, that the law can be bent, and that the powerful and connected are not to be messed with. This has sadly been the fact for ages, but there was at least an attempt to espouse higher values at the top. With that leadership, there remained a hope that we could move in a more positive direction. Now, however, the leadership refers only to itself. Thus, people feel free to live more selfishly as well. The law is theoretically for everybody, but by using it to serve his own ends, Mahinda is encouraging Sri Lankans to do so as well.
The sad fact is that this leadership of violence, repression and corruption may not be something Mahinda has imposed on us. It may come from us in the first place. We all look out for our families first, we all rely on personal connections to get things done and many of us even justify repression and violence if it serves our interests. These are human traits, more broadly couched in animal instincts, and they die hard.
While Mahinda may be representing us in these ways, this is not real leadership. Real leadership would involve leading us to something better, not merely indulging one’s baser instincts and encouraging others to do the same. Is this really what we want our children to learn? That violence solves conflicts? That other people can be forced to shut up? That laws are only for the weak?
Humans have adopted non-violence, free speech and independent courts for two reasons, because these are higher moral values and because they appeal to higher reason. They are not only right, but they work better for more people. In Sri Lanka, Mahinda is selling a system that works for him and the connected as delivering stability for all, which it does. What an ugly, cruel stability, however. Real leadership would involve actually leading towards somewhere better, not merely codifying the muck we are in.
Yet that is the lesson Mahinda has taught. Pave the roads and keep the jungle in your heart. It seems, however, that the Sri Lankan people won’t wake up until it happens to them. It is selfishness that allows us to accept all this injustice, so it is only through selfishness that we will see. As more and more people accept Mahinda’s values, it will corrupt more and more of our society. This is not leadership, it is descent. We can only hope that more decent ideas will emerge.
Excellent editorial
Dear me!! The editor has run out of steam by writing garbage and appearing in courts during the year. On the one hand this article looks more like a desperate attempt to appease and impress upon SF supporters that she is not on MR’s payroll. On the other she wants to criticize the judiciary, in case the verdict goes against her in the SF case. Basically she is like a drunken bull in a china shop here.
What she either doesn’t know or has ignored is, that most injustices she mention here are inherent to our society and polity. For example, haven’t we seen murderous politicians and corruption before MR? Minister Mallimarachchi once threatened Vasudeva at gunpoint in the parliament in late 1980′s. True, MR has not addressed such issues but he has liberated the country from terrorism only last year. Things will not happen that quickly. Even Obama is struggling to deliver his promises. Newspapers like the Sunday Leader who always criticized the government in its war efforts went quiet after the war with the government’s popularity but showing their true picture once again. This kind of brainless articles will not be able to convince the vast majority that the terrorism is not welcome anymore in this country.
Sorry For you,
this is classic example of a selfish mind set. forget all good things happened and pointing finger towards isolated incidents. Remeber, to point one finger you have to point three fingers to you. Are you a saint? how many bad thing you have commited which made others to suffer. You cannot go to Battle if you cannot accept casualties. You cannot wash plates if you cannot accep brakeges. THERE IS TOO MUCH FREEDOM FOR MEDIA IN SRI LANKA. THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE ARE STILL POOR. REMEBER THE STORY OF SRI LANKAN IN HELL? NO GUARDS? study how singapore developed, malaysia developed. THE LEADERSHIP,LONG LONG LEADERSHIP. AT LEAST GO TO THOSE COUNTRIES AND THEIR DEVELOPMENTS. YOU HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO. PLEASE THINK AGAIN. KEEP THIS EDITORIAL TILL 2016 AND IF YOU COULD PUBLISH SAME WITHOUT EDITING, YES THEN YOU ARE A MAN.
I totally agree with your opinion. I also would like to thanks for pointing out reality of our society’s moral corruption. It should have come out from a politician to build good moral among all Sri Lankans regardless of their ethnicity. Either politicians’s voices are silenced to choose to be silence to live with the corrupted morals. Without building a good moral among the citizens of Sri Lankans unity among different ethnic groups may not be possible. Good moral can be common ground which can be shared by all good citizens regardless of their ethnicity. Without building good moral among citizens, it will be hard to unity all. From my perspectives (living in outside Sri Lanka), low moral does not only exists at politicial levels but also at social level which will have a an irreparable damange to its citizens and the country. Will there be any change?
I totally agree with your opinion. I also would like to thanks for pointing out reality of society’s moral corruption. It should have come out from a politician to build good moral among all Sri Lankans regardless of their ethnicity. Either politicians’s voices are silenced or choose to be silence to live with the corrupted morals. Without building good morals among the citizens of Sri Lankans, unity among different ethnic groups may not be possible. Good morals can bea common ground which can be shared by all good citizens regardless of their ethnicity. Without building good morasl among citizens, it will be hard to unite them all. From my perspectives (living in outside Sri Lanka), low morals do not only exists at politicial levels but also at social level which will have a an irreparable damange to the society and the country. Will there be any change? Becasue of low morals, there is no systems that take care of elderly or disabled or orphans in Sri Lanka. Because of the good morals, most western society have systems that take care of volunerables in a society. How much protection and rights the children in Sri Lanka enjoys? There is no system that protect and support children from any socials and individual abuse. In western society, children learn their rights and the available systems for their support. Does Sri Lanka has similar system.?
What a beautiful story. I take my hat off to this article. Our children growing up under this regiment will only know violence to solve conflict.Because it is happenning all over the country.People will only know violence is the only solution to conflict. People have no self respect, that is why so many crimes , rapes, child abuse ect.When you loose self respect, you loose respect for others. Mervyn Silva is a good example.This un educated little man is a disgrace to our society.Hope things will change and law and order will be for every one, rich and poor.Then we all can be proud of this beautiful paradise of ours, to live and love each others.
Mahinda Rajapakse has all the traits of a village thug. So are his brothers. This is a lethal combination. Those who criticise him are placing their live on line. Tissanayagam got 20 years rigorous imprisonment for writing two articles during peace time. They were mildly critical of the government. But he was charged for sowing communal dissension! By whom? Mahinda Rajapakse. But the same Rajapakse stops singing the National Anthem in Thamil. He thinks that singing national anthem in Sinhalese by Thamils will forge communal harmony. That is his logic. But the Sinhala people like him for having conquered Prabhakaran. What more you want? The Sinhalese are served with a diet of lies and hatred against the Thamils. Newspapers spew nothing but raw venom. The S/Leader is an exception. It is refusing to worship Mahinda Rajapakse. Lasantha paid with his life for the sin of criticising the Rajapakses.
Birds of a fether flock together, You name your friend & I will tell your charactor, this applies to our friend MR, look who he has as his friends, Mervin Silva ( Dr. Kill ) Karuna Amman another murderer, The District Minister Pilliayan, Douglus Murderananda, with all of them by his side do you have to read our the credintals about MR. He has his brothers who were on the bottom of life & now on the top ladder in life, do they think they can take with them all the ill gotten wealth when they go, it will be very soon, I am a God fearing soul, I beleive in God, they will not last for long if God exists.
WAR was the solution to ‘TERRORISM”
I wish your editorial were perfect. It is not.
I wish MR were the perfect leader. He is not.
No human can deliver or achieve perfection. Perhaps only the Almighty or the Enlightened One can.
Come to think of it, the Almighty also erred. He created the human being. Being omniscient, why did he create the humans knowing full well that Christians would kill Muslims, Muslims would kill Jews, Catholics would kill Protestants, Sinhalese would kill Tamils and vice verse?
Since you live in a Buddhist society, you are well positioned to answer the question using Buddhist philosophy as the framework.
Samsara (the cycle of existence) is the product of the dependent co-origination of three three forces:
1. Anicca (impermanence)
2. Anatta, (no-soul or interdependence) and
3. Dukhha (unsatisfactoriness)
Living beings delude themselves by thinking they have a permanent soul (or atta) and crave to arrogate or hang on to things (like wealth, loved ones, jobs, etc) without comprehending that everything in the universe is impermanent. In the pursuit of this impossible struggle, they fall into the condition of dukkha.
Samsara is the chain of causation resulting from this never-ending process. MR, you and I are all victims of this ongoing process. So were Prabhakaran, Tissanayagam, your deceased editor, my parents and all.
In Buddhist philosophy, no permanent solutions exist for any problems. Everything is ongoing process. MR has not solved the Tamil problem by defeating the LTTE. In trying to solve one problem, another arises.
Before writing an editorial on any given topic/thesis/hypothesis, place it in the context of all possible factors behind its genesis considering that each factor is subject to ongoing change. This will enable you to envision that no single factor can cause a complex problem for we exist as elements of networks of varying sizes operating as parts of a much larger network of networks.
This is Buddhist philosophy, which preceded the West’s systems approach by more than 2500 years.
Thank you for your contribution. The fact is Sri Lanka is a Majority Buddhist Country, and we don’t follow Love, Respect and Non Violence approach.
As Buddha said we all going to die at some point…………..think how you want to in short life we have………
All religion says same thing……………Love the others, serve the others.
Regardless of all many us still state of hating our own country people…….anger, frustration, fear created by who?
Time to create new Lanka …………..where everyone of us whether Muslim, Tamil, Burger or majority sigalese can live happlily ever of after.
If it is NOT possible in Lanka…………..it is not possible any where in the world.
Because we have the beautiful country, beautiful people……….. educated enough……..
I’m starting today…………….. new lanka…………..new people. Say hello to some one from Lanka today and just listen to their concerns…………
Suresh
Jaffna, Lanka
Dear Mr.Gunaratne,
You’re well misinformed about almighty God. I suggest you read the Kalama sutta of Buddha and you will see your errors. I’m not a SL fan……as much as they may be giving incorrect info you too are dangering the society with false teachings of religions. I’m available for more discussion on this topic on hisplace@sltnet.lk.
ECA
What did Prabhakaran did for 30 years? Was it nonviolence? What happened to all the ceasefires? Is the writer saying that Mahinda as well should have gone for peace with the terrorists? Were you also backing the terrorists all this time. Tell us where have the suicide bombers gone ? You should thank God that you have survied them.
P.A.Samaraweera
P.A. Samaraweera:
One of the politician in a country said, if you end a war through blood and without agreement, existence is not a peace. If that you want, you got it. If war crime can be justified by terrorism slogan, then terrorism will be justified by war crime slogan. I think it is not right thinking for harmony and real peace among all citizens of Sri Lanka.
i agree with MR – war was only solution. we have peace due to MR
what has sunday leader done other than publishing lies & pro comments
…. Sunday Leader is the only paper left to read, Are you under MR’s payroll?
Well ! Peace talks went for many many years. LTTE was using violence even against innocent citizens. Peace talks failed over and over again. Rajapakse had to resort to war. It did stop the violence. Great American presidents initiated violence in peaceful Iraq. Now they have violence. Can you see the difference? Give him time to do the justice to all the people in the country. Three weeks ago I visited the North and the North East. At least the ordinary people who don’t care about politics are having a peaceful time getting on with their day to day lives. Children are going to school and living like children. The young Tamil manager of the Trinco hotel called me ‘Brother’. The author of the above article blindly been biased. JUSTIT to the ordinary citizens will be done, the day when there is no poverty among them.
Orpheus:
After got drunk with Mahavamsa, you lost thinking ability to understand what was the root cause of the ethnic problem Until you get over, no one can explain you. Take the Mahavamsa and unwanted Tamils and Sinhalese history, there will be a peace harmony. Mahavamsam simply brain wash Sinhalese buddhis and make them to loose ability to understand else.
The author has forgotten how the 800 policeman, who resort to non violence obeying an order from Premadasa, were stripped naked and killed by only 40 odd terrorist. Mahatma Gandhi resort to non-violence against the British to win the independence. That was a different story. British could not rule the country, killing non-violent ordinary citizens of India. The lesson Mahinda thought the younger generation and JVP is that terrorism cannot win. Small country like Sri Lanka cannot be divided. All the people should be united to develop the country.
Orpheus:
I met somone who escaped from massacare from Sri Lanka military when he was travelling from Jaffna to Colombo. While he was travelling with other Tamils in the bus, the bus was stopped in a forest area and asked all passengers to work to the inside the forest. Once they reach the forest area, army open fired on innocent passengers. All of them died except the person whom I met and some others. After the shcooting he was lying on the floor in the blood that came out from other’s bodies, army touched him by feet to make sure that he was dead. Once they determined that he died, army left the scene. After army left he left the the area by feet. He is now living in a western country. This is only one story. there are many stories. War crimes have been commited on Tamils even before birth of Tamils. LTTE was a brith of war crime.
NICE STORY. POT CALLING KETTLE BLACK. READ THE STORIES OF ARANTHALAWA MASSACRE, ANURADHA PURA MASSACRE AND KATHTHANKUDI MUSLIM MOSC MASSACRE… NEED MORE. let your narrow mind behind think of tommorow . if you are out of country you experiencing slavery. dont continue, help the country to develop. one day we be happy.
Mahinda is NO Eample to follow…Rather an absolute disgrace and an embarassment to all Sri Lankans.
We are no longer fooled by his corrupt and hypocritical ways…..You are judged by your actions and the company that you keep….??? wonder how that goes.
Corrupt leaders are the biggest plague to our blessed country…Hope we will soon have some good leadership with honest and meaningful governance.
Long Live a Good Sri Lanka.
A. Excellent editorial – thank you.
B.State terrorism creates terrorism of the oppressed.
Was it Prabhakaran who
i. disenfranchised 75,000 citizens in 1949?
ii was responsible for 1956,1958,1961, …..
iii was responsible for the discrimination by govt institutions in the last 62 years?
http://www.groundviews.org/2010/09/23/submissions-before-lessons-learnt-reconciliation-committee-llrc-by-chandra-jayaratne/
Submission before Lessons Learnt & Reconciliation Commission(LLRC) by Chandra Jayaratne, 23 September 2010:
‘’Inequitable allocation of national resources and consequential disparities in regional economic development, infrastructure development and public service delivery have sown the seeds of discontent and disillusionment leading to conflict, insurrections of the South and the North and even the armed struggle towards a separate administration’’
C. Look at what has been happening in the last eighteen months. That tells that the govt was not against Prabhakaran, but against the Tamils(except a few people blackmailed by it):
http://www.unitingworld.org.au/2010/07/tamils-in-sri-lanka-seek-asylum-a-need-no-more/
Tamils in Sri Lanka seeking asylum: A need no more? Rev John Barr, Associate Director for Church Solidarity (Asia), 22 July 2010:
”…. In 2009, we all cried and opened our hearts to over 280,000 Tamil civilians that were interned in detention centres run by Sri Lankan security forces. Humanitarian aid was severely restricted and ‘unexplainable disappearances’ were frequent. …. My recent journey(June 2010) to the north of the island gave a chilling insight into the issues that thousands of Tamils continue to face. …My experience left me questioning whether Tamils are truly safe from harm today. … We have a responsibility to continue opening our hearts to the many thousands of Tamils who face danger in Sri Lanka today. During the one week trip to assess the situation, I visited several holding centres for Tamils who have been released from detention camps and await permission from security forces to return to their homeland. These holding centres are extremely dire places. Food is scarce and access to basic health care is minimal.”
Church solidarity(Asia) supported terrorism in Sri Lanka. They were not detention camps. There were terrorist living among the refugees. Within 2 years most of the land mines were cleared and nearly all the refugees were relocated. Rev. John Barr should study about the Palestinian, Lebanese and Iraqi refugees. Iraq is now under American Puppets. Now People of Iraq are suffering, which they never had to undergo before West interfered with it. Iraqi people trying to escape the puppet regime, with infants using run down boats. Australia allowed them to crash onto rugged cliffs and get destroyed by the rough waves .Forty odd lives were destroyed.
Article quote-
‘Mervyn Silva has publicly assaulted the state TV station for what they did not say and countless journalists have been killed, beaten or abducted’
Yet the JUDGEMENT of our Head of state was initially to appoint him- Deputy Minister for Media !!!
Article quote-
‘character is known for violence and intimidation and his son is known for a random application of the same.’
He also tied a govt. servent to a tree, talks in filth, says wants to drink milk from an actress etc
Yet, the JUDGEMENT of our head of state- Above actions/values deserves Minister post in PUBLIC RELATIONS.
Can the JUDGEMENT of any man, let alone a Head of State can go any lower than this !!!!!
Lanka — the unbelievable true wonder of Asia!!
Would like to know if this editorial is the creation of the editor or a group of journalists.Anyway there is a lot of food for thought.
A factual statement of what is now happening in sri lanka.
The greed for power overshadows everything else.
The power is to acquire wealth and dominance over all of sri lanka.
The 18th amendment has consolidated and entrenched the ruling junta.
Is there any hope for the common man who continues to suffer?
The country is living on borrowed time and money.
The catastrophy is dawning slowly but surely.
Sorry to be pessimistic – but this is how I see things.
I totally agree you with your comments. Today there is no law and order in Sri Lanka. If you are a government supporter you can easily get away with murders. Defence Secretary’s job is to eliminate those who oppose the regime. What happened to our good journalists. Lasantha was exposing to the public the wrong doings of government. He got killed. Certainly the government played a big role in Lasantha’s killing. Mahinda thinks the only way he can keep controlling his opponents is by eliminating. If anybody say there is even 10% democracy in our paradise island I will not agree. The government is lying and people have no choice. Who can talk against government. I sincerely hope Ranil gives up his leadership so that Sajith Premadasa can give a time to President. Sri Lanka needs a major political change sooner rather than later. All Sri Lankans should join hand in hand to bring democracy ruling. Unless this is done Sri Lanka will be a Mafia Country.
by living in a foreign country and interacting with different nationality and ethnic groups I learned one thing. That having a good moral that can connect me with others easily. At work, I never treat anyone different or show favoritism toward known people becasue it is against my moral. There are many people who speack against any injustice to anyone regardless of their ethnicity or their orign of nationality. Why does samehting not happening in Sri Lanka? In work place, we are not allowed to talk about religion becasue there are people who belong to different religions. Why does Sri Lanka and other countries such as India or some muslim countries have become fanatic about religion. I remember one of the priminister in a western country said that he goes to church but he does not somone using bible to punish others. In Sri Lanka relicion and patriotism is used by some to punish opponents. How can Oxford allow a leader whose cabinet members include accused drug traffickers and kindnapping children for prostitution and for slavery. If a minister is accussed of anything, he or she will resign from the post and face an independent inquiry to clear his name. Only then he will be reinstated. Is it same in Sri Lanka.
Excellent article which explains the post war political situation of our country. This situation will take us to a very dangerous level and the irony is that most people do not understand this.
NOT ONLY VIOLENCE…THIS GUY MAHINDA STOLE SLR 72 MILLION DURING “HELPING HAMBANTOTA” AND DEPOSITED IN SISTER’S BANK ACCOUNT. ONLY NOW UR REALIZING HE HAS NO SHAME? WHAT DO U EXPECT FROM SOMEONE WHO STEALS FROM THE POOR AND GETS HIS FRIEND EX-CJ SARATH NANDA TO PROTECT HIM? ARE YOU EXPECTING PAPOL AND JU-JUB’S? THIS GUY MAHINDA WILL NOT LEAVE WILLINGLY. U MUST PUT A BULLET TO HIS HEAD.
Both Mahinda and Praba are criminals – the only difference – Praba is gone; Mahinda lives on to harass us.
you said it very well.
are we all leading a superficial lives without deep rooted beleif in unity harmony peace with respect to fellow citizens. violence terrorism war is it fruitful important with no respect for humanity bearing in mind we preach all these to our yongsters learn manners no fighting in schools dont steal come home safely. glorification with without wars violence etc wherever created especially in a island nation where majority are buddhists seems to us a wrong
Karuna shot & killed 800 unarmed Police men, he was made a Minister, Pillaiyan killed an equal amount of Army personal, he is A Chief Minister, KP supplied all arms to the Tigers, he is living like a prince in comfort, Daya Master & George Master are living in comfort, the Worlds best Army Comander is languishing in jail, all these are the good teachings of the Rajapakse & Bros. If you commit the worse crimes you will be looked after & better of in life, ONLY FOR A SHORT WHILE.
The only period in Sri Lanka, I knew, was between March 1965 and May 1970, the period when Dudley Senanayake was the prime minister, we had uncorrupted politicians . He had an honest cabinet. But it did not last long. Corruption and usage of thuggery has been there even during the times of state councils, during the period of British Raj. At the begging they captured the property of village farmers and gave to rich planters or Sri Lankan Aristocrats who supported the British. They had power to do anything and everything they like. In some areas villagers had to jump into the road side trenches as a mark of respect to these thugs. If they didn’t they were punished. The rich were able to ask the poor villagers to stop sending children to school and send them as domestic servants. If they disobey whole family would lose the house and the job. During State councils elections UNP has organized thugs to dump left wing voters far away from poling booths, in the pretence of giving them a free bus rides to election booths. By the time the innocent villages walk back the polling booths it was too late. Using of thugs became very common after 1977 in and around Colombo same UNP thugs initiated the racial problem in 1983. UNP ended up killing each other sometimes putting the blame on LTTE. UNP thugs did some useful work to the poor people though.
Thank you for an excellent editorial.
Though the war was over in May 2009, even now killings,assaults,disappearances,abductions etc. still go on. Many are not reported. The northeast in under a Reign of Terror. Deaths in custody continue.
The megacabinet and henchmen prosper.
600 prosecutions for bribery are reported to have been ‘terminated’ due to the police ‘bungling’ the indictments!
Police never appear in courts when cases against policemen are called – SSP Vass Gunwardena has so far avoided attending courts in the case in which he & his wife are charged with assaulting a student – according to media reports.
We have to pray and wait.
You are SO right in theory BUT in practice is it that our society only responds to thuggery and oppression ? A so called 90% literate society that has very few independent opinions ( for God’s sake they only buy WHITE VANS !) and can hardly relate at all to current affairs ( what does inflation or the current price of crude oil mean to the man on the street, let alone human rights?), how can they be treated like other societies of the developed world ?
What Mahinda is doing is not right but he seems to be trying a short cut (without first prioritizing education of society) a similar short cut to the one Premadasa tried.
We all know the first result !
“Violence and Conflict”. So, according to the autor, LTTE had just a “conflict” with the SL government, and Mahinda Rajapakshe used “Violence” to defeat LTTE.
And, more importantly, I’m wondering why Sunday Leader (and the author)openly supported Sarath Fonseka who lead the “violence”.
Dear Fedrica, th reak problem is that majority of Sri Lankan people think differently. They identify LTTE’s barberic acts are “violence” and SL goverment’s fight against them as “a war against terrorism”. (Like in Iraq, Afganistan, and pakistan…..you know about that. Don’t you?)
The same kind of “conflict” happened in 1988-89 period when JVP got arms agaisnt then SL goverment, and you and your masters were deadly silent at that time.
Its true atlast sri lankan editors realized now , sorry Sunday leader its your paper mislead our people and now write the truth God Bless Sri lanka and my lovers
the accusation levelled by channel 4 and Robert Blake was true, we can assume that Sri Lankan government is represented by war criminals and criminals who abduct women for prostitution and boys for slavery. The link below tell who killed Lasantha
http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2010/12/mafia-leader-douglas-says-he-is.html
hey Mr Jerry…who do you believe to be the president of Sri Lanka now ?
Mrs.Fredarica Janze ,
Don’t say there’s no press freedom in this country if you can write a article like this .
it seems u pick & choose what comments to publish. most pro ones or it cud be fm yr paper as well as usual fooling people. my opinion there is too much freedom in srilanka that people like u still exist in SL
War is won by sacrifice of lot of poor soldiers and sacrifices made by Sri Lankan public not merely by Rajapakse. Most of the Rajapakse brothers were in USA when poor soldiers got killed in hundreds. Also war was not against Tamil people it was against terrorist group. Rajapakse jailed SF on false allegations. He devalued importance of Parliament. This thug can be easily converted to Sinhalese Prabakaren. At the moment all of us are in fear of raising voice against him because of fear of intimidation. People need to collectively protest against raping of Sri lanka by single family. Also ministers of the Current government should stand for the country not for this good man now converted utterly useless thug
Mahinda Rajapaksa; Is he a liability or an asset to the progress and development of Sri Lanka. 2011 will definitely decide whether this man is a LIABILITY OR an ASSET to our great nation.
I respect Fredarica Janze as a brave writer, We have necessary press freedom in our country she forget this, I am sorry for her, violence and terrorism unable to resolve praying , religious leaders they believing only solution is God, Writer did not understand what President say . Writer once again open an very old garbage container . His teaching writer has taken very seriously not people. Mr Mahinda Rajapaksha become President Half of Srilanka. President was perseverance to find solution end the war but he could not . Prbaharan dis agree for peace his determination is only separate State. Writer forget history of war. President liberation innocent Tamil’s from the Tamil terrorism. There for his teaching people understand very well.