JR, APRC proposals and media

28 Feb 2008

With the disclosing of APRC proposals, there has been a buzz in the media about late president J.R Jayawardana. The APRC proposals have been based on 13 th amendments to the constitution which was resulted with the indo-lanka peace accord. The media in the south is trying hard to white wash the tarnished image of the late fox by trying to highlight that 13 th amendment as a genuine work of JR.

The historical background of 13 th amendment
J R Jayawardana won the general election in 1977 with more than 4/5 of majority in the parliament. However, this short sighted politician did not for see the growth of separatist terrorism in the North. This was aggravated further by burning of Jaffna library and later, the eruption of 1983 riots which were completely orchestrated by dictatorial UNP regime.

The UNP leadership strongly believed in dictatorship and state terror as a critical supportive aid for exploitation which is part of capitalist economy (in raw form). However, the Tamil politicians were able to read this in ethnic point of view to promote separatism and it evolved into separatist terrorism which even the same Tamil politicians were ultimately targeted. The true leadership of a character is tested in crisis situations and when J R ultimately decided to crush the terrorism it was too much for this old fox. When India came in to the picture, old and weary J R was pushed in to the wall.

The "parippu drop" (dhal drop) by IAF's C-130 transport aircraft escorted by Mirage jets was a flagrant violation of Sri Lankan airspace which intimidated the weary JR more than Sri Lankan nation.

Following the forcibly signing of the accord by Sri Lankan president J.R. Jayewardene and the then Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, the Sri Lankan parliament passed the 13th amendment to the constitution, which created provincial councils with a modicum of power devolved from the central government.

But the provincial council system did not function where it was primarily meant to, namely, the majority Tamil-speaking north and eastern provinces. This complies with Tamil separatist strategy of ‘now a little, and more later’. We have never witnessed how 13 th amendment will effect North and East provinces and separatists are demanding more and more devolution.

When JR left politics in 1989, he failed to crush either LTTE terrorism or JVP insurgency (which was ultimately crushed by Mr. R. Premadasa) and Indian army had been landed in our mother land. The culture and values of the society was corroded. In short, both north and south was burning. What else this old fox could not have done to our mother land? He did the all the evils to the nation and retired as atypical politician without much of a buzz.

Tamil Diaspora, India and us
The majority of Tamils in India is concentrated in southern Indian state Tamil Nadu and it naturally has the historical, cultural and demographic factors for Tamil autonomy than any other country.

Tamil population:
India => 62.1 Million
Sri Lanka => 3.0 Million

The Indo-Lanka peace accord was a clear attempt to shield this ground reality and make the political balance in the issue of Tamil Diaspora. Old foxy JR was more concerned of his political survival than future of our country and therefore give into the poliyical pressure from India.

The current reality
It is in this back drop that APRC has to accept 13 th amendment as the agreed solution. Whether we like it or not, provincial councils have been forcibly established. This is a tiny island with only 65 610 square kilo meters in area. Still we are forced to maintain eight provincial councils. Couple of hundreds of councilors and provincial ministers has to be paid and maintained by money collected from common tax payers.

Still government has to face the unfortunate reality inherited due to acts of selfish politicians. However some fractions of media in Sri Lanka is trying to mislead the public and trying to clean the dirt of these bankrupt politicians. Their agenda is to pave the way for more and more politicians in the mould of JR. Therefore, they use every opportunity to try and clean political sins of their old political masters. However the common people in the country is now more knowledgeable and vigilant than the politico-media mafia of the country.

Related posts:
- Hanuma of modern era
- Success of Putin and a lesson from Russia
- Tamil Diaspora, Piribaharan and India
- Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord and broken promises

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Wins for civilians: The crucial third front against terrorism

24 Feb 2008

On February 23 at Mt Lavinia, the vigilant people of the country prevented another coward attempt of terrorists to disrupt peace in the south. With the timely discovery of bomb in the private bus, Sri Lankan nation has futile second consecutive attempt against us by ruthless LTTE terrorists. The first success was at Anuradhapura when a brave sailor from Sri Lanka navy (who was not on duty by the time) set it by example, identified and diffused a bomb at Anuradhapura market preventing possible dissaster. At Mt Lavinia, it is commuters that timely identified the second bomb within weeks and prevent another possible blood shed.

There was a time that we all had let politicians to run the country and simply taking our hand off from the matters of the nation. People were only interested in criticizing the politicians that they themselves have elected. It was a time that there was not a owner for this country and obviously every Dick and Henry from foregn countries took that opportunity to poke into matters in our country. The ineffective politicians were more than happy to dance to their tune.

At last people identified the real issue, and first they elected a political leadership that can be accountable. The enemy and their friends were trying hard to separate the government and people.

The brave soldiers swept away terrorists from entire eastern province and now they are hitting hard on the heart of terrorist den. Government fully supported the troops by providing all the political support. It took only less than two years to find the true nature of once branded as powerful military mechanism. Now we all know that LTTE is not at all as powerful as the inflated image which media agents in the south were boosting. It is true inhuman and cruel nature of terrorists that is exposing now.

The terrorists have been fighting against Sri Lankan nation for over two decades. But this is the first time that government and people united with the security forces in the fight against terrorism. For the first time in the history, terrorists had to face war in all fronts. Their attempt to divide these three key forces has now failed. That is the reason why, terrorists have intensified attacks on the civilian targets. They no longer dare challenge security forces in the battlefield, and government has shown that they are not going to give into political pressure of separatists and their allied INGO agents. Now it is peoples’s turn and they are also organizing and coming forward to defend themselves from LTTE terrorist’s coward attacks.

As true patriotic Sri Lankans we all should tap in the back for these people’s victories against terrorism. Still there are things to be improved and tighten up possible loop holes in our public security measures. Certainly we all know by now that we can do it.

LTTE is nothing but a coward bunch of goons who know only to play hide and seek with bombs. They no longer have guts to challenge our security forces. Now it is our duty to convince the terrorists that we all Sri lankans are determined and stronger to counter their coward acts against civilians in the South. It will take only two more months before Wanni jungle is collapsed and LTTE supremo will have to get suicide in a bunker.

Our brave soldiers are winning the military front in the North. Government is successfully facing the challenge from international evil forces and their local agents in the form of INGO agents and bankrupt politicians. As civilians, we are the crucial third front that terrorists are targeting and let’s all tightly hold the winning flag of political and military leadership by being extra vigilant and alert. It is terrorists that is challenging us and let’s all face the challenge and defeat them. Let’s defeat not only the military bunkers of LTTE in the south, but also the political bunkers as well. We have only one option. It is to win over terrorism!!

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Guerilla Marketing: Mirror of Sri Lankan politics

20 Feb 2008

There was a time that number of film directors was busy producing films to fulfill the demand of NGO funding and foreign awards rather than target towards the common people of the country. Most of the film festivals in the west were eager to see misery of people, tear drops, and reflection of the eastern society as a primitive one. The people like Asoka Handagama, Prasanna Withana and Satyangani were busy grabbing NGO funds and producing films to full fill the aspirations of their masters and grabbing few awards as a consolation for empty galleries in local theater. It is in this backdrop that Jayantha Chandrasiri immerged as a lotus in the mud.

The greatest and the best of Jayantha Chandrasiri was seen on his last film ‘Gurilla Marketing’ which was an eye opener for the drowsy society under the influence of ineffective and indifferent politicians.

Jayntha Chandrasiri has been a journalist with the good accompany in ‘Divaina’ news paper for long time. He has seen the reality of politics in Sri Lanka in the last two decades and importantly the mechanism of politico-marketing mafia. Being a gifted film director, he has reproduced this realty in an aesthetic media in the name of “Guerilla Marketing”.

‘Gurilla Marketng’ is presented as a love story between two cousins. In the background it is the story of tragic reality of youth and true face of political culture in Sri Lanka. With the introduction of open economy in raw manner in 1977, the Sri Lankan society was made up side down. It was not only the economy, but culture and other value system of the society was forced to erode and the result was a society striving for mere monetary success.

Why do people run, even when there is no real pleasure?
It’s because someone or something is chasing after him. It may be Cholesterol, …
Stronger the enemy, faster we run.
- Gregory Maha Adikaram (Guerilla Marketing)

The common people of the country have been made to compete with each other and run hard, but it is for the benefit of all of us? As a result of aimless running and competing with each other, we all have become tired and it is this privileged segment holding the political and economic power that has been benefited.

Allying of media and politics
In “Guerilla Marketing” Gregory Maha Adikaram represents the privileged comprador society that the emperors left behind in 1948. He has been brought up with colonial values and studied in institutions in the west. He comes back to the country to serve their masters and not for the common people of the country. But he faces a challenge under the West Minister democracy.

The aspirations of Gregory Maha Adikaram and the common people are different. But he has the power of money and control of other key sections in the country including the media. It is ‘Marketing’ that comes to bridge the gap for him.

Reality of marketing/media
Under the open economy every one is being sold. It includes skills and even the creativity of people. It is marketing that is dominated in the society and it decides what we eat, what we wear and even what we should think. It is no longer supply for demand, but vise versa. The businessman supply whatever they can produce with lowest cost and highest profit margin and they in turn market it to the society. If there is no real demand, they can even create an artificial demand by means of marketing campaigns in the public media. This is a great stress for the society and we all are victims of it. But the system has been formed such that we are forced to live with this unfortunate reality. Ethics is no longer a subject of concern for marketing people. Since we all are made to run with this trend, we are not even aware that we all (common people) are victims of this system.

The new partners of power: Politics and Media and Marketing

“Public opinion is like a ghost in an ancient bungalow. No one has seen it, but everyone fears it. I do not fear it anymore, because now ‘Public opinion’ can be formed by advertising firms as well.”
- Gregory Maha Adikaram (Guerilla Marketing)

It is marketing and media that come to rescue Gregory Maha Adikaram in his election campaign. He selects the best of the marketing companies and the best of talented youth to organize his campaign. Gregory Maha Adikaram has no roots in this country or real personality. It is a talented youth Thisara who had been working for a marketing firm (Thisara) that is hand picked to sphere head the campaign to sell mere character of Gregory Maha Adikaram as a great personality, one who love the country and a people’s man. The politician is so much depend on these marketing and media that they are willing to sacrifice any thing in front of them, that is why Gregory Maha Adikaram even dance in front of the marketing personals to help getting artificially dynamic photos to be used in the campaign. It clearly shows the way individuals from media and marketing segments become influential characters in the society. The more the politicians depend on the media, more power these media agents become.

Tragedy of youth in the current system
Thisara and Suramya grew up in a village under our traditional cultural values. Being products of village, both are highly talented and multi skilled. However when they reach their youth they become victim of the open economy and fall in to the trap of competition. Suramya decides to leave the country for higher education, leaving behind her boy friend in the country. Thisara on the other hand is also extremely talented and he falls into the same trap. It was a fast track for him in the marketing industry. He is given targets and ethics has no room achieving those. In the hustle and bustle, he lost his values and become part of the rotten system. He forgot Suramya and found a new girl friend from the new society.

Multi-personality syndrome of media/marketing personals
Thisara is talented youth with creative ideas. He is hired by a leading marketing firm and the cooperate reality force him to use his talent even for unethical campaigns. When Thisara is assigned the election campaign of Gregory Maha Adikaram, he has no time to think of politics of his client or the effect of this on the country. Thisara plan and initiate a campaign to sell the political character to the country. He uses creative ideas to boost and inflate mere character into an image of a giant who love the country and people. While working with Gregory Maha Adikaram, Thisara finds the true intentions and character of the politician and his inner self start to repent foreseeing the subsequent result. The personality of Thisara that is molded by the rotten society is conflicting with the person brought up in the village with our traditional values and bonds. The result is a psychotic person with multiple personality disorder. In Sri Lanka, there may be hundreds of persons in media and marketing sector having the same disorder with varying degree.

When Thisara see the reality of his career, it is too late and Gregory Maha Adikaram has already extracted Thisara’s skills to win his own destiny. He no longer seriously cares about Thisara.

Politicians and our culture

“If we want to preserve our culture and heritage, we should sell those”
- Gregory Maha Adikaram (Guerilla Marketing)

Since these politicians come from comprador society which values the culture of their colonial masters, they hate our own eastern culture. They not only hate, but fear it as well. They know that in reality, our traditional Sinhala Buddhist culture is rich and stronger than the artificial western system. This is strongly symbolized by Gregory Maha Adikaram’s fear psychosis mentality against hearing our traditional drum (bera) beat, which he called as ‘bera-phobia’. If one open the eyes and see around, we can see handful of politicians who suffer from same Sinhala/Hindu cultural phobia. In the light of our traditional values and culture, these politicians are Lilliputians and therefore they fear it and therefore hate it.

Defeating the devils
It is ultimately the loving kindness and touch of his ex-girlfriend Suramya that heal the ailing mind of Thisara. Thisara’s wife Rangi is from the new upper middle class society that is a product of open economy. At the end she has to seek help from Suramya who has not lost her roots in the village. When Thisara and Rangi ultimately find the reality of their lives, they are forced to get back to the village and get help to build their lives again. This strongly symbolizes the fact that it is by extracting our strengths and values from the village that we can come out of the mess created by the open economy. And it is the traditional drum (bera) beat and kind touch of Suramya that chase away Gregory Maha Adikaram from the mind of Thisara and heal him.

These drums are not beat for the request by others. But when these drums are beating, devils will find there limitations in running away.
- Suramya (Guerilla Marketing)

Drums are now beating
We all Sri Lankans inherited strong cultural values for more than 2500 years. The irrigation systems, the mammoth dams, large dagoba in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, the aesthetic and engineering marvel in Sigiriya etc speaks out our past development. It was a sustainable development in harmony with the nature. It was a developed culture and society against bunch of unrest people running after financial success alone which is the current reality. It was neither branded as capitalism nor socialism which are two extreme concepts evolved in the West.

It is living your life based on Buddhist values. It is living in harmony with the nature and each individual in the society. There is no competition among each other. People identify their real needs against the needs artificially created and promoted by marketing forces. It is a society that people live on earth and held their head high. They are no loner tired of competing each other. They are not exposed to exploitation. Even the entrepreneurs are brought up with our ethical and cultural values that can treat each other fair and equal manner. They invest their profit back in the mother country and actively involve in developing the country.

Our traditional drums have started to beat again. The devils are feared of it. Some devils wear socialist suites and others in capitalist attire. But they all fear it and united against it. They will get the support of their colonial and theoretical masters in the west. They will fight back in all avenues to defeat us and win back their privileges that have been passed to them since colonial time. It is all the responsibility of all of us to keep our traditional drum beat active in local politics until the last devil is chased away from our country to the lap of their colonial masters.

References:
- Guerrilla Marketing (Sri Lanka Tube)

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Death of Sreepathi, end of a fast track political career

16 Feb 2008

Sreepathi sooriarachchi was known to be a politician in a fast track. February 9th marked the end of his political career and, ironically it was resulted due to the excessive speed of his own vehicle. There are different motivations for a person to enter into politics. It is very few those who enter into politics as a natural extend to their genuine social service. The bulk of the people enter into politics due to their political family background or others come with business motives. The latest trend is to be a friend or close to political leaders and enter into the politics using the excessive power of the leaders. Sreepathi clearly fall into this category.

Sreepathi was born in Kadana in Gampaha district in 1962. He did his A/L in St. Anthony’s college Watthala. Then he joined Navy in the supply division and fast promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant. However, he was alleged of corruption of the supply division of Navy and later he was expelled from Navy in 1997. Sreepathi selected politics as his second try for fortune. Luckily for him, unlike in Navy, politics does not value discipline and truthfulness. The people in Sri Lanka can easily be fooled as well.

Being resident of Kadana, Sreepathi had developed a friendship with then popular actor Vijaya Kumaranathunga. Later he joined active politics in Sri Lanka Mahajana Party (SLMP) where he got accompany of Chandrika Kumaranathunga. By that time he managed to study and become a lawyer which is profession of liars. It is by that time that politically infant Chandrika was paraded from London to Colombo and made president in no time.

It was a merry time for past SLMP members and Sreepathi was appointed head of the news censor board which was active under Chandrika government. The association with Chandrika and Mangala earned him many more high portfolios in the media and telecommunication sectors.

When Chandrika government was finally collapsed in 2001, Sreepathi was selected organizer for Kalaniya electorate. One time head of news censor board was ironically assigned managing the ‘Lakmina’ news paper with the aim of inflating the failed character of Chandrika. It is at that time, Sreepathi antagonized Mahinda Rajapaksa by slinging mud at him using ‘Lakmina’. Sreepathi managed to boost his own image using the ‘Lakmina’. In the general election in 2004, Sripathi was elected to the parliament after placed seventh in the preferential list for UPFA in Gampaha district.

By 2005, Chandrika had failed to get the support of legislature or judiciary to extend his power and people and all the progressive political parties were rallied around Mahinda Rajapaksa. It was evident that majority of SLFP members were against Anura Bandaranayaka who was Chandrika’s choice. Mangala and Sripathi saw this reality and at the very last moment decided to support Mahinda. The politics of Mangala and Sreepathi were not based on national policies, but mud slinging and manipulation of media. At that time, Sreepathi and Mangala were busy defaming Ranil Wickramasingha in the political stages as well as in poster campaigns. However Dallas Allahapperuma was later appointed to sphere head ‘Mahinda Chinthana’ presidential election campaign. The new campaign was based on national policies and, therefore both Mangala and Sreepathi lost their importance.

With the support of patriotic and progressive forces, Mahinda Rajapaksa was elected president. However Mangala and Sreepathi were molded by Chandrika and their politics is based in favor of NGOs, western countries and multi national companies rather than the common people. There was no place for the aspirations of Mangala and Sreepathi under ‘Mahinda Chinthanaya’. Therefore, Mangala and Sreepathi soon parted away from Mahinda Rajapaksa government and allied with UNP which naturally represent their political aspirations.

By that time, UNP was in desperate situation after nearly half of their MP’s joining the government. This political situation provided Mangala and Sreepathi another opportunity to do the politics they know best, which is mere mud slinging and defaming. Firstly, they create a new mud slinging campaign saying Mahinda Rajapaksa has bribed the LTTE and then allegations were directed towards whole Rajapaksa family using fabricated allegation on Mig fighter jets, branding them as ‘Rajapaksa company’.

The politics of Sreepathi and Mangala was based on manipulation of media and money and they formed a new paper named ‘Mawbima’ which was later closed down due to allegations on linking with LTTE terrorists. By the time Sripathi was killed in the accident, he was accompanied with the chief executive director of private owned radio channel ‘Isura FM’, S.K.R Silva. This clearly shows how much Sreepathi was dependent on manipulation of media for his political success.

Sreepathi was in the parliament for only three years, but he was having high personal goals. In his political career, Sreepathi had faith on political characters, money and manipulation of media rather than people. The result was that his poultices based on allegations and mud slinging rather than national interests and policies. It was a fast track for personal interests, but at last his life ended due to the same cause due to a road way side accident possibly due to fast driving.

Now rest of the bankrupt politicians may either manipulate his natural death due to accident trying out petty political gains in vain or they can contemplate on importance of national politics for the interests of the country and people rather than petty personal politics.

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Are you ready to return to mother land?

10 Feb 2008

After sixty years of independence, still we are branded as one of the developing countries. Many people used to attribute this to prolonged terrorism issue in the country which had been the easy pick for people as well as politicians. The terrorism is fast becoming part of the history and now we are in the verge of winning the fight against terrorism. This is good time to analyze other factors that went wrong and start rectifying those so that we can start building our country. It is economic freedom that makes freedom from imperialism or terrorism make meaningful.
The brain-drain has been one of the key factors that have badly affected developing the economy.

Effect of open economy
It is evident that brain-drain was suddenly increased in early 1980’s with the introduction of so called open-economy. It is generally expected that open economy should create more opportunities to the people and thereby reducing the brain-drain. It is unfortunately JR’s model of open economy was meant for low tech and high labor intensive sectors like garment industry which are mean for exploitation and there were no place for intellectuals in that system.

When the post 77 governments opted for foreign debts, a necessary condition for most of the developing projects was to utilize expertise of the countries which provide the support and our intellectuals had passive role to play resulting some of our key intellectuals opted to leave the country.

Effect of cultural erosion
Unlike most of the other courtiers, it is not only economy, but other key areas like culture and social aspects were suddenly opened like flood gates and the result was a generation who has lost their roots and cultural values and selfish society which only striving for money and other materialistic gains. They were no longer bound to the country and it was no longer a difficult decision to part from their parents, relatives and friends for higher salaries and benefits in foreign countries.

Failed education system
Few decades back we had an education system that produces good citizens who know and love their history, culture and more importantly love their country. However, under the new system, the important aspects like history and culture were pruned and it was meant to produce mere individuals with different skills to serve the multi national companies and foreign investors. These people who passed out from universities left the country for better opportunities in the field that they were trained. If they were first disciplined to be good citizens and then specialized in a field, they would have never left the country for selfish reasons. There are large number of people who had left the country immediately after passing out from the universities, after getting all the benefits of free education and sometimes consuming scholarships given to the country, and never return. If they were educated under disciplined Sri Lankan values, they would have been rather shameful of themselves to take that kind of selfish decision.

The colonial mentality
After more than four hundred years under colonial rulers, in 1948 the local privileged comprador sector of the society obtained independence by means of posting petitions and bargaining with their foreign masters. Since we never had a full fledged independence struggle (unlike in countries like India), the bulk of the people remained with the pre colonial backward mentality. Since we were once defeated, they still believe that the white (the British, Dutch etc..) are superior and migrating to their countries like Britain, Canada, Australia is considered as a privilege. In this backdrop, they forget the fact that they live as second class citizens in those countries despite some material benefits.

The tragedy of those who live in exile
Unlike Africans, Chinese or other nations, we Sri lankans are unique that we have great heritage, cultural values and strong bond within the family. It is not limited to parents and child, but span in to grand parents and other relatives, teachers and friends. Our strong Sinhala Buddhist predominant Sri Lankan culture is too strong to be easily forgotten. Regardless of the amount of money they earn, their internal soul always breaks down. They no longer belong to their original culture or the one in the west. The unfortunate result is a culturally lost individuals and families. That is why most of those after hard laboring the foreign masters come back to Sri Lanka to spend their very last stages of the life.

Are you ready?
You may have lived in exile leaving behind the warmth, culture and values of Sri Lankans for any of the reasons. It is easy to find one or other reason to justify or else point finger at politicians and continue your way of life. Still the great courageous people of the country who never let down the country has passed the difficult time and looking forward to reap the harvest of continues struggle against post colonial agents, separatist terrorism and other vicious forces.

Now we are winning the fight against terrorism and all Sri Lankans believe that the war will be ended in winning note in few months time. If you are among those who migrated in fear of terrorism, this is good time to plan to return in few months time. It is not only security situation, but the people’s victory in 2006 has set up ground for national economy where Sri Lankan’s are given prominence in investing, the cultural values are restored. The projects like Hambanthota harbor, Weeravila airport, Upper Kotmale power plant, Moragahakanda dam, etc. are built with engineering expertise of local professionals. There is an agricultural revolution taking place in the country and you may become a valued partner sharing your expertise.

If you left the country for better wages, this is the time to prove yourself that you are successful in your objective by investing in mother country. If you left the country seeking a better job, the best way to prove yourself on your success is to return to the motherland and open up a new venture creating job opportunities to fellow Sri Lankan youth so that they will newer required to left behind their beloved parents and migrate. At the end of the day this is your and my country and if not us who else is going to develop this emerald island?

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It’s our country and our freedom fight against terrorism

4 Feb 2008

In the last week, we have witnessed a surge bomb blasting ranging from claymore mines, time bombs and suicide blastings. It is no longer arm force’s or government’s war on behalf of us (which we were made to think by media for long). In the last election, we clearly gave a mandate to the government to eradicate terrorism and as responsible people we can not let the responsibility solely on arm forces and government and relax. The terrorists are now attacking on the civilians (that is us!) and at least by now, we all as a society must wake up and actively work in fight against terrorism.

Few years back it was LTTE separatist terrorists with a clear mission. They were militarily strong and busy converting their military victories into separatist political gains. In that strategic period, it was LTTE’s political wing in full action and South witnessed relative calmness which the feeble political clowns tried to convince the common people as the peace. However, in 2006 the people took a courageous decision to fully defeat the pro separatist political wing and elected a leader who is willing to challenge the terrorism.

Since then, the war against terrorism took new turn and the result was once powerful LTTE is now an organization in total disarray fighting for mere survival. LTTE carders are no longer fighting with a mission. Just like a flame intensifies before a candle is about to put out, in this very last stage of dying down, LTTE terrorists may engage in any sort of coward and inhuman acts.

Dying devil
Now LTTE carders are no longer willing to face the Sri Lankan military, and some of them would choose to bypass the professional arm forces and rather opted to get suicide in populous places in the south. They may well choose to get suicide in public places for shear ethnic hatred which has been injected to them in brain wash sessions in the LTTE terrorist camps in Wanni jungle.

In the past, the pattern has been that people vote and elect a government and then the government break all the promises and start work with their hidden agendas which are most of the time planned by foreign counties and business agents. We all accept the fact that the government and the military leadership have played their part to the perfection in the recent past eliminating terrorism in major part of the country. Now the defeating terrorists infiltrate to South and start terrorizing the society and this is our turn! Now we all should think as responsible citizens in the country rather than mere individuals busy with own businesses.

Selfish individuals
Unfortunately, with the introduction of open economy, people no longer got time to think about the nation or the country. They were too busy on their individual targets in selfish manner. This is good time to reflect on where are we now. Are we secure as a nation after all the competition and marathon run of individuals?

Earn money by hook or by crook
It is people from among us that are transporting weapons and armory to LTTE terrorists. Some others have set up INGO’s and shamelessly collecting dollars by supporting the terrorists by hindering the fight against terrorism by organizing demonstrations and accusing the police and arm forces with bogus allegations. Few influential figures are busy manipulating the media in favor of separatism for foreign tours and other benefits.

TERROR + ISM
We should not forget the fact that the theme of the game of terrorism is nothing other than imposing TERROR and it comes in two flavors namely physical terror and psychological terror. While brain washed goons setting claymore mines, these white collar terrorists in the media and political bunkers in the south convert those physical injuries of individuals into psychological fear in the society.

Lessons from the history
Sri Lankan nation has faced with this type of extremely brutal challenges in the past as well. In the colonial era, we can find reports on the brutality unleashed by invaders which are reported by them.

“And there was a General (Jeranimo De Azavedu) who, to avenge the mutilations which the Chingalas inflicted on us, forced the mothers to throw their children into mortars (in Sinhalese “Wangedi” or spice grinding bowls) and pound them like spice, without being moved to compassion by the cries and mourning of children at each blow, or pitying the mothers forced to be the terrible executioners of their own children. Then he beheaded the mothers. He ordered the soldiers to take children at the point of the spears and to raise them and as they were mourning and crying, he said, “Listen well how these crows crow”. He ordered men to be thrown into river from the bridge of Malvane, so people will see them fall into the mouths of fierce alligators”
Ref: Queyroz – (1617 –1680 AD) - Edited for brevity
: Concise Mahavamsa Ruwan Rajapakse, P.E.

While few shameless crooks betrayed the country for petty selfish reasons, the common people of the country who are nurtured by strong Theravada Buddhist tradition never give into the power of arms. They all face the terror with determination and mange to preserve the great Buddhist teaching for the benefit of the whole world looking for the truth.

There are miserable periods in the history where the kings are weak and common people are betrayed. However, whenever a strong leader immerges, the people of Sri Lanka have always rallied round him and defeat the enemy.

Our duty
This is the most demanding period of the fight against separatist terrorism, and we all should be part of this struggle that we must win. We have voted and won the agenda. Now we can not let the military to do everything for us. It’s the obligation of all of us to come forward and actively participate in identifying and eliminating all the terrorist activities in the country. As long as the enemy is hiding behind the society, it is civilians in the society that is in the best position to track those goons and help security forces to eliminate them. It is not only the goons with cyanide capsules, but those behind them should also be clearly identified and show their due destiny.

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Challenges after sixty years of independence

3 Feb 2008

In February 4th 1948, the British emperors officially handed over the administrative powers to the Sri Lankans. Since then we celebrate this day as our independence day. At the same time, some sections of the people absurdly question that what sort of development we have gained since this so called independence. In fact, indirectly they try to promote an impression that the good old white government would have been far better than the governments in post independence era.

Historical background
When we were presented with independence in 1948, the costal areas had been under different colonial rules for about 450 years while the whole country has been under them for over 130 years. By that time, the colonial masters were able to create segments in the society who were more than willing to serve them. Firstly, they were hand picked from those from royal clan who were shamelessly willing to betray the country to retain their power and this segment was christened by Don Juan Dharmapala and many more in later time. The secondary layer of the local agents was selected from among those who were greed for their provisional power and wealth. They supported the colonial masters to loot the property of innocent people and they got their due share in turn.

Invariably these compradors were also seduced by spiritual rewards. That’s where religion came into the picture. Converting to the coloniser’s religion brought them rewards in this life and held out even better promise in the next. The colonisers even colonised their souls! These local agents were given village level administrative posts (Arachhi, Mudhali, etc..) and their sons and daughters were given opportunity to travel to schools Britain to grasp the western culture.

Return of the scholars
When these so called educated people returned to the mother land they no longer became a part of our culture. They had been brain washed either on capitalist Westminster colonialism in one extreme or Marx-Engle communism in other extreme. In early 1940’s it was these brain crippled and arrogant characters who became the self appointed political leaders in the country. The colonial rulers facilitate this by initially providing the right of voting only for the privileged society.

Bargained Independence
In 1948, we were given the independence not as a result of struggle of common people, but as a result of well planned and phase-wise power transformation. The privileged sons of Mudhali’s and Aracchi’s who came back from Britain had already established as political leaders under the Donamor system and there was no room for ordinary people to challenge this well laid and state sponsored political dynasties.

The result was that these heads mould in western world were given free license to continue governing the country even in post independence era and they were more than happy to continue with the master plan handed over by their colonial masters. Most of them converted back to Buddhism to get the attraction of the majority Sinhala Buddhist votes, but their mortgaged souls were already cemented with Anglican culture. It was Ancestries of Don Steven Senanayaka, Don Solaman Dias Bandaranayaka and later Junius Richerd Jayawardna who were ruling this country until 1988. (The exception was just a couple of month of care taker rule by Mr. Dahanayaka who got an opportunity to due to the killing of then prime minister). If some one is still in doubt, they should examine grave yard of their fathers and you will found the colonial Anglican signs in their tombs. In the mean time, it was other extreme ideologists traveled back from Londan with rotten Marxism in the opposition in the names of Pieter Keneman, Kolvin R de Siva and N.M. Perera.

Now we should be clear why we are still at the very same stage since independence. The colonial rulers gradually transferred the power to their local agents and not to the general public and these local agents who ruled this country must accept the failure.

S.W.R.D Bandaranayaka, the late revival
Although coming with colonial background, Prime Minister S.W.R.D Bandaranayaka tried to amend the mistakes of his grand parents. But the colonial agents in the country were so powerful that he was never allowed to full fill his mission and he was shot dead!

R. Premadasa, the first common people’s leader
Regardless of political view, R. Premadasa was the first democratically elected leader from the common people of this country. He had all the strength and courage inherited from the common people of this country which was evident in ‘Gam Udawa’ and other rural development projects. However the control of the media was still under the colonial agents with the additional support of INGO activists. Firstly, these evil forces tried to tear apart the character of R. Premadasa which they were failed, but later he was brutally killed in a bomb attack.

Both the political killing of leaders in Sri Lankan history were strategically targeted to those who tried to go against this political path set by colonial masters.

People’s victory in 2006
In 2006, the people of this country took a bold decision to elect another leader who came from the common people. As usual, all the post colonial agents including his party leadership was against Mahinda Rajapaksa. All the INGOs and their media agents were busy campaigning against him. Still, the people showed their political maturity and vote against the combination of colonial agents, terrorists and their foreign agents.

We are now witnessing the positive effects. Now even the LTTE believes that they are going to be eradicated in a matter of months. Long hold development projects like Noricchole power plant, upper Kothmale electricity plant, Hambanthota harbor, Weeravila airport etc are now becoming the realities. The traditional values of Buddhism and Hinduism is given due recognition in campaigns like ‘Mathata thith’ (end to liquor). The agriculture which is part of Sri Lankan culture has been given its due place.

Because of gradual transition of power from colonial masters to their local agents, these post colonial comprador segments still hold the key in business and media sectors. They are provided with additional funding through INGOs by their colonial masters. Whenever the political power is with a leader emerge from the common people, the history shows that, he has greater challenge from these post colonial comprador segment.

They will try their best to oust the common people’s leadership and bring back one from their culture to the helm. There will be politico-media plots and even death threats to the people’s leadership. That is why the common people should be ever conscious on every move of them and come forward to defeat them and preserve the peoples political victory.

This is the time to keep close eye on INGO activities, visits of British-Norway post colonial agents and most importantly the activities of foreign funded media personals and organizations that are campaigning against our mother country. In 1948, people played rather passive role in winning the independence, but now we can rectify the past mistake by actively involve in defeating the plots of post colonial local/foreign agents and build a new Sri Lanka based on our traditional values and strengths!

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Testing time for Sri Lankan nation

2 Feb 2008

In the latter part of the colonial era, Sri Lanka never had a full scale people’s struggle for independence and the year 1948 marked the nominal completion of transition of colonial powers into the hands of their Sri Lankan agents. Since then government and people were two distinct and isolated entities, the politicians used to come in front of the people during the election periods and then its people’s turn to criticize the elected government until the next election. The politicians were having their own agenda while people were engaged in their own affaires and looking after their family well fair. It is in this backdrop that one of the old foxy politician shamelessly stated that ‘one should look after his own self defense’.

Winning war
After twenty five years of confrontation, the Sri Lankan arm forces are now at the edge of the victory in fight against LTTE terrorism. This war was once branded as ‘miserable war’ and ‘war that can never be won’ by incompetent politicians. However, in the last year the security forces have proved the nation that they are very much capable of defeating the terrorists in the battle field given the clear political and military leadership. They have done this with minimum of fuss in the south. Other than some minor economic hardship, the people in the south never feel the burden of the war in the recent past.

However, when the terrorists have come to their last stage where they are no longer capable of facing the professional and discipline arm forces of the government, they have start unleashing the terror on the common people. The terrorists have been targeting military leadership, political leadership and the common people to terrorize each of these segments in order to identify the weak link in the society.

The military leadership has time and again proved that they are well capable of handling the terrorists in the battle field. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has personally communicated the self appointed supremo V. Piripaharan that LTTE were challenged by his political leadership and arm forces are carrying the orders of him to eliminate terrorism and therefore there is no point targeting common civilians in cowardly attacks.

Time to rectify the mistakes in the history
In 1948, it was evident that the common people of the country played passive role in winning the independence and the result was bargained independence into the hand of compradors of colonial masters and still Sri Lankan nation is paying heavy prize for that. This is a good time for the entire Sri Lankan nation to rectify the past mistake and actively involve with military and the government to eradicate terrorism which has been spread like a cancer in our society for over two decades.

Individuals Vs Nation
If the citizen of Sri Lanka has been extra vigilant, most of the recent bomb blasts could have been easily prevented. Since open economy was introduced in 1977, the people has been too busy running a big race competing each other. The result was a society of selfish individuals rather than a nation with a broad vision. We have been failed in this individual competition and this is the time to bit slow down the selfish race and rather unite as a nation to help the government and the security forces to end this war in winning note.

This is not the time to dig a hole and hide in fear of terrorists but face the challenge of this coward gang in a collective effort. You can do simple things like being extra cautious about your neighbors, be vigilant while traveling in public transports etc. It is not the driver or conductors work but obligation of all of us to be self disciplined and help reducing the fear psychosis in the society. In this critical period, you may reduce carrying extra baggage when using public transport and you should keep your belongings with your possession rather than packing those in racks. We should demand our security as a collective effort and safe guard the future of the nation rather than let it as an obligation of the government and the security personals. In 1948, the people played rather passive role in winning the independence and we are still paying the political price for that. This is good time to rectify past mistakes and rise as a nation.

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