Hello Friends
The Anglican Bishop of Colombo , Rt. Rev Duleep de Chickera is one of those leaders from the Christian clergy who strives to promote inter-ethnic understanding, justice and equality.
Bishop Duleep as he is generally known concluded a pastoral visit to Jaffna some weeks ago and issued a public statement afterwards.
I was very happy to post the statement on this blog on June 18th.
Wrote in my introduction then “I think the statement provides pertinent insight into the Jaffna of today and am reproducing it here on this blog”.
It was titled “The mood in Jaffna is that of being tragically marooned”.
Bishop Duleep encapsuled the feelings and mood of Jaffna vividly in that epistle.
His suggestions on fostering greater understanding and inter-action between the ethnicities deserved much thought.
On July 13th a symposium was held in Colombo to commemorate the departed Lanka Sama Samaaja Party (LSSP) leadr Dr. N.M. Perera. Among those who participated was Bishop Duleep.
Addressing the theme “After the war-What next?”, Bishop Duleep made a pertinent observation “Our topic can be answered in one sentence; after the war, we must strive towards becoming an integrated, just, non-violent, united and reconciled Nation with space for all to live with dignity”.
He then went on to say “But I have 25 minutes to expand on this and I shall try to do so under three crucial repercussions of the war.”
Subsequently the Bishop released a statement with a modified version of the 25 minute presentation. The condensation focused on the repercussions of war and the future.
At a time when the post-war scenario is not unfolding in the manner many of us thought it would the Colombo Bishop’s statement is of great relevance and importance.
The statement embodying his analysis, observations and suggestions offers much food for thought.
It is indeed my privilege to share it with readers on this blog.
So here it is-DBSJ
After the War-What Next?Three Crucial Repercussions
By Bishop Duleep de Chickera
I’m not exactly sure as to why I was asked to be part of this event but I am extremely happy to be associated with it. My late father was a friend of and admired Dr. N.M. Perera and an Uncle was an active LSSP Trade Unionist. I recall vividly that when we were children, NM, Colvin, Leslie, Vivian and Bernard and so on were house hold names.
Later on as I began to understand social realities better, my regard for Dr. N.M. Perera as well as for the LSSP grew. I particularly valued the wise and learned leadership of the Party, its passion for the rights of the working class and its refusal to exploit ethnicity for political gain.
One of our greatest political tragedies since then has however been the decline of the appeal of the LSSP. If not done already, a thorough analysis must be done on this issue by a competent Social Scientist; but I know one thing, if there were a few more leaders of the calibre of Dr. N.M. around we would not be addressing this topic today.
Our topic can be answered in one sentence; after the war, we must strive towards becoming an integrated, just, non-violent, united and reconciled Nation with space for all to live with dignity. But I have 25 minutes to expand on this and I shall try to do so under three crucial repercussions of the war.
1. The physical repercussions. This includes the loss of lives, displacement and destruction to property and live-hoods.
In all our religious cultures people gather to mourn and offer solidarity when death occurs.
Consequently we need a National event to remember all who died because of the war. Political or ethnic differences should not prevent this. Soon after the tsunami of 2004 that took the lives of thousands of our people there was such an event.
On that occasion all political parties, religions and ethnic groups gathered at a National event to remember the dead of all communities. Just as that event demonstrated that we were one Nation, a post war event of remembrance can reduce our tensions and bring us a little closer together as one People.
• The situation in IDP Camps is a cause for concern. The need for IDPs to be held in Camps till security screening is completed is understandable, since LTTE cadres could well be hiding amongst the IDPs. But this screening must be done professionally and speedily and equally importantly, it should be accompanied with the concurrent resettlement of IDPs in batches. If not a hardship will soon become a grievance and we may well be sowing the seeds of another militant movement. We cannot forget that those who crossed over did so to be liberated.
• There is another dimension to the IDP crisis that we ought not to lose sight of. This is that those in the camps are resourceful Sri Lankans who have lived with dignity, though no doubt under much more trying circumstances. They possess resilience and skills and can contribute productively to the Nation’s economy. Early resettlement will mean that students get back to schooling and university; and Doctors, Teachers, Clerks, Administrators and so on get back to their posts, farmers return to their fields, fishermen to their nets and small-time traders to their shops . The Vanni population must be seen not only as a humanitarian crisis or security threat but as resourceful humans with much to offer the common good.
• Finally, all those Sri Lankans who carried arms for whatever cause or reason require our understanding and support to get on with their lives after the war. Our young Service personnel are entitled to opportunities to catch up with the loss of tertiary education or training that the war may have deprived them of. One of the reasons behind the Open University concept in the UK was to provide such opportunities for Service personnel in post second world war Britain. Any programme of decommissioning that follows our war will be most realistic if it facilitates a return to such a life of personal growth and fulfilment in which guns will not make the difference.
• Similarly there is a need for an early amnesty for deserters and LTTE cadres, backed up with programmes of rehabilitation. If planned well and implemented with sensitivity such initiatives prove immensely successful. To cite a small example; in the late 80s our Church participated in a rehabilitation programme that trained 20 JVP cadres, some of whom are gainfully employed as tailors in various parts of the Country, to this day. What was possible then with Sinhala youth is possible today with Tamil youth.
2. Psychological repercussions. This has much to do with the “Winner-Loser” syndrome leading to the “Insider-Outsider” complex.
• Today the Tamil community experiences a more subtle kind of insecurity and uncertainty. The real fear that LTTE cadres could still be surviving within the Tamil Community is likely to step up community surveillance. Consequently there is an urgent need for clarification of positions and the building of mutual trust. Recent public statements by some Tamil leaders that the Sovereignty and Unity of the country are not in dispute are welcome and help to allay the fears of the Sinhala community. Similarly initiatives such as the recruitment of Tamils to the Police Force in the Eastern Province, convey the right signals of Community trust and are timely.
• This welcome trend however needs to deepen and spread. Traces of discrimination at check points and in the requirement of householders lists should be eradicated. My Office is from time to time asked for details of Tamil members of Staff. We instead supply information on all Staff. An inclusive approach in such procedure reduces both discrimination and fear.
• The substantial provision of Tamil as a National language in Government Departments and Police Stations, as required by law, must be implemented. We should not forget that a large percentage of Muslims also speak Tamil as a first language. The establishment of integrated bi-lingual Schools will be an immense investment for trust building amongst future generations.
• Finally, the recent JVP request for a truth and reconciliation commission also requires serious consideration. If directed with maturity and commitment, such a process where people will receive information of their loved ones who have died or are missing in a forgiving way, will help us overcome the bitterness of the past and open a door to reconciliation for the future.
3. Repercussions on our understanding of conflict resolution and the democratic way.
• When a war ends with a convincing victory for one side, no matter the debate on who was more responsible etc., there is a possibility that the way of aggression may too easily be recognised as a problem solving device in other instances as well. Such a development will undoubtedly distance a Nation from the more democratic methods of conflict resolution through dialogue, negotiations and compromise. The antidote to this danger is the deliberate shift to a non-violent, democratic culture of continuing negotiations to resolve our differences.
• The core of our National conflict is our inability to contain our differences in such a way that we may to live together with mutual respect. Identifying a solution to this conflict, at least in theory, has never been the problem. At workshops when school children are taken through an exercise that asks for a solution, they usually get it right, quite quickly. Their solution will suggest that all in this country need to be treated equally, all should receive equal opportunities, all need to live with dignity, all need to be equally free before the law and that all should avoid violence and stay in right and reconciled relationships. Here then in essence is the solution; but it needs to be written into a political proposal and constitutional framework by the experts.
• What then is the problem ? The problem in my understanding is the process; the means of getting there. This is where different power struggles and agendas contend. And this is exactly where political will, prowess, integrity and wisdom makes all the difference. Wise and just governance is what political leaders are elected for. It is their business mostly, to make this happen.
Conclusion
I wish to end by referring to four universal values which have influenced this presentation. These are values that all our religions can identify with and which have potential to direct our shared Sri Lankan journey away from war and violence towards integration and reconciliation. I present them as our common calling. These are ;
1. The care and support of the vulnerable and the poor, always.
2. The condemnation of all types of violence, especially killings, always.
3. The affirmation of dialogue, negotiation, and compromise in our decision making, always.
4. The return to a healing of memories of hatred and revenge so that we may strive towards a future in which we will be free and reconciled, always.
I commend these values to our political leadership and the people of our beloved Lanka.
Thank you.
Duleep de Chickera
Bishop of Colombo
DBS Jeyaraj can be reached at dbsjeyaraj@yahoo.com
How come the Sinhalese diaspora is not rushing back to SL now, to help develop the country? Could it be because they are aware that the country is going nowhere under the “guidance” of the dimwit Mahinda R. and his brothers? Personally, I find this to be yet another justification for a separate Tamil state. So many diaspora Tamils were happy to do volunteer work in LTTE-controlled areas, despite the economic barriers put in place by Sri Lankan Governments. Whereas, the Sinhalese diaspora does not seem to mind that *Sri Lanka* drags on like a poverty-stricken beggar, thanks to total mismanagement by unqualified politicians … at least with a separate Tamil state, one part of the island had a future. Now everyone will have to suffer.
Rt. Rev Duleep de Chickera, I fully agree with your thinking, We must go forward not backward. I am ready for it and how can we, the ordn citizen participate in this process ?
Ok.
All this is true.
Who will take responsibility to achieve all this.
It seems to me lots of ppl are talking
Unlikely to Tamil diaspora Sinhala diaspora are economic migrants who left their families in Sri Lanka. I’m surprised you dont know this fact. It is their returns got Sri Lankan economy going all these years. What is the point in asking them to come back when there are not enough opportunities as at yet.
In case Dinesh may not know there were a lot of local NGO’s manned mainly by southern Sinhalese took initiatives to supply essentials to IDP’s just like in tsunami period before UN even think of. Dont insult them.
One Tamil diaspora is doing exactly like a beggar who aspire to have mansion in colombo 7. We all know he can not have it but he still want it. Yes we all know you want a eelam but we surely know you are not going to get it. Aspire something less more likely that you will succeed.
# 1. Dinesh
Are you not awake yet?
There is no Sinhalese Diaspora as such.
All most all Sinhalese ppl who work abroad are usually Cumming back.
They always treat this land as there roots.
Not like our Tamil friends who always migrate.
And we strongly believe in guidance of the Mahinda R. and his brothers who delivered what they promised.
There leadership crushed LTTE.
Its our ppl who crowned him as “Rajano”.
Its not an easy task what they achieved.
And don’t tell lies.
“”"” So many Diaspora Tamils were happy to do volunteer work in LTTE-controlled areas “”"
They run away as fast as they can from LTTE controlled areas.
They paid huge ransoms to get away and stay away.
They sacrificed there brothers and sisters to LTTE to get away and stay away.
We remember “”"”" One member from one family “”"”
Is that what you call “”" volunteer work “”"
May be digging bunkers for your supper elite to hide.
Wake up my dear friend.
We are not “”" poverty-stricken beggar “”"s.
Have some self respect.
Let’s stop this bickering.
“”" One part of the island had a future “”"
What future?????.
I bet that 90% of the ppl living in LTTE controlled areas never heard of internet.
Ask a 30 year old when was the last time he’s been to a cinema. (If he knows what cinema is for that matter?)
My dear, they destroyed very effectively that part of our (Yours and mine) country.
And I bet that you supported that destruction by funds and by options.
And don’t ever insult MR and company.
They did a superb task.
Nobody thought that they will win.
They fought mightily against all odds.
Tamil Diaspora’s propaganda, Europeans who thought that they can dictate terms to us,
Local politicians (Mangala / Ranil / Ravi / Chandrica and company)
They all wanted MR and company to fail.
So that they can drag this war to the next generation.
So let’s wake up and open your eyes.
If you are really honest, let’s do something for the IDPs.
They are the real heroes of our Tamil community.
Ppl who stuck with the LTTE till the last moment.
Who wrongfully believed in LTTE while most of you escaped and hide behind a well earned luxury living in abroad.
Rt. Rev Duleep de Chickera,
Start something.
I am ready to participate in any way I can.
Thank you, Bishop.
The Anglican Bishop and through him the community has spoken, where is the voice of the Catholic community from the South?
Silence of the Archbishop is deafening.
“And the Lord would say, I was in the IDP camp and you did not raise your voice…..”
JMP
Rev. Duleep… Why after the war ?? Even during the war people of all communities were interegated, non-violent, united and lived with dignity.
(EDITED)
YOU ARE JUST ANOTHER TALK SHOP WITH A HIDDEN AGENDA……….
At a time in the world when religions are looked down upon because some openly preach intolerance, hatred and even mass killings, here is a man of God preaching peace and unity in an event to perpetrate the memory of one of our noblest sons – the late Dr. NM Perera. NM, that great teacher and humanist, believed “politics devoid of socialism” has little relevance and so structured his programmes accordingly. He did not set one against the other to come to political power. Though not a Christian, like many Hindus, I have good reason to respect many of the Christian clergy. The very recruitment of those into the Christian church is through a long process of deep learning; emphasis on respect to other religions and cultures; training to live in peace and harmony with others in diverse societies. The LSSP appealed to many of us because, in the words of Bishop Chickera “I value the wise and learned leadership of the Party, its passion for the rights of the working class and its refusal to exploit ethnicity for political gain” It is a loss to our entire nation that the galaxy of LSSP’s outstanding and acceptable leaders, who had much to offer to our political culture, went out of the scene almost at the same time. Their successors somehow did not appeal just as much to the country. I realize the political dynamics of the country too changed since then making the programme of the LSSP less attractive to the mass voter base. The era of leaders who worked against the politics devoid of socialism was giving way to the era of political opportunism, majoritarian religious bigotry and sycophancy. The more literate within the government should take heed of the many lessons of healing and reconciliation the good Bishop offers here that, methinks, holds the key to unlock the path to our many, growing and insurmountable problems. It is regrettable in a society that has in abundance men capable of bringing us the peace, unity and reconciliation that we badly need, there is the absence of the method to utilize these to the advantage of the entire nation bleeding for over half a century.
DBSJ deserves our thanks for bringing this inclusive message to our notice and to generate a flow of thoughts to result in the prayerful dream of this good man of peace and religion “to become an integrated, just, non-violent, united and reconciled nation with space for all to live in peace and with dignity”
ISS
DBSJ,
Sri Lanka is not in a position to accept any advice from anyone, not even from a man of holy cloth. Let’s get that straight.
When finally everything is said and done, it will be a united Sri Lanka, no doubt, and every Tamil will only be a Tamil by name, but will be for all intents and purposes a Sinhalese. This is the goal of MR and come he** or high water, it will be achieved. It is a stated notion of MR that only by heterogeneously mixing the ethnic population that his country can provide for “equality” – in fact even some members of the English media are trying to jawbone this notion amongst Tamils. I’ll give it 50 years – mark my words, every Tamil in SL will be fluent in Sinhalese, and another 50 years is all it takes to become Sinhalese (akin to the erstwhile tamils of Chilaw and Negombo).
As to why people (especially Tamils) spend so much time arguing about equality, I do not understand. Sadly, the Tigers ended up representing Tamils whether they liked it or not, and the defeat of the Tigers effectively meant the defeat of the Tamils – the Tamils had no choice, no matter what the Bishop says. Let’s begin to acknowledge the resettlement of Kilinochchiipura and Vavunigama. These are foregone conclusions, albiet a couple of decades too early.
My only fear though is that this also might lead to the turning of Lanka into another Myanmar – a military state with a puppet Govt installed by farce elections. Not a likely scenario, yet not an improssible scenario, given the way the Govt. is going about its business today (and celebrating Dutugemunu – doesn’t the name itself teach us anything? what can I say…).
We all know what has happened and why..but theorizing and does not help to venture into the future. One theoretician made a mess of a terrorist outfit, (thank God for that) and now the good reverend is trying the same thing with specious argument to a nation who has elected a government to attend to such matters! I really don’t know what DBSJ is extolling in this presentation by a church head..
I respect the findings and suggestions from Rev Duleep. I have respect for Christian clergies whether they are Tamil or Sinhalese. Our president will listen only one person. It is his terrific brother Kotabaya who knows criminal way only. Rev Duleep’s is excellent only for the gentlement type people not for Kotabayas.
#5:
You are a brainwashed individual from the South. The manner in which you write speaks volumes about such brainwashing. There is a huge Sinhalese diaspora overseas. They have done absolutely nothing to pressure the Sri Lankan Government for reform. Why… because they don’t care, and I don’t blame them. The Sri Lankan Government is a family/friends business that survives through foreign remittances from poor maids in the Middle East, tea revenue from underpaid tea-estate Tamils, and foreign loans from the West (and now the East). It is a beggar State in every sense of the word. It will continue as a welfare state for all time to come, which will be the karma that Sinhalese people will have to pay for their crimes against the Tamils. The only hope for average people on the island is to leave.
#5. Sriyan Chaminda Pasqual !
I don’t agree with any single line of your comments.
All totally wrong and misinformed stories.
One example – “There is no Sinhalese Diaspora as such. All most all Sinhalese ppl who work abroad are usually Cumming back”
Are you talking about the workers in ME and S. Korea?
There are more then 500,00 Sinhalese moved as ‘immigrant’ to western countries. Still there are lots refugees too (mostly in UK and Aus). E.g in the last 2 years along more then 100 Journalist and related workers in exile (because of government threat).
I have many Sinhalese friends who worked with me in Colombo are in western countries. I have still contact with them. No body even ‘thinking’ of going back. They didn’t have problems before moving to west. There is no reason that they would come back to SL and vote to your peace loving Mahinda. They may write here some comments, that’s it.
.
Is this going to help our leaders win elections?
If not, forget it.
A very nice article. Rev. Duleep de Chickera has succinctly summarized the root cause of the present status of this conflict when he says:
One note worthy difference that I would like to point out in Rev’s analysis as apposed to previous analysis by Mr. Upali Cooray is that the latter advocates that we should shed our difference to archive unity but the former takes the position that we should understand our difference for what they are and not let them interfere wrongly in our decision making.
I recently spoke to a person who is involved in government’s redevelopment plans. The reply was that they waste their time and public money on
discussions, ….. discusssion…….disc……(countless)
visits… offcial trips…… visits…. offical trips….(countless)
enjoying nice meals……..
BUT NO ACTION.
LTTE was able to build submarines, planes and all high tech stuff by using tamil diasporas’ knowledge and skills. Vanni tech was run by silicon valley engineers. I met a person who did a detailed research in public health in north and east of Sri Lanka in parallel to his post graduate studies in public health in Uk. He submitted the report to LTTE’s health department. I am 100% sure he never gave a penny to LTTE. There are a lot of tamil diaspora like him. Instead of criticising the diaspora GOSL should make an effort to win the hearts and minds of these people.
Final note:The LTTe was defeated by India, and the world ( current cold war- states vs non state arm groups) not by MR. LTTE ‘s fate was decided on the 11th of sep 2001.
For all talking about Sinhala diaspora numbers. Check this article
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinhalese_people
more 50% in Soudi Arabia. First world countries account for less than 20%. Out of that refugees are even less. Most of them are skill migrants. That is why Sinhala diaspora number are that low.
To Jeyaraj anna and all the tamizh in this blog who keep the flame burning, friends have hope, KP has been appointed the head of the LTTE and we will soon be able to restart our struggle for eelam. Dont forget the singhalese JVP was able to enter the political mainstream, likewise we too either by political means or by taking up arms again will acheive the dream of a country for Tamizhans. Precious Tamizh blood has been shed a lot to abandon a dream of a separate tamizh eezham. Under Hon. Pirapakaran we were able to build submarines, has the sri lankan state been able to build even a pin?
Dear Thamilpriyan ,
I can only laugh at your ignorance. You Sri Lanka never build a pin. For your information I will say this.
Sri Lankan army fought the war with indigenously build baffles and they nullified sea tigers with locally build Arrows.
You still boast of your sinners good for you!
Hey people! you all are like members of parliament. when there is an important discussion about future strategies, you people start fighting over past matters which has little relevence to the on-going discussion. so just like the parliament, you start the discussion on one topic and at the end totally deviate from that and argue about statements made by one another. final out come? no meaningful decisions are taken. if intellectual people like you all can’t engage in a healthy discussion, how about those MP’s who haven’t passed 8th grade even? why can’t you all start the discussion from where we are today and what can be done rather than boasting on past legacies?
I appriciated his thoughts and feelings. First we make people to think. Some time it is not possible but meaningful. Tamils should start to think constructive way than distructive way. See, what did LTTE do for tamils? I dont agree any future actions will come from this root, which is LTTE. They made historical mistake for tamils. How powerful organisation made this unacceptable action. First they should think that how they damage our society. IF they cant think how they damage tamil society , please leave from our struggle. First you have to realize your unwinalbe stratergies then allow srilankan who lives in srilanka to make their decision. If they want to fight leave them to start new leadership without guns. Send money to educate them for all fields. Ask KP, can you send latest books about history, culture,science, engilsh,literute,polictics, …. except bloody guns and bombs. We have problems, LTTE could get resonable solution but they did not. It is okey failed, but please dont reconstruct this fail policies and hidden leadership ajenda. If you have good policies and ideas come out and call meetings and discuss it. Dont say we know, we will, we could, we …. Stop this bibilical words. Practically prove it how to process. Can we have any good paper in canada? can we have good journalist in canada? can we have good social minded leadership in canada? can we have good listeners in our society? All tamil leadership in canada thinks that how to become canadian political figure without doing any thing for canadians. only think about our issues and they think they can get vote. Please stop and rethink about our issues constructivley and make to educate our people. That is enough not brainwash with 8th grade student.
Thank you. Good luck.
I fully agree with Senadhi, Guys if you love our motherland, stop looking back and look forward. Let us talk how to going forward.
So far only Sriyan Chaminda Pasqual & Nalin talking on direction.
Guys count on me.
# 21 Senadhi.
You R correct.
But we could not let some of these remarks pass without a comment.
# 19 Thamilpriyan # 17 SElvi # 14 kavi # 13 Dinesh
I think # 22 Anton has answered your questions.
Read it.
Just think what will happen, if you guys get stopped in a SL Army check point with a attitude like this.
Where will you end?
Then you can start writing about harassment of SL Army.
Lets understand what our “Anglican Bishop of Colombo , Rt. Rev Duleep de Chickera” is trying to say.
Can you guys argue a single word of his letter?
While we are arguing GOSL is trying to feed 300,000.00 IDPs
May be more.
Try to do something to help that.
Lets help them re-settled.
Lets help educate LTTE child soldiers.
Lets help to find jobs, opportunities.
Or you can continue arguing and let them starve while you are dreaming of Tamizhans.
Then you can finish what VP had started.
Annihilation of Tamil community.
The Hon. Bishop’s comments make sense.I think his underlying message is that the citizens of SriLanka should live in harmony.
However if the Bishop made these comments ten or twenty years ago and enforced these values among his church, especially the clergy ,most of the death and destruction that occured in the country could have been avoided.
One might argue that the Clergy in the North would have been under siege by the Tigers and were afraid of them.If the LTTE harmed the Church, the whole Christian World would have ganged up on them and the Church would have prevailed Please remember the Church in the Western World is a very powerful organization,more powerful than any political force.
Instead what we observed from the Catholic clergy in the North was open support and protection for the Tigers.I do not want to diagress on individual incidents
Now that the LTTE is history, I hope the Catholic Clergy take note of the under lying message of the Bishop’ speech and help the Government carry out the task of re building the lives of the innocent civilians who were caught up in the misery brought on them by the so called Liberators.
to comment 19 thamilpriyan
you proudly speak of submarines. did they work. what did they achieve.. here we talk about results, not some planes here and there or some half baked contraptions that are supposed to be submarines. what was the result?
if KP has any intelligence more than his predesessor who was a first class mutt, he will drop the cry for seperatism and change it to federalism. separatism should be dropped for the following reasons
1. there are a lot of tamils living outside the north and east. tamils from the north and east should think of their brethren and not be selfish.
2. . if there is eelam, both sides will be just spending for armed forces. the same fellow who sells some sopfisticated military equipment to srilanka, will come throgh another agent and tell eelam “you are finished if you dont buy this”.
3. there will be future wars over disputed territories.
4. seperation is an anaethma for most countries, including india, and they will not support it. they will always be worried that secession movements will be encouraged in their own countries.
5. the country is too small to be divided. alreadt srilanka is walking a tight rope trying not to become a puppet. 15 000 sq.km is not economically feasible to sustain first world living standards in the long term. to put it in perspective, india is 3,300,000 sq.km and pakistan is 800000 sq.km. canada is 9,984,000 sq,km and australia is 7,700,000 sq.km. smal countries can survive only by becoming puppets of larger ones in the future. the world is going in the other direction while you eelamists are trying to go on reverse gear. see the EU. 27 countries have got together and formed a formidable force for the future.
so if you meet KP who seems to be an intelligent fellow, over a cup of tea, ask him to start using his brains. the earlier leader was all brawn and no brain.
Thanks very much to Bishop Chickera for the sensible comment. In the current atmosphere in Sri Lanka it is easy to be carried along with the triumphalist forces and not struggle against the current..
In politically troubled Srilanka since the 1950s, it gives hope to majority of the fair minded Srilankan patriots of all races and religions that SL can have a better future, when minority religious leaders like The Anglican Bishop of Colombo , Rt. Rev Duleep de Chickera articulate their high level thinking and vision in a forthright manner.
However, in a parliamentary democracy Srilankan stlye, the majority ( represented either by UNP or SLFP ) has been leading the country through their political leadership. These leaders always consult and get the blessings of all the heads of the Sangha.
It is unfortunate that none of the Sangha heads have not come out with an equivalent or similar thinking and vsion like Rt. Rev Duleep de Chickera has articulated. May be they have but I have not come across or missed them. Will any of the Sangha will endorse Rt. Rev Duleep de Chickera’s recommendations in a forthright manner ?
I was enlightened by Prof Vitharne in his interview with Dianne Silva on Hot seat, Dailymirror , particularly about the original intention of APRC which was fathered by Mahinda through his Mahinda Chinthanya.
It was also revealing (as I interpreted it ) how JVP and JHU have slithered out of APRC with hidden agendas for the future. Neverthless, the bottom line is APRC or something to that effect was part of Mahinda regime’s election manifesto. JVP and JHU were party to it.
http://video.dailymirror.lk/videos/39/hot-seat-interview-with-prof.-tissa-vitharana
If there is a Land of Tamils in this world, and what’s wrong with that land? Why the Tamils despise that land? Why do they always want to go to a western country, but NEVER to the Land of Tamils?
Why do they always want to go to a western country, but NEVER to the Land of Tamils?
How may descendents of Vijaya’s merry band have you seen returning their homeland in Bihar?
Srilankan tamils for their own good, should integrate with majority sinhalese and learn their language. Take cue from malaysian tamils. Srilankan tamils should think they are first srilankan then Tamils. Indian Tamils, Malysian Tamils and Singapore tamils all give consider their nation first than their tamil origin.
Sriyan Chaminda Pasqual ,
The first thing Sinhalese do when they migrate abroad is lose their identity and behave like coconuts (brown skinned acting like white).
Their children usually inter marry whites and they dont follow their culture.
The tamils do a much better job of preserving their culture in foreign countries.
I know. I live in the UK.
All tamil children born in the UK speak tamil.
The sinhalese born in the UK dont speak Sinhala
Tharaka,
Tamils generally work harder and show more academic brilliance than Sinhalese.
So you can take your ‘tamil beggar’ nonsense and shove it.
Why do you think GOSL kicked tamils out of the civil service after British left? Because tamils always outcompeted Sinhalese in academics and got the top jobs.
Even today, tamil students have a higher pass mark for exams.
Tharaka,
Mansions is Colombo 7 are owned by corrupt politicians who steal tax payers money and drug dealers and underworld kings.
Mahinda stole $millions worth of tsunami Aid and put into his own pocket.
If you leave tamils and Sinhalese on level playing field, they tamils will go far ahead. That is why your govt needs to deprive the rights of the tamils.
UGK
I think you are living in the go and look at which are districts out performing colombo. Jaffa district not now fill their own quota of medical positions. I think that should be something we should be sad about. Yes you DID out perform Sinhalese not because you were more intelligent it was because you had better teachers better facilities. That era has long gone. Now 50% eng and med faculties recruited on merit than regional quota. It because of people like you who treated Sinhalese like donkeys with british raj made Sinhalese to change the system to their advantage. It is because people like we can get rid of chauvinists as you call it. To me you are no more no less a chauvinist.