Something Positive
this is a photo i took on a Matara beach after the tsunami
Sri Lanka has a bright future and an ugly past. The past is racial division, war, and economic stagnation. The past is the impoverishment of the people by a parasitic state. These policies have been abandoned by India, China and other nominally socialist-leaning states, but they still hold intellectual sway in Sri Lanka. We have lost the universities, intellectuals, media, and the web. We have also lost this election. Ranil lost not because his policies are bad or unsuccessful, but because they simply weren’t communicated. He lacked the language and frames to structure his ideas, so his accomplishments just hung in the air. We now have six years to build the intellectual infrastructure (papers, seminars, and, most importantly, people) that can shape public opinion and lead to conservative resurgence in this country. We have to reclaim our economy, media, faith, and nation. Now we have six years in the wilderness to do it.
During this campaign the UNP had no talking points, no message discipline, no coherent branding, and no comprehensible theme. Part of this is because the media unit is rephrehensibly bad and Ranil isn’t the most brandable of candidates. Moreso, it’s because there is no intellectual infrastructure to support his policies. A policy of reaching out internationally to contain the LTTE gets framed as ‘neo-colonialism’ or ‘selling-out’. A policy of including minorities gets framed as ‘dividing the country’. Policies of growing the economy and encouraging investment are framed as ‘capitalism’, and that alone is a dirty word.
Sri Lankans blame everything on politicians, but the Sri Lanka people chose this backwards path. Before the government and country can change, we have to shape public opinions. Today the media, web and public policy are biased and empty. They wrap destructive policies in frames of ‘jobs’ and ‘pro-poor’, while inflation keeps rising and peace disintegrating, causing average Sri Lankans loss of wealth and security. These frames have to change, and we need a conservative movement to change it.
There are a few basic elements:
Technical (Web): Suppose the thing would be primarily web-based because its simpler to organize people that way. Web-end, as a base, would comprise blogging, news filter (to call the state media’s bias and lies), document management, and mailing lists. Also, online donations for fundraising. Would also need to enlist multi-media content in the form of graphics, audio, videos, etc. In addition to original content, there has to be a concerted effort to monitor and document the bias in the mainstream media.
Technical (Meatspace): Over time, ideas have to leak into the mainstream media and also develop other channels. With some donations you can fund postering campaigns relentlessly attacking bullshit on a street level. It is also necessary to have meetings of like-minded conservatives in order to strengthen connections, and also organize symposiums and conferences to share and refine ideas. These thing all require funding, so there also must be significant fund-raising, both online and off. This also requires transparency and accountablity.
Research: Economic and social research has to be funded, published and supported in all three languages. Translations have to be funded. Papers need to be criticized, commented on, and interlinked. Over time, talking points have to be developed and relentlessly hammered upon. Everything must be written in or translated into Sinhala or Tamil. Detailed and nerdy research needs to be supported because it forms the base of more media friendly soundbites and talking points.
People: This is the most vital of all, and the aim of all three above. Young scholars and researchers have to be supported and groomed to overthrow the stale talking heads on TV. To quote an old story,
King Kavanatissa knew that the task of getting rid of the invaders would not be possible in his lifetime. He was getting old and weak. However he started building an army for the future war with invaders with a band of warriors who proved themselves to be brave. Ten giant warriors (Dasa Maha Yodayas) were recruited and they spent their time practicing martial arts. They were joined by the two brothers Princes Gemunu and Tissa. They had their training in archery, swordsmanship and in riding horses and elephants. King Kavantissa’s call to arms began with the recruitment of 10 young men. They were summoned before him and asked to find ten warriors. Within a short time there were a 100 able soldiers. In this manner 1000 were taken in. They raised a formidable army of 11 110, men within a short time.
In this time of rest we have to assemble Maha Yodayas that can take on Wimal Weerawansa and the assorted pack of lies on TV and in the media. We have to cultivate and encourage young media personalities that can fight for the future of this country rather than expecting the truth alone to set them free. The truth is not a bulletproof vest. We need people who will actually train and fight for it.
Finally, there are some issues the right needs to take back,
Faith: We need to take back our faith, specifically Buddhism. It is a wonderful religion of humility, tolerance and personal strength backed by the active practice of meditation. The left is naturally hostile to religion, and they only use it as a nationalist and racist club. We need to revive the fundamental Buddhism of humility, charity and self-confidence. Faith needs to be discussed, debated, practiced and publicly acknowledged without shame. Buddhism is philosophically sound, and it is the surest way to reach ordinary Sri Lankans. Practiced properly, it is also a sure way to tolerance and acceptance of all other religions.
National Pride: The left thinks national pride is closing the economy and hiding from the world. That is only national cowardice and shame. Sri Lanka is ready to take its place on the national stage and we need to have the courage and identity to stand up. Sri Lankans need to associate strength and identity with an open economy, where we begin to assert ourselves as a self-confident nation.
Anyways, I know a lot of people are leaving and I fully understand. The stock market has plummeted and the North and East are now effectively another nation. I, however, still believe in Sri Lanka and I’m going to stay. This think-tank type idea has been bouncing around various people in different forms, but there’s never been the time or urgent need to do anything about it. Now there is both time and a need, so I’m going to talk to some people and see what can be done.
Amen to the victory of Mahinda!
PRAISE THE LORD!!
HALLELUJAH!
Indi – barring the web stuff it all sound very premadasa-esque
Policies of growing the economy and encouraging investment are framed as ‘capitalism’, and that alone is a dirty word.
All the writing I’ve seen seems to be attacking it by using ‘neo-liberalism’ as the dirty word not ‘capitalism’.
Seriously, are there a lot of people leaving ? I met a family who have moved most of their invesment capital to Oz fearing the jvp. Sure hope this doesn’t happen. Call me naive and unaware but I doubt it’s going to be that bad and surely mahinda isn’t that naive.
I personally know 2 people who are leaving, including a quiz master, damn it
I met two parties yesterday night, five professionals among them, who are making plans to leave………..
Quizmaster is leaving? You mean N, I assume. Ask the bugger to call me before he leaves. I don’t have his number because I lost my phone.
oh…and have some arrack tonight old chap!
mahinda really can’t do anything, even if he wanted to. government is running on aid money, period. he will have to break lots of promises. nor will he be able to start a war.
what is not clear is what ltte is going to do. since they have by their own action closed off a lot of options. we will know on 27th. and the tamils who obeyed the ltte boycott without being forced (either in cleared areas or in colombo) will know what they got themselves into soon.
so in the meanwhile we will have some fun at the expense of our new president the buffalo. horned one muddled up so many sentences in his acceptance speech that i think i will not apologize for my muddled sentences anymore.
At least Oswald Gomis and his henchman Lalith Kotelawala got slapped in the face.
really can the buffaloes slap? more likely they got scratched by the tiger because they wanted peace.
Excellent stuff Indi. It’s been only half a day and I’m already sick of thinking about the future. Decided not to do anything about it (even think…..which anyway is a rare occurrence for us as Sri Lankans as the poll showed!!) until the whole situation blows over. The uncertainty that prevails now clouds any rational mind. Is Mahinda different as they say he is (obviously flashes due to the lack of alternatives!!)? Is Ranil going to call it a day? If so who is going to take over? Who ever he is, how long is he going to take to win over the ‘sudda’ buggers? In this whole context where is the LTTE going to fit in for the next six years? Phew……that’s a fucking lot for a Sri Lankan mind!
On a day every other person is contemplating on whether life would be better elsewhere, I found a reason to stay ïŠ
Though I do agree with you that, policies in frames of jobs and free food have to be changed, on the strategies on how to go about the whole thing I do not. For example anymore time and money spent on the web in terms of educating anybody for that matter is absolutely worthless. What are we talking about here? The 144K internet connection in SL? Trust me when I say that not even 10% of the people who access the internet will read politics on it. Think you need to find a better drill there. Hate to be the guy to criticize your thoughts today but feel one of the reasons that the UNP has been failing in the recent past has been their lack of “hands-on” experience at the grass root level.
Fully agree with you on the intellectual infrastructure. How you filter the knowledge down to the level that makes a difference, is the killer. Yes, there is time and need which will hopefully be better utilized than in the past.
Net is just a simple means of organizing contributors. Also a conduit to fund the printing and postering that can reach people. The goal is to cultivate people and talking points that can infiltrate and challenge the current mainstream media.
I don’t think that printing and postering is going to matter a lot at the level that makes a difference. On the other hand I don’t think that the UNP lacks resources even to take the mainstreammedia head on. It’s just that we need to know how to pitch what we are saying at that level. We all know the plans that Ranil had but was it ever told in a manner where the common man understood it? The very rare times Ranil tried to do it, he came off a jackass. Time immoral “braclet” story come to mind. This was the only way he knew how to simplify the big picture he had in mind. I feel that we are pitching our fork again in the wrong. Think the UNP needs is to invest big time in a “good” PR and media unit.
I’m happy that Oswald the parasite and other associated Sinhala Christian fundamentalists got a stinging slap.
PRAISE THE LORD!!
James, dude you sure have it personal for Oswald. OMG!!!!….Now I understand……..I’m sorry I didn’t earlier………honestly sorry bra…………so tell me, how long has it been since Oswald changed bitches?
Mahinda Won. Ranil Lost. Commisioner Retired.
This is why exctly I argue that sri lanka is filled with idiots who most of the time is out of their minds.
Take a look at this blog. we are having this Bullshit war on religious stuff than talking about the real crisis.
I think we may have Some bigger problems than this..
1) How on earth Mahinda can get LTTE into the Talkl tables?
2) What if he fails? are we gonna continue this “No-Peace – No war” situation further?
3) What will happen to Ranil ? Is the UNP Leadership gonna Change?
4) Then Who will it be ? Karu? I dont wanna even think about it…
I heard there are rumours that Milinda Moragoda will probably will go as the President if the UNP.
then I guess its either Karu or hmmm I dont know..
Its realy a Disaster that Ranil cant be on the Leadership after this. Particualrly I think that UNP will face a great disturbances.
Ranil was a good man. Who knew what to think and What do. But sadly Who knew how to talk to head. Not to heart.
As far As I think, We need a personality who can Do both. The Head and the MOST Stupidly Important To HEART talking..
What the Future Of UNP?
its a sad day but we have to move on…. loku i agree with you the unp have to sort out their PR..they have some serious issues in that department…also ranil is a leader ahead of his time this country…he had a vision for this country….too bad the majority of this country doesnt see things this way….
Pumpkin – which is exactly why I say that the UNP have to make a very carefull dicision in selecting thier Next leader.
I was shocked and sadned to see Ranil not appearing at the commisioners office for the finale media briefing.
I dont know whats goin on the UNP HQ, But I feel Ranil should be in the leadership of the Party till they come up with a leader who can take the flad from his hands. with reference my comment earlier, Wen need A leader who can answer Wimal weerawansas filthy talksand Monks bitchy talks plus A leader like ranil who is firm on his principals.
thats why raised the question of whether anyone is really outthere inside UNP to fill in the place.
Cheers.
Mind you, We DONT need a leader like Mahinda from UNP.
Right?
Indi ,
after two -three weeks of rantings ,you are thinking rationaly now.
+
Some of the stuff Loku Mahattaya is saying(about internet )
all the past posts were pretty reasoned Chandare, point out any inconsistencies if you see them
Indi ,
Don’t take this personaly man ,thats what I felt when I read them past couple of weeks.I understand the election fever was high and you were in the middle of it.I need some free time to point them out one by one but take for example your claim that Mahinda stole money from Tsunami funds.Well that was hurriedly thrown out by Rajitha and the gang to sling mud during the election cycle .
He(or His cronies) may or may not have stolen money .Nothing is proven yet.He is not guilty until proven.For the public ,except for the hardline UNPers, he is not somebody who steals money .They know He and the whole Rajapakse clan is relatively poor compared to other big political families because they have a reputation of being relatively incorruptible .He might be a incompetant fool but he is no thief in public opinion.People have to be careful when throwing those accusation since it can backfire.(But in the recent past he has sponsered some underworld elements in deep south )
On the other hand Ranil is no saint either .I think UNP and SLFP will be both better off without Jayawadena/Senanayake clan and Bandaranayake clan .It will be healthy for the democracy.The only downside is whether Mahinda won or not SLFP will loose it’s base to JVP.That brings us to your above post which I agree .This has to be build up from the bottom.There are no shortcuts.There has to be pressure to do the right thing whether UNP,SLFP or JVP in power.(I’m throwing in JVP to the above lot reluctantly)
Not taking it personally, you’re points are just incorrect.
your claim that Mahinda stole money from Tsunami funds
All I said was that he was under investigation, and the investigation was covered up. The caption was a bit accusatory, but the text of the image and the article focused on the investigation and the cover up. That article was actually written for the Leisure Times so it was reviewed and edited like 5 times. Read the post. I was never ‘ranting’. All those arguments were reasoned.
what about this ? http://indi.ca/2005/11/war-and-peace/
All t the pro-war pro-peace things are B.S.Anyone of them will have to talk to LTTE .It is LTTE who is going to decide when to start war.Mahinda will talk tough but he will have to sit down and talk .Ranil might have been the the commander in chief and he will have to retaliate when LTTE starts the fight .So the whole pro-war pro-peace argument is B.S.
By Rantings I meant statement like this
”
First off, Mahinda has accomplished absolutely nothing in 37 years of public service, besides enriching himself and throwing some nice parties. His biography is similar to that of George W. Bush – wealthy political family, mastery of ‘looking’ common (be it cowboy hat or national dress), and a history of doing nothing real. This is what his online biography says:”
Not that there is anything wrong with rants.I like rants but I like this post better.
To rebut the above ,do you think he is rich and faking being common man ?Grow up.This guy can barely speak English ,which is an absolute must to enter high society in Sri Lanka.He used to be a clerk in University of Jayawardenapura(now Vidyalankara then ) before becoming a MP.Talking about Rich ,I don’t think he had good car until 80′s .I accept the incompetant accusation since he did nothing despite being in the government for 10 years!Check what Premadasa,Gamini and Lalith did with their limited power
About the above.It sounds like a plan.It shouldn’t be about getting one party elected.It should be about getting the ideas through to the public and laying the ground work for a future generation of leadership .They should be able to debate JVP and LTTE in Sinhala and Tamil.
What I mean by ideas is..
1.Open economy (it has been made a four letter word in Sinhala)
2.Why religion and state need to be separated .
3.Why the education need to be overhauled and how to do it.
4.Why federalism and power sharing is OK.
5.What is kind of infrasture is more important and what should the focus of our economy.What kind of role the government should play.
6.What kind of institution we need to make democracy work.Checks and Balances.Transparency.
I’m really frustrated by lack of blogging in universities .It is the ideal place because there are a lot of politics going on and they access to internet.I guess it is the language barrier because inside universities political climate is crazy.(It not a bunch JVPers out there .The full spectrum is represented)
It’s great that you added Kathika to the blogroll in kottu(I haven’t read but I plan to read).
Remember when Ranil said something about “Pasdun Rata” there was a big noise ?Well other guys makes those mistakes all the time.Nobody calls on their bluffs .That’s the difference.
When it comes to Sinhala media (I don’t know Tamil) ,the ignorance is shocking (again the languge barrier plays a big role.The material available to them is limited due to the language)
indi – what do you think that the UNPs next move is ?
No idea. From my experience they’re not very organized.
Read that Ranil is asking for a re-poll in the north and the east this morning. What’s the latest on that? Is that possible in the first place?
Indi keep it going!
i’ve been a silent observer on all your blogs and i think whatever positive or negative comes out, the most important thing is to keep the dialogue on. upon reading the heading of this episode i feel compelled to put you onto to a site run by a 72 year man who tirelessly travels around the length & breadth of India(believe me this could take a lifetime) collecting information on positive people who spend all their time and energy trying to build a better world. the site is called goodnewsindia.com please check it out
Anyone else throwing a party now that the UNP has lost and the UPFA has won?
A heck of a lot of people who were loud and uncouth going on about a UNP victory prior to the results sure seem to have a lot of “KATE PAS”
fact of the matter is, it is the ltte who elected the mahinda buffalo.
it would have been different if ranil lost by a large margin but he did not.
there was nothing wrong with the unp massage they got the expected swing in the south except in southern province. they increased their tally (including both slmc and ucpf for 2004) from 40.39% to 48.4% (by 8.01% , 952,105 in votes) you rarely get better swings than that. they lost because ppl in northeast did not vote. when 10% of the ppl do not vote other 90% become 100% each vote cast increases in value by 11%.
why did the ppl in the north did not vote ? because ltte wanted war and ppl there chose to follow it.
unp and ranil did the right thing in wanting peace and appealing to all the communities. that a slim majority in the south and almost everyone in the north decided to choose war does not make it the wrong policy. they should stick to it.
as for ranil, it would be good if he stick around, but he probably won’t, but then unp is full of talent unlike the buffalo’s party. after all, they lost by sixty something % in 1994 and came back strongly. things will look different 3 months from the election or probably this time in 3 weeks.
ppl who chose war on their own free will probably get it, buffalo himself will not start it (bc government is more or less broke after all) but ltte does not have any options, do they? they won’t come to talks and the government will be unable to tolerate daily killings while the ltte will not be able to do without them as long as they want to control ppl militarily.
we have to put up with a ugly future for some time. but when you let tigers elect a buffalo and have ppl celebrating in the streets of colombo what do you expect.
jimmy boy, after the party do come down (or is it up) from australia and join the army. that way you can party all day in the near future.
Yeah.. Looks like VP took a big shit on the face of the Holy troika (Ossie Gomis, Lalith Kots and Ranil Wicks). Hehhe…
Hi
Im also a silent observer of this blog. Just I want to say, please dont insult to the religious leaders. Indi, As a editor why are you silent about that??
that guy’s a troll. I don’t feed him.
So the UNP goons are out and about throwing a tantrum because they lost the election. Isn’t that sad? I think so.
I for one am stoked over Mahinda’s win.
Ranil was in bed with the Christian fundamentalists and this was revealed when two notorious and sectarian Sinhala Christian fundamentalists – Oswald Gomis (aka parasite – thus called for real reasons not insult) and Lalith Kotelawala sided with him by trying to evoke religious discord and division among Sri Lankans (as we all know this is a speciality of Christian fundamentalists). Thus I am glad Mahinda won and handed defeat to Sinhala Christian fundamentalists and their hangers-on. The Catholic Church needs to learn to keep its nose out national affairs and concentrate on “the flock” instead of trying to promote Christian fundamentalism and the forces of fanaticism hell-bent on trying to Christianise Sri Lanka at the cost of religious harmony.
If Ranil had won, the Sinhala Christian fundamentalists in government would have had a free run to do whatever they pleased. Last time when they were in power they opened the doors to foreign Christian fundamentalist groups to enter Sri Lanka and create religious havoc. We all know what that lead to. Then one Sinhala Christian fundamentalist in charge of defence forced all police stations to keep a Bible on display. The order was rescinded after protests. Pretty soon they would be trying to strong-arm creationism into our school classrooms.
Besides that, Ranil wanted to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Portuguese invasion of Sri Lanka – yeah, you know, when Buddhist and Hindu temples were smashed up and Christianity was forced down the throats of Sri Lankans and Buddhists and Hindus were oppressed, harassed and killed for their beliefs.
So heck yeah I am glad Ranil lost.
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSERR!!!!
PRAISE THE LORD!!
Indi, I think some of the commentary on the elections is worth saving.
The proof ofthe pudding is in the eating, lets see what he delivers. Examining delivery in the light promises made and hopes raised should prove to be interesting, especially after a year or two.
buffalo won’t deliver a thing, like cbk he will stay there doing nothing . even the war will be restarted by ltte. but unlike in 1994 the government is broke. so he wll break earlier than cbk.
sooner he lose the parliment and become lame the better for sri lanka. i would give him 1.5 yrs at most.
[...] Morquendi also asks some other uncomfortable questions about the implications of Ranil winning on votes that were largely Sinhala, and asserts that the victor for Ranil means a defeat for Sri Lanka – the Sri Lanka that has both Sinhala and Tamil people. Indi on why he thinks Ranil lost. He has more on the LTTE disenfranchising the people they claim to represent. [...]
Excellent stuff indi!! Ranil should appoint you as chief media/ policy/ financial/ etc advisor if he is at least eying for the presidency in year 3000. (you can advise him to promise a free blog to the every youth in the country)
The problem with almost all the politicians in this country is that they seem happy with the status quo. None seem to really believe that with proper policies and sound government, this place can actually be fixed. They just assume that Sri Lanka is simply Sri Lanka and can never be another Malaysia or Singapore. Of course, they all say they have a grand vision, but none really believe in it.
They are in politics for the power, the perks, and the priviledges that go with office. It is just another career. When elected they are content to busy themselves with the humdrum administrative work and little projects, which is fine for a developed, mature economy, not for a near basket case like Sri Lanka.
Ranil was about the only man who really believed in a big vision and had the capacity to deliver. He is finished now. The UNP can win- just appoint strongmen like SB and Sajit Premadasa- but they lack the vision and so does everybody else.
We seem doomed to muddle along (on a best case scenario) or descend to another Zimbabwe (worst case scenario, possible if Chintanaya implemented to a great extent)
UNP should seriously think of appointing Vee Ja Mu Lokubandara as theire leader.
He is a clen politician with a lot of respect from all corners. Far more experienced than any other current politician in the party.
As for Ranil not taking his message across properly, well I addressed this issue in my blog (which is not very popular I must admit) some time back.
The reason is that Ranil did not have the background to impress upon the masses of his policies and he never put a serious effort to correct it either. Every time he tried to explain it, all the people started laughing and playing “choka baila” and having fun. If you went at least to one election meeting of UNP you would have seen the difference. The kind of grass root level supporters of the UNP are the local kudu karayas, baila fellows and the local big madame who owns the prostitutes!To top it all there would always be a musical show which has no relevance at all to the meeting and some drunkards partying like there is no tommorow. They need strong and respected leadership to the party. Leadership which has the background of living among the average citizens of this country. A leadership which will understand the heart of the people.
As far as Peace is concerned the two main parties should really get together on this and force LTTE back to the table. And I also believe, although he talks like a hardliner, Mahinda will have to get together with UNP in order to resolve this. He might have to break some promises to do this, but don’t they all?
I also believe that Jaffna people made a big mistake by not casting thiere vote. They should relly reflect upon this now.
What to do with Ranil?
The verdict was given on who will lead Sri Lanka for the next six
years-Not by its citizen’s but Hon. Prabhakaran. LTTE has influenced the outcome
of all the presidential elections since 1994.
1994- Gamini Dissanayake was killed – Chandrika Won 1999- Chandrika was bombed ? Chandrika Won (Sympathy Vote) 2005- Tigers forced a Boycott ? Mahinda Won This shows how pathetic we have become politically? A terrorist
leader deciding on who should rule us. Sri Lanka’s well being will be the last thing in Prabhakaran’s mind.
In 1999 even in the event of Chandrika succumbing to her injuries Ranil would not have won- because the Presidential election gets cancelled in the event of incumbent getting killed during the elections. Only chaos
& anarchy would have prevailed. I am sure Prabhakaran, did look at the constitution before sending that human bomb. All what Prabhakaran needs is a Politically, Economically & Internationally weak Sri Lanka. And this ? the southern Sinhalese people have given to Prabhakaran. LTTE has eliminated Lalith, Premadasa & Gamini physically and their latest stunt is eliminating Ranil Wickramasinghe politically. The saddest part is that he used the Sinhala people s
pawns in his latest maneuver-which the Sinhalese in the south didn’t even realize! (Yet) The Sinhalese will soon come
to realize their greatest mistake & by that time a Visionary Leader who would have trapped the LTTE internationally
& forced a peaceful solution on them and brought economic glory would have retired from politics. Prabhakaran must be having a mighty laugh at the stupidity of the Sinhalese People. The thing can be described in Sinhala: “Oorage malu oorage anga uda thiyala kapanawa. My addition is “oora danneth naha-Oorata hari joli!” It means doing something detrimental to some one using the same person as a tool. My addition is that the person being used as a tool doesn’t even
now this & enjoys the act! Now let’s take a look at the reason why Prabhakaran rejected Ranil Wickramasinghe:
Is it because- Ranil Can’t clap, speak or smile properly?
Ranil will sell Sri Lanka to foreigners as alleged ? (by critics)
Ranil’s alleged sexual preference? (by critics)
Answer is a big NO!!
Its plainly because Ranil was the only formidable threat for Prabhakaran. He was the only match to Prabhakran in the
south (other than Chandrika), in terms of being a smart cookie. Prabhakaran installed a person as the president (a
nice guy to everybody at all times but hardly a visionary-who will be a prisoner of JVP & JHU). A prosperous economy,
political stability & renewed international support to SL under Ranil would have been a nightmare for Prabhakaran.
Some people call President Rajapakse’s victory as a B’day gift. But that gift nothing but trivial compared to the gift in advance that we have given Prabakaran (whose B’day falls on the 26th of November). What more can Prabhakaran
expect from us!! It is natural and expected that most of the people who backed Ranil are frustrated. Ranil is the easiest
scapegoat they can find. But will a change of leadership solve the problem? I strongly believe we shouldn’t let Ranil go.
His experience & leadership is yet to be utilized fully. We deserve much more from Ranil & Chandrika. They have many
more years of politics in them. Aren’t we being foolish by sending our leaders home just because of a terrorist leader decide he shouldn’t rule the country?
Thanks to Prabhakaran we are running out of Leaders!
Only silver lining of this election result is that the prefix-”Traitor”, which was always used with Ranil ickramasinghe, has been cleared. And we should also keep in mind that some of us can fool the poor village folks over and over and over again? But can we fool the
1. The LTTE
2. Fundamentals of economics….
Therefore a time for people to realize their mistakes will come VERY SOON. 48.5 % of Sri Lankans who live outside North & East who voted for Ranil shouldn’t be disillusioned. It will be giving in to terrorism. Let us protect our leaders and put up a common front. Now there is speculation over who will become the Prime Minister. My suggestion is let Prabhakaran select the Prime Minister too!
They have named D.M. Jayaratne as the Prime Minister. He will take oaths this week.
Ruwan hit the nail on the head.
Hey Ruwan I got the same article by mail this morning. Some bitch is in your head!!!
Hey guys I got this article by mail. Sounds interesting.
Comment:
Did LTTE have secret deal with Mahinda to enforce boycott?
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Speculation is rife in Colombo political and diplomatic circles about a possible secret deal, prior to the Presidential poll of Nov 18th , between Mahinda Rajapakse and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to have the new President elected through an enforced boycott in the Tamil majority regions of the North – East!
According to preliminary reports there is much speculation that an arrangement was ensured after a series of meetings held between LTTE political commissar Suppia Paramu Thamilselvan and a special representative of Mahinda Rajapakse. The special envoy is believed to be none other than Tiran Alles the chief of the Katunayake International Airport in his capacity as chairman of the Airport and Aviation services Ltd. Tiran Alles who was operations manager earlier became chairman after the resignation of Eastern Province Muslim Congress politician Hizbullah.
According to informed sources Tiran Alles is a blue – eyed boy of Aviation and Ports Minister Mangala Samaraweera who was campaign manager of Mahinda Rajapakse for the Presidential election. He was reportedly commissioned by Samaraweera with the approval of Rajapakse to undertake a series of visits to Kilinochchi in the North and meet with the LTTE hierarchy particularly the political commissar Thamilselvan. It is said that Alles had established and cultivated contacts with LTTE leaders like Thamilselvan, Pulidevan, Nadesan, Para, Balakumaran and others during their several trips to and from Asian and European destinations through Katunayake for peace talks.
According to sources Tiran Alles was mandated with the task of ensuring a boycott5 by the Tamil people of the Presidential polls.
It was realised that given the pacts signed by Rajapakse with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and Jathika Hela Urumaya and policies outlined in his election manifesto an open and straight forward deal with the LTTE was out of the question. With the LTTE articulating a strong anti – Mahinda viewpoint for Tamil consumption any possible deal with him would have been detrimental to tiger interests. Likewise the Rajapakse campaign too had a stridently anti – tiger line and charged Ranil Wickremasinghe of having entered into an “Ali – Koti “(Elephant – Tiger) deal to get the UNP candidate elected. INformation leaking out of a Mahinda – Tiger deal before elections would have been counterproductive.
The hush – hush talks therefore focussed on an indirect support being extended instead of open or direct support.
Since it was a foregone conclusion that the bulk of Tamil voters would be voting for Wickremasinghe in a free and fair poll the idea was to ensure a Tamil boycott of the election. This would have prevented Tamil votes being cast for Wickremasinghe. This in turn would help Rajapakse who was expected to get the majority of Sinhala votes. It is believed that the LTTE formally launched an attack on Wickremasinghe to herald a boycott after an arrangement was made with Alles. The political offensive against Wickremasinghe was flagged off by senior leader KV Balakumaran in an interview to “Voice of Tigers” (Puligalin Kural) Radio on Nov 4th.
Thereafter the boycott campaign gathered steam. This in turn led to a national and international backlash against the LTTE. It was pointed out that a Tamil boycott would onlt help defeat the pro – peace, pro -devolution Wickremasinghe and ensure the victory of Rajapakse the hardliner on the ethnic question.
Much international pressure was exerted on the LTTE. Periyasamy Chandrasekeran of the Up Country Peoples Front went as a special emissary of Wickremasinghe to plead Ranil’s case with Thamilselvan. Wickremasinghe wanted the LTTE to refrain from enforcing a boycott and allowing the Tamil people freedom of choice to vote. Thamilselvan then informed the UNP and international circles that the LTTE will not thrust a boycott down Tamil throats and the people would be free to vote for any candidate. This was carried in the media of Nov 16th and the stock market picked up from the doldrums. Yet the LTTE went back on its assurance and stabbed Wickremasinghe in the back by enforcing a harsh boycott through violence and intimidation.
This resulted in a drop of Tamil votes particularly in Jaffna where only 1. 5 % of Tamils voted. The shortfall of expected Tamil votes due to the tiger enforced boycott led to Wickremasinghes defeat by 186, 000 votes. The UNP condemns the tiger act as a betrayal. While analysts and political observers were trying to fathom the reasons behind the LTTE’s seemingly inexplicable conduct of defeating the pro – Federalism Ranil and getting the anti – Federalism Mahinda winning the Colombo grapevine began humming with the tale of a Mahinda – Puli deal.
It is believed that Tiran Alles undertook an urgent mission to Kilinochchi after reports of a boycott relaxation and met with Thamilselvan. Alles had been able to “persuade” Thamilselvan into revising tiger stance again and enforcing the boycott. Alles returned triumphantly to Colombo after ensuring an enforced Tamil boycott that shattered Ranils chances of victory. Darisha Bastians writing in the “Daily Mirror” of Nov 22nd said that Rajapakse had hugged Alles openly and thanked him for making the victory possible. This is what Darisha wrote –
“Small wonder then that when Friday dawned and a Rajapakse victory was confirmed, the new president-elect violently hugged Aviation Authority Chairman Tiran Alles as he walked into Temple Trees and thanked him for making it all possible. Alles, whose support had been solicited by Minister Mangala Samaraweera had been the chief negotiator with the LTTE on the UPFA’s behalf.
Alles, following a series of dialogues with the Kilinochchi leadership, finally ensured that the rebels called a boycott of last Thursday’s poll, effectively snatching certain victory from Wickremesinghe and handing it over to Rajapakse on a silver platter. ”
A website run by the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization also referred to a representative of Mahinda Rajapakse being present in Kilinochchi to pressurise the LTTE into enforcing a boycott. The website stated that Rajapakses special representative was Tiran Alles.
It is also noteworthy that a Sinhala newspaper in Colombo had carried a story some weeks ago about a possible deal in the making between the LTTE and a special emissary of Rajapakse.
Chandrasekeram a well – known LTTE sympathiser has been pissed off by the tiger betrayal and in a statement called upon the LTTE into reviewing its strategies.
Tiran Alles is the son of former DS Senanayake College principal Ralph Alles. The well – known educationist was not re-instated as Principal after he returned from a foreign trip. This was apparently done on a directive of Ranil Wickremasinghe who was Education minister then. Despite pressure on behalf of Alles by Ranasinghe Premadasa and Sirisena Cooray Wickremasinghe remained form and refused to relent. This action by Wickremasinghe many years ago has not endeared him to the Alles family.
Political and diplomatic circles in Colombo were alerted to the Alles connection in the LTTE boycott after reports of the warm embrace of Tiran by Mahinda and the profuse thanks extended to him began to circulate. Strenuous attempts are being made by Diplomatic and media circles to find out more details about the suspected LTTE – Mahinda deal. What the terms are is not known yet. A western diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity said that he suspected a financial arrangement was more likely as a political arrangement was virtually impossible under pevailing circumstances where both sides maintain mutual hostility openly. He also said that it was unknown at present as to whether LTTE supremo Velupillai Pirapakaran was aware of the deal or whether the high flying Thamilselvan had gone behind his leaders back.
A colombo newspaper editor said that efforts were being made to contact all parties concerned and find out the truth. “If our investigative sleuths uncover concrete evidence about a Mahinda – Tiger deal and its terms then the shit will hit the fan” he said. “Both the Sinhala and Tamil people must know the truth behind this. Did the new President whose election campaign accused Ranil of having a deal with the LTTE enter into a secret deal himself with the tigers? Did the LTTE which provided various reasons for the boycott enter into a deal with Mahinda to ensure his victory through an enforced boycott? The people must know the truth” the editor said.
Looks pretty bad.
Can anyone supply independent confirmation that the LTTE chopped off the hand of the one man who voted in Kilinochchi? (reported in the Asian Tribune and carried on a a number of news sites and the Island newspaper)
That would confirm beyond all doubts that the boycott was enforced, contrary to claims by LTTE spokesmen.
both buffalo-tiger deal and chopped off hand are at the moment unconfirmed. and probably will remain so.
but buffalo seems to have made a big mistake by letting the rumor start, this will cost him dear.
Seems like that Christian fanatic Lalith Kotelawala has hit the headlines again. He claims the LTTE are “freedom fighters” and once again (surprise surprise!) spits venom at Buddhists in his Gulf News interview.