The Diaspora’s Stake In Sri Lanka
A Canada sponsored turtle poster in Tangalle. I dunno. Needed something.
I spend an inordinate amount of time on this Canadian based Sri Lankans Without Borders Facebook group. For the poutine. Actually, for the punishment. There are a lot of Sri Lanka haters on there, and you have to fight through to the occasional respectful conversation.
The majority of the forum seems to be diaspora, I think leaning towards diaspora Tamils. There are actually LTTE supporters or people who worked with the LTTE as well, plus active and vituperative Eelamists (not the same thing, I know). Sri Lankans in Sri Lanka are a minority, but of late the Editor of the Nation, Malinda Seneviratne, and columnist (and master chef/photographer) Pradeep Jeganathan have been active as well as well. Pradeep posted an interesting blog post on stakeholders in Sri Lanka. In it he outlines a respectful and, IMHO, effective way for the diaspora to influence SL.
I think stakes of those who live outside Sri Lanka, and who are not citizens, who do not really contemplate returning to Sri Lanka to live here – and that’s some, not all of the Diaspora, of course – are better elaborated through an alliance with a person, group or community that’s in Sri Lanka, that lives here with the consequences of what happens here. So it’s better that simply going with, ‘If I diss Sri Lanka I can get reelected in Harlow?’ Far superior would be, ‘If I criticize Sri Lanka, will it be a better place for someone I care about who lives there?’ (A Stake in Sri Lanka)
Essentially, caring about someone real, and focusing on the real impact of your words. I think that’s a good policy for any interaction. It’s getting some discussion online. I think it’s a good thought. Good to get out of the abstractions and anger into the immediate human reality, and how we can make that better. The personal relationship between Sri Lankans and diaspora family/friends is almost completely positive. We like seeing and hearing from them and they like us and the food. It would be nice if the political relationship were a bit better.
Today on the 
Janith has updated 
This is highly dubious. Miss Travel is a travel/social networking site that connects ‘Generous’ and ‘Attractive’ travelers. To, like, travel together, I guess. It all seems a bit like arranged prostitution and trafficking. This is part of a broader online trend to connect rich men to younger, attractive women. Sites like 
Sri Lankan domestics never say anything, they just stop coming. My maid just stopped coming and when I finally pressed her she said I needed to get a washing machine. I was hoping to ride this one out, but I’ve run out of underwear and I have no choice. I finally caved and bought a washing machine, from 
At the end of the Diasspora are simply jealous of Sri Lanka. most of the diaspora are slaving away as petrol shed attendants, janitors and other menial jobs. They are infinitely jealous of the simple life a average man lives here. Even the most virulent diaspora member would in his heart of hearts want to return to sri lanka. Because at the end of the day for us Sri Lankan’s, there is no place like home.
seriously..what has the tamil diaspora done for the tamils in sri lanka? the amount of “fundraising” that goes on in toronto on the basis that the money is going towards helping tamils back home is a farce. There are not even concerned about going back home to visit because most of their family members are here in Toronto with them, so its convenient for them to attack Sri Lanka and forget whatever is happening there. Tamil kids are growing up in Canada hating Sri Lanka for not for what it really is, they are brainwashed by pro-LTTE propagandists. They need them to be born or stay with the hatred so that they can continue to manipulate the tamil community and take away their money. They youth is growing up here hating Sri Lanka without even seeing her and that’s a shame.
Here’s the first of many attempts to come this year by Sri Lankans Without Borders (SLWB) to make that relationship better:
Samadhana 2012 Benefit Reading Series | Toronto, Canada
Most of the youth in the Tamil diaspora are clueless idiots. All they do is mouth Tiger propaganda and the vast majority have never stepped foot in Sri Lanka since they were toddlers or since they were born. Wouldn’t waste any time with them. Lock them out of Sri Lanka and do not engage with them I say.