Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

joshvajohn · Post by **joshvajohn** » 10 Apr 2010 00:52

Rajapaksa should reach out to Tamils after election: Blake
Narayan Lakshman
http://beta.thehindu.com/news/internati ... 392982.ece

joshvajohn · Post by **joshvajohn** » 10 Apr 2010 14:13

Will Tamil concerns be addressed following Rajapakse win in Sri Lankan elections?
2010-04-10 12:10:00

http://sify.com/news/will-tamil-concern ... fjjjh.html

joshvajohn · Post by **joshvajohn** » 11 Apr 2010 00:16

A majority of Tamil voters too opted to abstain, and a Sinhala supremacist constitution is likely to be their reward. This in turn will strengthen extremist elements within and outside the Tamil polity. In the absence of a political and economic programme to deal with Tamil grievances, the resurgence of separatism cannot be ruled out. As armed separatism seems to be raising its head again, as a result of Russia’s refusal to address the root causes of separatism. This is a lesson that is of pertinence to Sri Lanka, especially given President Rajapakse’s refusal to accept the very existence of an ethnic problem and his consequent disinclination to devolve power to the Tamils.

by By Tisaranee Gunasekara

http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2010/0 ... era-begins

comments:
Using Military and police force the people in North Srilanka are pushed towards corners. There is no other choice for people in Jaffna except soon to return to life or death fight again. This is what Rajapakse is doing through empowering himself and emotionalising the majority against minority in Srilanka. There is no political will on the part of any political ruler in the ruling party to solve their nations problems. It is not possible to keep people under gun point all the time.Unless there is a devolution of power at least like a state in India the problem is going haunt lanka soon again.

Kashyap · Post by **Kashyap** » 11 Apr 2010 12:00

The electorate answers the President’s clarion call

• In 2005, President had to contend with Chandrika Kumaratunga cabinet
• Large number of ministers losing makes President’s task easier
• Number of young faces in the cabinet
• Pressure on UNP leader to stop acting on advice of ‘Royal’ friends

Even before the announcement of the final result of Thursday’s general election, President Mahinda Rajapaksa held a conference at Temple Trees with a group of state officials close to him over the formation of the new cabinet. President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga, Additional Secretary to the cabinet Gamini Senarath and Secretary to the Finance Ministry Dr. P. B. Jayasundara participated in the deliberations.

http://www.nation.lk/2010/04/11/politics.htm

Touching the 150-seat mark

Even the stalwarts of the ruling United Peoples’ Freedom Alliance (UPFA) would have been pleasantly surprised at the outcome of Thursday’s general election: the party scored a more than convincing win, sweeping all the districts in the South and most electoral divisions as well.

As there will be a re-poll in Trincomalee and Nawalapitya because of election malpractices in those two electoral divisions, the exact tally the UPFA obtained is as yet uncertain but it is likely to be between 140 and 144 seats - a few seats tantalisingly short of the two-thirds majority that the UPFA asked for.

The main opposition party, the United National Party (UNP) is likely to obtain around 60 seats-or just less than that. While the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) will obtain about seven seats, the Illankai Thamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) will obtain about 15 seats.

By any standards, obtaining a near two-thirds majority under a proportional representation system is a tremendous achievement. That it was done under a popular President and just after defeating terrorism no doubt helped, but that should not undermine the magnitude of the mandate.

For President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his new government, the question is what next?

http://www.nation.lk/2010/04/11/mynation.htm

“I will not step down” – Ranil

By Tharindu Prematillake

Untied National Front (UNF) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said that he has no intention of stepping down as party leader despite the continued defeats his party has faced. He expressed these views at a press briefing held in Colombo.

When Wickremesinghe was asked whether he was facing pressure to resign from the leadership, he responded, “I am not resigning from the leadership. There is no reason for me to do so. We know from sources that people still have faith in me as the leader. I face no pressure to give up this post.”

Wickremesinghe said that the opposition lost the election as the people had boycotted the polls because of their lack of faith in the executive, legislature and the electoral system. “If you look at general elections from 1994 to 2004 on average there has been a voter turnout of 75.9%. Even during the 1989 riots there was a voter turnout of 63%. However, this time only 56.9% have voted.

Therefore, even though a Parliament has been elected, it does not have the mandate of the country,” he said.

http://www.nation.lk/2010/04/11/news2.htm

thusitha · Post by **thusitha** » 12 Apr 2010 11:14

New party to be launched in Tamil Nadu with Leaping Tiger as its flag
[Mon, 12 Apr 2010, 05:26 GMT]
Popular Film Director and Tamil activist S. Seeman has introduced Tiger flag for a new political party "Naam Tamilar" (We are Tamils) Saturday, claiming that the establishment of Tamil Eelam should be the moral goal of Tamils in Tamil Nadu as the leaders of the Indian Union and Tamil Nadu State had betrayed Eezham Tamils. Mr. Seeman has called for a major rally towards Mathurai on 18 May 2010, one year after the military subjugation of Eezham Tamils, marking the day as Black Day of Tamils and has announced that the new party would be inaugurated on that day. The event of introducing the flag took place at Thilagar Thidal of Thanjavur, the historic capital of the Cholas, whose emblem was Tiger.

Muslim Fundamantalists/ Maoist and now Tigers.

Can't say I envy India.

thusitha · Post by **thusitha** » 12 Apr 2010 11:20

"15 million Sikhs in India have won their rights, but not Tamils in India. Why? Sikhs remain as Sikhs and we are not remaining as Tamils."

In his emotional speech, Seeman said Tamil Nadu has undergone subjugation like no other ethno national state in India.

"Tamils" should rule the state of Tamil Nadu, he proclaimed, adding that the state was not being ruled by "Tamil" leaders, but by "Dravidian" and "Indian" leaders for the past 42-years. [The DMK came to power in 1967]

This must be the Tamil Aspirations.

"The state of Tamil Nadu should be for the Tamils created by the Tamils in year 2016. Until then, we all continue to remain slaves."

"We are not against the sovereignty of the Indian state. But, we will ensure that Tamils rule Tamil Nadu."

Looks like federalism is not enough.

Stan_Savljevic · Post by **Stan_Savljevic** » 12 Apr 2010 11:25

Thusitha, please no tamilnet links please. It aint kosher on this forum. Just post the news clip minus the link to the terrorist website.

And Seeman can pluck a flower for all of TN to care. Just because a no-name nutjob forms a party does nt mean it is a big deal. We have had pretty big nutjobs (in the past as well as the present) who have formed parties with a divisive agenda that was the key leitmotif. And you can pretty much check what happened to all of them. As long as seeman wants to do this whining business within Constitutional means, all power to him. {And yes, THE Indian Constitution is an article that is held sacrosanct, despite what others would like to believe. It has been the same article in spirit and hope right from its inception of Jan. 26, 1950, unlike two-bit countries in our neighborhood which have had a Constitution conceived every full moon.} The moment he starts going the maoist way, things will fall on his head like a ton of bricks. Vaiko is a good example, not like the Indian law enforcement apparatus gives folks like me a great sense of relief, but when the elephant does run, it tramples every bit of grass on its path.

thusitha · Post by **thusitha** » 12 Apr 2010 11:33

Sorry Stan,

Didn't realize that.

Will remove it.

thusitha · Post by **thusitha** » 12 Apr 2010 11:41

Stan Said ....
{And yes, THE Indian Constitution is an article that is held sacrosanct, despite what others would like to believe. It has been the same article in spirit and hope right from its inception of Jan. 26, 1950, unlike two-bit countries in our neighborhood which have had a Constitution conceived every full moon.}

The moment he starts going the maoist way, things will fall on his head like a ton of bricks. Vaiko is a good example, not like the Indian law enforcement apparatus gives folks like me a great sense of relief, but when the elephant does run, it tramples every bit of grass on its path

I wish this can be the same in SL. Our elephant seem to be pretty small and powerless. Need to wait and see what happens in MRs second term.

joshvajohn · Post by **joshvajohn** » 12 Apr 2010 14:15

A worldwide boycott of Sri Lanka
The island's tyrannical government cannot continue to ignore international law – the world must stop supporting it
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree ... -sri-lanka

An oppressive lawless Govt. thrives when there is no voter turnout
http://www.lankaeverything.com/index.ph ... Itemid=148

The UNP , as always is clear with its programs , plans and promises . It has already given out its policy statement . It is a two year comprehensive plan , so that the people can enjoy the fruits of UNF Govt.’s success in the next three years after implementation of the plans by the UNF govt. , he pointed out.

It is this Rajapakse regime which elects itself to power on people’s votes promising the sun and moon before winning ,only to forget them soon after seizing power . For the last five years , its Mahinda chinthana only drove the people into a veritable hell. Having failed in all its promises during the elected period, now at tomorrow’s elections , it is begging for a 2/3 majority to fulfill promises. Where on earth have you heard of a Govt. asking for a 2/3 majority to fulfill promises after having failed miserably throughout the five years in power ? he asked.

Aiding and abetting to kill plurality in ‘patriotic’ Sri Lanka

April 12, 2010 at 6:56 am · Categories: Colombo, Identity, Peace and Conflict, Politics and Governance, Post-War | by Kusal Perera
http://www.groundviews.org/2010/04/12/a ... sri-lanka/

Stan_Savljevic · Post by **Stan_Savljevic** » 14 Apr 2010 14:12

Chinese Inroads into Sri Lanka ----- By B. Raman
http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/%5Cpap ... r3759.html

thusitha · Post by **thusitha** » 14 Apr 2010 14:30

joshvajohn

The UNP , as always is clear with its programs , plans and promises . It has already given out its policy statement . It is a two year comprehensive plan , so that the people can enjoy the fruits of UNF Govt.’s success in the next three years after implementation of the plans by the UNF govt. , he pointed out.

It is this Rajapakse regime which elects itself to power on people’s votes promising the sun and moon before winning ,only to forget them soon after seizing power . For the last five years , its Mahinda chinthana only drove the people into a veritable hell. Having failed in all its promises during the elected period, now at tomorrow’s elections , it is begging for a 2/3 majority to fulfill promises. Where on earth have you heard of a Govt. asking for a 2/3 majority to fulfill promises after having failed miserably throughout the five years in power ? he asked.

Seem like you are hell bent on discrediting MR government.

MR government is the clear victor of the election. Even if we assume a certain level of fraud, there is a clear majority to UPFA.

The Sri Lankan economy is booming and the clearest and the best indicator of that is the stock market (the external investor confidence). The MR government have already proven that they can take the country to the next level of economic development. No one in our nation since the independence has this vision and the ability to deliver on that vision than MR and his government. Seem like there are lot of people hell bent on trying to destroy it.

thusitha · Post by **thusitha** » 14 Apr 2010 14:36

Stan said ...
Chinese Inroads into Sri Lanka ----- By B. Raman
http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/%5Cpap ... r3759.html

The thing I am not clear is, even if China maid in roads to SL, what can SL or China do to threaten India. How the hell can we threaten India? I would love to know that.

No sane SL leader would allow any kind of Warships or Missile in to Sri Lanka. We never had despot Prime ministers or Presidents.
So, where is this SL threat coming from.

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 14 Apr 2010 17:01

Even if they did allow warships or missiles, Indian airpower from land bases could destroy any Chinese units in the event of a war.
As the Indian Foreign Secretary said, a string of pearls makes a poor weapon to strangle someone. The string is easily snapped and the pearls crushed one by one. The Indian landmass dominates the entire Indian ocean. Half of the ocean basin is within easy strike range of land based aircraft.

joshvajohn · Post by **joshvajohn** » 14 Apr 2010 17:50

Seem like you are hell bent on discrediting MR government.
MR government is the clear victor of the election. Even if we assume a certain level of fraud, there is a clear majority to UPFA.

Your quote under my name was written by Sinhalese familiar media writers. They are critical of MR government. It is history repeating itself.
Let me bring an example. When political leaders like Hitler can emotionalise the Germans and then achieve the leadership and tend to elminiate all other race, no one criticised or no one was even allowed to criticise. All those who criticised Hitlar were punished. It clearly shows the way political leades evolve themselves. All those countries and leadership who supported such leadership ashamed of their own activities later.

Any political leadership that tends to oppress the opposite voices and does not take minorities seriously into account, they tend to evolve in a similar way. Also war is a war. Anyone can win and be defeated. But War has certain rules but if one does not follow the rules of the war then this will put pressure on interdependency of nations and so the countries will be isolated and all those countries support such countries will also be isolated.

After winning the war if the minority people are not given their rights and not given a fair treatment then such leadership which emotionalise the majority will be brought to justice. No one government can do whatever they want and escape away from such responsibilities.

Even Rajapakse cannot bear any criticism even from Sinhalese, we will see soon what will happen?

Post-election Sri Lanka turns on critics
By Munza Mushtaq
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/LD14Df04.html

Given the state of the opposition and the sense of apathy affecting a large segment of anti-government voters, the Rajapakses will be able to win a referendum with ease. And Sri Lanka will have its Rajapakse Constitution, a document which will be tailor-made to ensure Familial rule, legitimised by Sinhala supremacism masquerading as patriotism.

By Tisaranee Gunasekara

http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2010/0 ... era-begins

thusitha · Post by **thusitha** » 15 Apr 2010 07:10

Gerard
Even if they did allow warships or missiles, Indian airpower from land bases could destroy any Chinese units in the event of a war.
As the Indian Foreign Secretary said, a string of pearls makes a poor weapon to strangle someone. The string is easily snapped and the pearls crushed one by one. The Indian landmass dominates the entire Indian ocean. Half of the ocean basin is within easy strike range of land based aircraft.

Exactly that is my point. So why is mr. Raman worried about Chinese influence in SL?

thusitha · Post by **thusitha** » 15 Apr 2010 07:51

joshvajohn
Your quote under my name was written by Sinhalese familiar media writers. They are critical of MR government. It is history repeating itself.
Let me bring an example. When political leaders like Hitler can emotionalise the Germans and then achieve the leadership and tend to elminiate all other race, no one criticised or no one was even allowed to criticise. All those who criticised Hitlar were punished. It clearly shows the way political leades evolve themselves. All those countries and leadership who supported such leadership ashamed of their own activities later.

O.k. Let us see. You are equating Tamils as the innocent Jews that got Slaughtered by Hitler. Err, did they go and blow up women and children, did they have suicide bombers, did they manage to kill so many innocent people. joshvajohn, try another example.

Also, are there any minority in the world that has managed to kill so many majority people and screwed around with them for such a long period of time. One is South Africa, another is Iraq (Shietes). There is always a price to pay when minority try to control the majority of the people. What you do not get is that Tamils in SL are just 15% or less of the population. You became smarter first and screwed us for 30 years. But now we have come of age. You might still do your best to destroy the nation, but it would become harder and harder.

Rather than trying to destroy SL, it is better trying to be a Sri Lankan and trying to develop the nation as one. There is plenty of money to be made by developing the nation rather than destroying Tamils and Sinhalese life by talking tough and trying to achieve an impossible dream.

joshvajohn · Post by **joshvajohn** » 16 Apr 2010 01:06

First it is wrong to generalise Tamils in Sri lanka as if they have gone and blown up the people. LTTE and any other agencies including Srilankan government might have been directly or indirectly involved in many of such activities to blame each other and to eliminate their enemies ruthlessly. This is why LTTE was identified as terrorist organisation and was eliminated. There is no question about it. But by identifying all the Srilankan Tamils as a monolithic group as part of terror groups shows either one's ignorance or one's vested interest (either political or ethnic and so on). This also shows very clearly an impossibility for Tamils to live together under "one Sri lanka" concept. This does not mean to divide this small nation into two. But to give a reasonable devolution of power to north and East rather than the present motives of the present govt. The media, the political groups and religious groups among the majority want to identify every effort of Tamils as if they are part of LTTE. Such an attitude is not going to help rather can lead violence again. There is not much difference between LTTE's ruled and ruined North Lanka and at present under the military and police ruled north. The devolution is the best way forward in terms of a state government after arriving at a consensus from all the political parties.

US urges respect for human rights in Sri Lanka

(AFP)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/ar ... -xPfAd6Pbg

S Lanka accused soldiers freed
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8622816.stm

DELHI RE-THINKS NARAYANAN’s OVER-APPEASING SRI LANKA POLICY.
by Vssubramaniam April 15, 2010
http://www.groundreport.com/Business/DE ... _1/2921907

thusitha · Post by **thusitha** » 16 Apr 2010 07:46

This also shows very clearly an impossibility for Tamils to live together under "one Sri lanka" concept. This does not mean to divide this small nation into two. But to give a reasonable devolution of power to north and East rather than the present motives of the present govt. The media, the political groups and religious groups among the majority want to identify every effort of Tamils as if they are part of LTTE.

Mate, large amount of Tamils were either supporting to or sympathetic towards LTTE (maybe not the methods). Let us forget about that. Why just Tamils should have devolution of Power, what about Muslims, then Chritians, then Sinhalese Communists( Your equivalent to Maoist). Every one would want this. There is no reason that only Tamils deserve Reasonable Devolution of Power. Every human being wants an Island and an empire for themselves. Whether they should or can have that is a question.

Why does Tamils want to be the kings of one part of the country when you can be part of a Sri Lankan and one day be a prime minister or president of the Whole nation. It happened in India with the Manmohan Singh, it happened in U.S. with Obama, so why don't you want something like this instead of trying to build your small empires? Or do you want something extra special for your people that the people from other parts of the country does not enjoy?

thusitha · Post by **thusitha** » 16 Apr 2010 14:11

President Mahinda Rajapaksa made a surprise visit to the Galle Face Green

http://www.infolanka.com/news/IL/1341.htm

If you look at the second last photo, you will see a Genuine smile of a Tamil women. MR must have done something right for a Tamil person to smile at him like that. If this is the person who is responsible for persecution and genocide as many Diaspora websites talk about, I wouldn't be smiling like that.

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 17 Apr 2010 17:07

Thread cleaned up.
Why are people discussing non-SL matters here?

Karan Dixit · Post by **Karan Dixit** » 17 Apr 2010 23:40

Sri Lankans are smart people unlike Pakis but nevertheless I hope they will not get carried away with their naval exercises with USA.

http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2010/04/11 ... %202010%5d

shyamd · Post by **shyamd** » 18 Apr 2010 03:52

Had a chat with a Sri Lankan friend of mine. Was in the SL Navy many many years ago, retired guy. He was telling us that he is a Sinhala but he is from the tamil areas. He was saying Colombo land prices are falling tremendously because all the tamils have packed up and are moving back to Jaffna. He was saying a lot of tamils who lived in Colombo are extremely wealthy (mainly large agriculture related biz).

He is anti american, and he said SL could not have won against the LTTE without India's support. Quite a few interesting things he mentioned. One that stuck out, was that the reason why Prabhakaran didn't escape to a third country was because he believed up until the last moment that the West would save him (US via Norway) just like earlier occassions. British High Commission in Colombo are staffed mainly by Tamil origin guys.

His theory is that if LTTE got independence, TN would also want a seccession movement to make a tamil country in the South. So he reckons India told SL guys to finish off LTTE.
----------------
He also mentioned that the US attempted to kill APJKalam after Pokharan II. Don't know if thats speculation.
----------------
Despite being Christian himself, he says that vested interests were trying to spread Jehovah's witness movement in SL. Similar to our theory of evanjihadi's.
------------------
He alledges that Fonseka was funded by the West. He said Fonseka was given 3000cr.

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 18 Apr 2010 04:39

Prabakaran mother's name was on ‘Warning Circular' list

thusitha · Post by **thusitha** » 18 Apr 2010 10:00

Gerard
Prabakaran mother's name was on ‘Warning Circular' list

There were talks of taking VP mother to Canada. What happened to that? Did Canadians reject her as well?

arun · Post by **arun** » 18 Apr 2010 20:05

Gerard wrote:Prabakaran mother's name was on ‘Warning Circular' list

Family members of LTTE terrorists who have killed Indian’s have no business to be in India.

An investigation needs to launched and a spanking administered to whosoever issued the medical visa.

Meanwhile some of the Dravidian political parties are getting worked up over the deportation of Prabhakaran’s mother:

MDMK to protest deportation of Prabhakaran's mother

thusitha · Post by **thusitha** » 19 Apr 2010 06:35

arun
Family members of LTTE terrorists who have killed Indian’s have no business to be in India.

What about SLs? We still kept her. According to SL sources, she is a very nice women and has been very kind to SL Soldiers, although they are responsible for the death of her Children and grand children.

An investigation needs to launched and a spanking administered to whosoever issued the medical visa.

Looks like one of your diplomats is responsible for this.

Meanwhile some of the Dravidian political parties are getting worked up over the deportation of Prabhakaran’s mother:
MDMK to protest deportation of Prabhakaran's mother

I wonder whether some one send VP mother to India purposely to make an incident out of nothing. Most probably NGO/west plan to embarass the government.

Stan_Savljevic · Post by **Stan_Savljevic** » 20 Apr 2010 02:52

Gerard wrote:Even if they did allow warships or missiles, Indian airpower from land bases could destroy any Chinese units in the event of a war. As the Indian Foreign Secretary said, a string of pearls makes a poor weapon to strangle someone. The string is easily snapped and the pearls crushed one by one. The Indian landmass dominates the entire Indian ocean. Half of the ocean basin is within easy strike range of land based aircraft.

I was balking at responding to this. But I guess Anand Kumar has it best:

All major powers – Russia, United States and China – consider certain areas as their backyard. Russia vociferously protested when Americans tried to increase their influence in Central Asia. Similarly, the Chinese watch closely any western move in Southeast Asia and East Asia. China is especially sensitive to any US activity in Taiwan and Taiwan straits. Similarly, few would deny that South Asia is India’s backyard. How effectively India manages to keep its influence in this region would determine its future security preparedness.

http://www.idsa.in/idsacomments/Chinese ... mar_190410
It is one thing to beat shit after some has shat, but another to not let someone shit in our backyard. And that goes well not just for bd, but also sri lanka, pakistan, nepal, bhutan, maldives, seychelles, mauritius, burma and afghanistan. The fact that that ideal may not be closer to reality today does not preempt the silent acquiescence of what happens today.

Gerard · Post by **Gerard** » 20 Apr 2010 03:04

All major powers – Russia, United States and China – consider certain areas as their backyard.

Indeed. The hosting of foreign military forces is an act of hostility to India. This should have severe consequences for the hosting nation.
I was just pointing out the problems for the alleged string of pearls strategy.

Stan_Savljevic · Post by **Stan_Savljevic** » 20 Apr 2010 03:10

Gerard wrote: Indeed. The hosting of foreign military forces is an act of hostility to India. This should have severe consequences for the hosting nation.

And we have a history that Sirimavo Bandaranaike was trying to play == with Pakistan in the 71 war. Till IG and GoI went ballistic, and warn about treating SL as an enemy/hostile nation, SB did nt backtrack from it. And this despite the great friendship between SB and IG somuchso that IG bequeathed her family heirloom of Kachhathheevu to help SB win elections in the south. Junius Jayewardene was another such borderline character. At the end of the day, neither should we expect sri lankans to be benevolent to us, nor should we expect to tolerate certain violations of diplomatic behavior that are antagonistic to the long-term security of the Indian subcontinent.

thusitha · Post by **thusitha** » 21 Apr 2010 07:27

On the brink of defeat around 14 December, the Pakistani Army, and its local collaborators, systematically killed a large number of Bengali doctors, teachers and intellectuals,[55][56] part of a pogrom against the Hindu minorities who constituted the majority of urban educated intellectuals.[57][58] Young men, especially students, who were seen as possible rebels were also targeted. The extent of casualties in East Pakistan is not known. R.J. Rummel cites estimates ranging from one to three million people killed.[59] Other estimates place the death toll lower, at 300,000. Bangladesh government figures state that Pakistani forces aided by collaborators killed 3 million people, raped 200,000 women and displaced millions of others.[60] In 2010 Bangladesh government set up a tribunal to prosecute the people involved in alleged war crimes and those who collaborated with Pakistan.[61] According to the Government, the defendants would be charged with Crimes against humanity, genocide,murder , rape and arson.[62]

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And we have a history that Sirimavo Bandaranaike was trying to play == with Pakistan in the 71 war. Till IG and GoI went ballistic, and warn about treating SL as an enemy/hostile nation, SB did nt backtrack from it.

Do you really think SL would support India in this type of war? I am sure at that period every one in SL would have worried what would happen after India won. It is natural to be afraid of a country like India in those days. Those days, our thinking would have been, after PK what is next, SL? So, can you blame us for not supporting you?

At the end of the day, neither should we expect sri lankans to be benevolent to us, nor should we expect to

India is Surrounded by large number of Muslim states, China, Russia etc. Out of all these nations, we would be the most friendliest nation to Indians (Maybe Nepal might be another friendly nation). When SL is trying to make very friendly relationship with India (Which I think is making huge gains when people like Sachin Tendulkar, Amithab Buchan etc coming to SL) should you be making comments like this.

Stan_Savljevic · Post by **Stan_Savljevic** » 21 Apr 2010 07:36

thusitha wrote: Do you really think SL would support India in this type of war? I am sure at that period every one in SL would have worried what would happen after India won. It is natural to be afraid of a country like India in those days. Those days, our thinking would have been, after PK what is next, SL? So, can you blame us for not supporting you?

This is the same excuse even to this day, and not just by sri lanka, but also by bd, nepal, and whatever there exists. At the end of the day, it is Indian interests to ensure what we see as right is enforced in our region. If that is hegemony, so be it. If that causes takleef, too bad. Could nt care less.

India is Surrounded by large number of Muslim states, China, Russia etc. Out of all these nations, we would be the most friendliest nation to Indians (Maybe Nepal might be another friendly nation). When SL is trying to make very friendly relationship with India (Which I think is making huge gains when people like Sachin Tendulkar, Amithab Buchan etc coming to SL) should you be making comments like this.

Yes, every country has to take care of itself, and that is hard unadulterated reality. If the chinis make inroads into the INDIAN subcontinent, and if the sri lankans (and nepalis and bangladeshis) of all hues are happy to play both sides, any strategically interested Indian nationalist should be pointing out that all is not well. All is not well with the Indian power projection (both soft and hard) to enforce its stick and its carrot. If the sri lankans so cared a lot about friendly relationship with India, that might be more out of their own interests rather than for genuine friendliness. I dont blame them for such an attitude, but so is the riposte to that. Life is like that, unfortunate as it is.

rahuls · Post by **rahuls** » 21 Apr 2010 11:57

thusitha wrote:
Stan_Savljevic wrote: And we have a history that Sirimavo Bandaranaike was trying to play == with Pakistan in the 71 war. Till IG and GoI went ballistic, and warn about treating SL as an enemy/hostile nation, SB did nt backtrack from it.
Do you really think SL would support India in this type of war? I am sure at that period every one in SL would have worried what would happen after India won. It is natural to be afraid of a country like India in those days. Those days, our thinking would have been, after PK what is next, SL? So, can you blame us for not supporting you?

I think SL should have supported India in this war if not in any other war. The '71 war was a JUST war because what happened in East Pakistan was crimes against humanity, a pogrom. England and France had centuries of conflict, yet when Hitler rampaged through France, England was there to liberate it. Seriously, if not this type of war, when do you think SL should support India ? Instead SL went supporting Pak, meaning indirect support to what happened in East Pakistan. That is shameful act which you should accept.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 21 Apr 2010 12:59

SL did not support Pak in '71,they merely offered Pak civilian aircraft refuelling stops en-route to E.Pak when India banned overflights of its territory.These pit stops were easily monitored.SL did not provide logistic help to the PN,etc.IN a clash with China,we might however see a difficulty for the Lankans if the PLAN want to use Hambantota in a crisis as a refuellign point for their warships and subs,having built it.WHat the GOI should do now that the war is over,is to seize the opportunity and sign a "mutual" defence treaty which will prevent ANY power inimical to India later on from using the island as a military staging point or base.Carpe Diem India!

rahuls · Post by **rahuls** » 21 Apr 2010 13:20

Philip wrote:SL did not support Pak in '71,they merely offered Pak civilian aircraft refuelling stops en-route to E.Pak when India banned overflights of its territory.These pit stops were easily monitored.SL did not provide logistic help to the PN,etc.IN a clash with China,we might however see a difficulty for the Lankans if the PLAN want to use Hambantota in a crisis as a refuellign point for their warships and subs,having built it.WHat the GOI should do now that the war is over,is to seize the opportunity and sign a "mutual" defence treaty which will prevent ANY power inimical to India later on from using the island as a military staging point or base.Carpe Diem India!

my bad....by support, I meant moral support. Yeah, it would be beneficial to India if there is a defence treaty. But I doubt if SL is interested in it, they might be more interested in playing the China card knowing Indian over sensitiveness for it. By the way what does SL get out of such a treaty, I mean there are no external threats to SL and India might not be interested in internal SL conflicts.

Kashyap · Post by **Kashyap** » 21 Apr 2010 15:13

Final Sri Lanka vote count confirms Rajapaksa triumph

By Charles Haviland

BBC News, Colombo

Final results from Sri Lanka's general election confirm that President Mahinda Rajapaksa's coalition has secured an overwhelming victory.

His alliance of parties has secured the biggest landslide victory seen in the country since 1977, although on the lowest turnout since independence.

The results came after repolling in two parts of the country hit by violence on election day two weeks ago.

Mr Rajapaksa narrowly failed to win enough seats to alter the constitution.

It won 144 seats in a parliament of 225 seats.

The traditional opposition party is reduced to almost a rump with only 60. Only two other groups won seats.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8634008.stm

Sri Lanka to host 'Bollywood Oscars'

Bollywood icon, Amitabh Bachchan and former Miss Sri Lanka Jacqueline Fernandez are greeted by traditional Sri Lankan dancers at the Cinnamon Grand hotel.

(AFP) – 20 hours ago

COLOMBO — Sri Lanka will host top Indian movie stars for the annual "Bollywood Oscars" weekend showcasing one of the world's most ambitious and prolific film industries, officials said Tuesday.

The three-day International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) event from June 3-5 will feature premieres, celebrity parties, fashion shows and a Twenty20 cricket match.

It will culminate in the glittering 11th annual awards ceremony in Colombo's biggest sports stadium, which organisers say will be attended by 500 guests and watched by 600 million TV viewers in 110 nations.

"This is a very rare and wonderful opportunity for Sri Lanka. Thanks to the prevailing peace, Sri Lanka has received international recognition," Duleep Mudadeniya, who heads the tourism bureau, told reporters.

Celebrities expected to attend include famous Indian acting dynasty the Bachchans -- father Amitabh, son Abhishek and his wife, former Miss World Aishwarya Rai.

IIFA brand ambassador Amitabh Bachchan said he hoped the decision to bring the event to Colombo -- which comes after the end of the island's long civil war last year -- would encourage collaboration.

"It is not purely about films, it is also about business networking and cross-cultural exchange. It is like a combination of Cannes and the Oscars," Bachchan told reporters in Colombo.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/ar ... RGmWYniivg

Sri Lanka shares keep up record climb

Tue Apr 20, 2010 6:00pm IST

By Shihar Aneez

COLOMBO, April 20 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's shares hit a new record high on Tuesday as retailers pushed up the bourse with hopes of better earnings and an improved investment climate with fiscal reforms under a politically stable government.

The All-Share Price Index .CSE of the Colombo Stock Exchange hit a new all-time high of 4,044.94 points, surpassing its previous high of 4,025.69 on Monday. It closed 0.17 percent firmer at 4,022.37 points on late profit-taking.

The bourse is up 18.8 percent so far this year, making it Asia's best-performing market after Indonesia .JKSE.

http://in.reuters.com/article/companyNe ... HI20100420

Indian Navy Ship Magar arrives on a Goodwill Visit

http://navy.lk/index.php?id=2273

thusitha · Post by **thusitha** » 21 Apr 2010 16:36

rahuls
I think SL should have supported India in this war if not in any other war. The '71 war was a JUST war because what happened in East Pakistan was crimes against humanity, a pogrom.

Rajuls,

I have not studies Indian and PAK history. I went and read the Wiki page. Who do you think made the chess moves in that war? India or PAK? The wiki says some 300,000 or 3 million people died. Also PAK did lot of atrocities. But instigators of the war, I don't believe are the PAKs (Although they were the ones who did the pre emptive strike). You wanted an excuse to separate PAK, and PAK most likely fell in to your trap (Same way Russia got broken in to pieces.)
PAK isn't smart enough to fight India now, nor could it fight India then. This is speculation by going through Internet pages and and I am not a Defence Pundit.

thusitha · Post by **thusitha** » 21 Apr 2010 16:44

Stan_Savljevic
All is not well with the Indian power projection (both soft and hard) to enforce its stick and its carrot. If the sri lankans so cared a lot about friendly relationship with India, that might be more out of their own interests rather than for genuine friendliness. I dont blame them for such an attitude, but so is the riposte to that. Life is like that, unfortunate as it is.

You have a point here. But we are in a new Millenia where people much more connected and integrated. Hopefully suspicion would disappear and people would become more interested in trade and commerce than war.

rahuls · Post by **rahuls** » 21 Apr 2010 21:13

thusitha wrote: Rajuls,

I have not studies Indian and PAK history. I went and read the Wiki page. Who do you think made the chess moves in that war? India or PAK? The wiki says some 300,000 or 3 million people died. Also PAK did lot of atrocities. But instigators of the war, I don't believe are the PAKs (Although they were the ones who did the pre emptive strike). You wanted an excuse to separate PAK, and PAK most likely fell in to your trap (Same way Russia got broken in to pieces.)
PAK isn't smart enough to fight India now, nor could it fight India then. This is speculation by going through Internet pages and and I am not a Defence Pundit.

hey, I am rahuls not Rajuls. The Indo-Pak discussion is OT here so this will be my last post abt it, the original post was made in Sri Lankan context. The casualties of war (soldiers killed) are couple of thousands on both sides not 3 million. The 3 million you quoted is a Bangladeshi claim, whether true or not, are bangla civilians killed in pogrom.......who killed them.....Pak. This apart from 10 million refugee influx into India. Now don't tell me that India planned this "chess move" to dissect Pak, we are not that savages.
Whether India had intention of separating Pak or not is secondary in the face of the scale of pogrom which happened there and in this context I said SL should have given moral support to India.

Stan_Savljevic · Post by **Stan_Savljevic** » 22 Apr 2010 11:49

Philip wrote:SL did not support Pak in '71,they merely offered Pak civilian aircraft refuelling stops en-route to E.Pak when India banned overflights of its territory.These pit stops were easily monitored.SL did not provide logistic help to the PN,etc.

Nice, but not quite right nor complete... Here is what happened.

1. Sri Lanka right after independence did nt have a furrin policy apparatus worth talking about and shared much of its policy with that of the Brits. In fact, in many countries SL and UK had the same place as a "consulate". This led to signing of agreement wherein UK could use the Katunayake air base and the Tirikonamalai naval base. Much of this niceness was also smoothed because the elites at that time such as Don/Dudley Senanayake and Sir John Kotelawala were all what we in India now calls as Nehru-fied/Westminster-ised. The initial constitution that the stalwarts in SL came up with required the PM to be both MEA and Minister of Defence. D.S.S was not even keen on furrin policy engagements during his short and eventful stint.

2. While the SL furrin policy evolved and as SWRD Bandaranaike came along, they found commonality with the non-alignment preached by Nehru, Tito and Nasser. Anti-colonialism, disarmament and non-alignment came to be the three pillars on which furrin policy was based. SWRD, in fact, believed that SL's role to be = to that of a Switzerland of Asia, a "friends of all, enemies of none" approach. With this foundational ethos came in many antics cos the world aint so fair after all, which led to many illogical leaps and reversals in policy (both domestic and as a consequence, furrin) that can only be paralleled by a bereft drunkard. While India came under such a warp too, the fact that no one man held humongous power in India meant that such warps were smoothened over time-flow. But that was not true for the case of SL where power concentrates vertically. And India has to put up with such equations, time and again, despite the family heirloom of the Nehru family and the elephantine memory of our babus.

3. First came along increased exchanges with communist countries such as Soviet Union and China. In fact, this sowed the seeds of a far-left Sinhala chauvinism that would wreck the country in the 70s and 80s. And as a consequence would empower the Tamil movements such as TULF and TELO, resulting in the extreme idiots such as LTTE. With this love-fest for the commies came the request to the brits to close their use of Katunayake and Tirikonamalai and opposition to Diego Garcia as a policy instrument. While SWRD assured that western influence wont go down, it really did. SWRD chose to oppose the brits and the west in the Suez crisis, and sided with the Soviet intervention in Hungary, etc.

4. Small peanuts in this anti-west campaign were the expulsion of Burghers, nationalization of schools run by Christian missionaries, the life insurance sector, oil companies, etc. In fact, Nehru had to use his special access and end a protest fast by the Christian missionaries. And as Nehru passed away, so did the truce agreement written on cold water. It is not hard to see the shift in neutral policy with the oil nationalization.

5. A special mention of SL's role during the Tibet occupation and the Indo-chini war of 1962. Sirimavo chose to remain neutral despite obvious proofs that the chinis were the aggressors. In fact, even Buddhism that would unify the Sinhalese often failed to spur them to condemn the brazen attack on Tibetan Buddhism, which is not far from the Theravada school. Yes, SL has been extremely friendly to India all through millenia, thats why they chose to remain neutral in the 62 war, you see. Great going, blokes... I really dont mind the GoSL doing all this for their own pristine interests-sake, but for pete's sake, dont come here and preach about "friendliness of GoSL for Indians or GoI" or any such baloney. It may suit well to play such games on a people-to-people WKK basis, but elephantine memories die hard and die never.

6. Right after the Indo-chini war, SL entered into Maritime agreement with china in 63 despite the fact that the main beneficiary of that agreement would have been china. The fact that SL used the agreement to develop its mercantile shipping sector must be understood with the fact that the Soviets (with whom they signed a similar agreement in 62) chipped in quite a bit. But poof the chinis snorted at the SL when they conducted a nuke explosion in 64, much to the chagrin of the SL furrin policy mandarins (oops, no puns intended).

7. When Dudley came back, all this overdose of chini love-fest took a toll and chini mollycoddling and promoting of little red book-holders came to a head. The Muslim minister of Labor, M. H. Mohamed, in a pan-Islamist cause went on to criticize the Uighur treatment and the GoSL chose to side with him because of tension for the reddies support of the little devils (again, no puns intended -- to understand this context one has to read the book aptly titled "The Dragon and the Foreign Devils: China and the World, 1100 BC to the Present" by Harry Gelber). If you have takleef against the middle kingdom, what do you do. Find love with your fellow-Buddhists in Taiwan. While china went all along untramelled till now, it was not until 72 that a bilateral trade agreement was signed with India. Love guys, unfettered love....

8. But for every step forward, two back. Sirimavo lost the 70 elections, and had to take over a coalition that included the Trotskyite LSSP (Lanka Sama Samaja Party) and CP (Moscow). So diplomatic recognition was bestowed on East Germany, N. Vietnam, N. Korea, the S. Vietnam Revolutionary Government and the Norodom Sihanouk-led government-in-exile. The first state guest of this new government was the furrin mantri of the Revolutionary Govt of Vietnam. Even china's role in the April 71 JVP insurrection was ignored, wow love is blind folks. But who had to send in your regular dose of soldiers to fight on your side: everyone else but china. India sent in soldiers to guard Bandaranaike airport, US, UK, SU, Pakistan and Yugoslovia chipped in, while your love-folks in china and patrice lumumba university were indoctrinating Rohana Wijeweera & co. to manufacture a crisis. Somuchso the Soviet Pacific Fleet and the US Pacific Fleet came on a goodwill visit after the crisis, while till then GoSL was anathema to US and its stronghold on the oil companies.

9. Heh, we chipped in more. And wtf do you guys do during the 71 war. Provide over-flight rights to the paki oiseaules. And this despite a monumental genocide of Bangladeshis. You had the proof, you were briefed by everyone including US Senator Ted Kennedy. Yet you chose to look aside. So here is a fck you from the dead Bangladeshis (millions of them). You chose to protest that only civilian transport was allowed. But dummies, everyone knew that paki soldiers were transiting in civvie clothing. JND writes:

To revert to Colombo being used as the air transit point for transporting Pakistani forces to East Pakistan, and to how India reacted to it, Mrs Gandhi deputed Sardar Swaran Singh to Colombo late in August to persuade Mrs S.Bandaranaike to withdraw this facility. She was also to be reminded that India had come to her assistance in overcoming the violent Janata Vimukti Perumana (JVP) agitation against her. Mrs Bandaranaike was not very responsive initially, till Swaran Singh politely told her that if Sri Lanka did not agree to the Indian request, India might be compelled to take interceptive action to prevent Pakistani defence supply flights from landing at Kathunaike airport in Colombo. In the event India did not have to take any drastic action; Mrs Bandaranaike agreed to the Indian request.

And guess what, it took you a sweet March 72 to recognize BD. What did India do after the war: ignore your about-turns and IG visited in early 73. And the defense may be that the Tamil situation was going to draw a parallel based on what you did with BD, but guess what folks, shut up instead of preaching about human rights. SL has no moral standing on these matters. Not now, not before, not ever....

WHat the GOI should do now that the war is over,is to seize the opportunity and sign a "mutual" defence treaty which will prevent ANY power inimical to India later on from using the island as a military staging point or base. Carpe Diem India!

Good luck sir, with the history as above, you must be in your la-la land to expect something like that. Onwards sir, dream your dream, while my elephantine memory will try to jolt you from your reverie sooner than you would like....