It is necessary that Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse continues to be the executive President of Sri Lanka for an extended period of time .

The LSSP remnants Tissa Vitharana and Wasudeva Nanayakkara still hanging onto the Government as a sad reminder to a great political party that dominated the then political arena of Sri Lanka, had said that they oppose the Executive Presidency.

Marxism opposes parliamentary system of government ….” In explaining the class nature of bourgeois civilization, bourgeois democracy and the bourgeois parliamentary system, all Socialists have expressed the idea formulated with the greatest scientific precision by Marx and Engels (Engels Introduction to the The Civil War in France), namely, that the most democratic bourgeois republic is no more than a machine for the suppression of the working class by the bourgeoisie, for the suppression of the working people by a handful of capitalists…….”

In that context it is strange that Tissa Vitharana while opposing the Executive Presidency had said, that “All the powers should be handed to Parliament so that the person who can get the consent of the majority could be appointed as the prime-minister.”. Wasudeva Nanayakkara confirms the same idea by stating that “Sri Lanka doesn't need executive presidency powers. No extension of its tenure is necessary. A tenure which is responsible to Parliament is necessary to our country."

But if they oppose Executive Presidency to keep in line with Marxist theories, they cannot then accept the Parliamentary system as well which is opposed to Marxism.

These are two “ petit bourgeois” , parliamentarians, a shade of the former LSSP who have still not learnt lessons from the mistakes of their past leaders.

When SWRD Bandaranaike invited the LSSP to join the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna , the LSSP Central Committee decided against it. That was the greatest mistake of the LSSP under Dr.N.M.Perera. He tried to repair later by joining the government of Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike , which turned out to be a mistake, with Felix Bandaranaike an all powerful Minister in Mrs. Bandaranaike’s cabinet , trying to overshadow Dr.N.M.Perera.

Having accepted the Parliamentary System, the LSSP should cooperate with a socialist government without standing by their Marxist principles. They should accept the reality of the situation that necessitates change in the interest of the country.

By opposing the executive Presidency they are trying to deprive the country of a Socialist President with whom the LSSP and the Communist Parties could work together. The LSSP cannot form an alternative government and therefore it is in their interest to support the President who is doing a good job of work.

The LSSP failed as a political party from the beginning, because they were unable to feel the “pulse” of the country and move accordingly. They were putting all their cards organising the workers, when the real power was in the hands of the peasants, teachers, the monks and the “vedamahattayas”. SWRD Bandaranaike capitalised on that.

To-day the people are with the President and there is no doubt about it. The LSSP and DEW Gunasekara of the Communist Party opposing the executive Presidency and constitutional amendments are going against the people.

The people are not interested in the Constitution, but they are interested in continuing to have Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse as their President for some more time. Instead of walking forward with the people, the LSSP and the CP are walking backwards against the people.

The Executive Presidency could be used in the interest of the country or against it in the interest of the President, and to the detriment of the people. The President Mahinda Rajapakse had used his executive powers from the very beginning of his term of office in the interest of the country, and there is no reason to believe that he will not continue to do so in the future.

He had shown statesmanly characteristics and taken the country in the correct path to progress and development. His executive powers had given him the power and the drive to lead the country during its most difficult period, very ably leaving the responsibility of the war against terrorism in the hands of his trusted Defence Secretary, taking over on himself the task of facing the international community, and critics without allowing them to interfere with the more important aspect of the elimination of terrorism by the Armed Forces.

He used the executive Presidency, in the interest of the country and the people. He fortunately had a number of brothers on whom he could depend on to take over different branches of governance , giving him a free hand to look after the overall development projects for the country.

He carried out the different aspects of governance effectively and efficiently, despite political opposition, personal and political critics, international interference, aggressive local and international media, UN, Human Rights activists, European Union and Amnesty International. He was accused of corruption, malpractices, governing the country as a family affair, interfering into justice and police investigations, and also possible connivance in abductions and disappearances of media personnel.

He took all that in his stride without talking back, using his executive power to lock up the critics in State Prisons, being vindictive, resorting to strong arm tactics to stop his critics, or accusers. He was not perturbed, distracted, angered or ungracious. He met his friends and critics with the same polite smile and courtesy.

He has so far done considerable service to the country and his people. He has a peculiar ability to work as a “team leader”. That is why in the short time since he had been elected President he had been able to carry out so many development projects some of which the previous political leaders had dared not attempt. The Hambantota Harbour Project is one such ambitious undertaking.

He has lot of projects in view and he has already taken Sri Lanka way up in development. If he is not allowed to continue his work plans now the losers will be the people of this country.

His greater tasks are yet to be handled. He has eliminated fear of terrorism, every mother and father knows what a relief it is to send their children to school and expect them back in the evening. There was a time that a short walk to the market was a perilous journey, not knowing what to expect on the way. That itself is a great credit to the President Mahinda Rajapakse.

He has yet to undertake the serious task of reconciliation of the communities. There is no doubt that he will be able to do it, as well as the elimination of terrorism. Though lot of people criticise him for having all his family in the government, the people understand, that with them he has a trusted team to work with.

With the members of the family in charge, he would have none to undercut him, as it was with Sarath Fonseka. Sarath Fonseka was the only bad choice he made in the distribution of responsibilities. If he had a brother or an uncle to be the Commander of the Armed Forces then, instead of Sarath Fonseka, it would have been another family member , but yet some one he could have really trusted.

It is rarely that a man like Mahinda Rajapakse is born to a country. There was a time that people spoke of Diyasena, when SWRD Bandaranaike became the President. There is no doubt that SWRD Bandaranayake was a great political leader who made the independence from colonialism more real to the people. Mahinda Rajapakse follows that great leader but with a greater vision to take our country to so far unknown heights.

The President Mahinda Rajapakse has also the ability to select the best man for a job, not necessarily a kinsman. He was criticised when he appointed Mr.Nivard Cabraal as the Governor of the Central Bank, but Mr. Cabraal too has taken his responsibility seriously doing enormously well as the Governor of the Central Bank. It has been reported that the Sri Lankan economic growth is ahead of all countries in South Asia-except Malaysia.

The President Mahinda Rajapakse has taken Sri Lanka away from the diplomatic isolation remaining far too long with the Western Nations, who had not always been friendly towards him and Sri Lanka. The Western Countries gave us repayable financial aid always under conditions. They even held us to ransom withholding GSP+ for instance, on issues that do not concern the grant of the concession.

But thanks to our President Mahinda Rajapakse we have enlarged our diplomatic standing and now there are friendly countries ready to help us unconditionally. There are thus many friendly Nations for us to fall back on.

We cannot change the President now to hand the Presidency to some one else who will take back Sri Lanka to what it had been a few years back.

There is still lot more work to be done to heave Sri Lanka on to the pedestal development. Therefore, it is important that we make necessary constitutional amendments to keep Mahinda Rajapaksa as the President of Sri Lanka for a few more terms.

No for international universities- reform and reorganise existing Universities in Sri Lanka, with a separate University exclusively for Buddhist monks

If “Foreign Unis will stop JVP hanky-panky”(news head line in Lakbima), is the reason why the Minister of Higher Education Mr. S.B.Dissanayake wants to set up International Universities in Sri Lanka, it has to be emphasised that it is not at all a wise decision .

The boycotting of lectures, going on strikes, and factional fist fights announce a sad depreciation of the system of university education in Sri Lanka.

From an interview the Minister of Higher Education Mr.S.B.Dissanayake gave to the Lakbima, one gathers very little about his idea of foreign universities he intends to establish in Sri Lanka . He himself seems to be confused on the issue.

He says that he does not like the term private universities, and speaks of 78 private universities that have already been opened, which are profit making concerns. Without speaking of what he intends to do with the 78 private universities grabbing money from students, he says he will set up international universities launching about 10 of them to begin with.

The whole idea of setting up international universities does not go with the present independent development programme envisaged by the Government of Sri Lanka. If the idea is to teach a lesson to the Inter University Students’ Federation and students influenced by the JVP , embroiled in constant strikes and most intolerable behaviour not expected of undergraduate of any respectability, the move to establish international universities is not the solution to the problem.

The Minister himself does not seem to be sure of what he means by setting up International Universities. To a question the interviewer from the Lakbima asked, “ What are the laws to be enacted for bringing the foreign universities into Sri Lanka?” The Minister answered, “ There are two ways to establish a university. If anyone has the capacity, for instance, we can give him a chance to establish a university”.

If that is the idea, it will only be creating problems as those we had with the NGOs and INGOs that invaded Sri Lanka after tsunami and interfered into internal affairs of the country. The government had a greater difficulty in getting rid of them. Does the Minister wants to create another such mess ?

If it is to invite established National Universities of foreign Countries like Oxford or Cambridge Universities of UK, Sorbonne or Bordeaux Universities of France , Berlin or Freiburg Universities of Germany , or Harvard or Stanford Universities of America, to set up Branch universities in Sri Lanka , the Minister’s proposal is acceptable, but definitely not if it is to invite any foreigner who has the capacity to establish a university, to set up a university in Sri Lanka. The latter would be changing pillows to cure a headache, and the worst of it would be if the wrong people posing as having the capacity were to set up Universities.

The leading National universities of foreign countries will not agree to set up branches here thought they may agree to open offices to register students for admission to their Universities.

The Minister of Higher Education has got the wrong end of the stick with his idea of setting up international universities. Instead on precipitating action on such a dangerous move, he should first take action to close down the 78 private universities that he says are degree selling institutions.

There is really nothing wrong with our universities accept that the politicians like Lal Kantha of JVP had been allowed to manipulate the university students far too long resulting in the chronic indiscipline that has infected the universities in Sri Lanka. Destroying the future of young graduates by involving them in manifestations and strikes to fulfil political ends should be condemned and it should be treated as a criminal offence and the perpetrators should be arrested and taken to courts.

Democracy is good as long as it is used for the welfare of the people and progress of the country. But when any one oversteps the bounds of liberty offered by democracy, that person should be taken to task. Sri Lanka is a fast developing country and every body should be able to make sacrifices and put their shoulder to the wheel of development. Strikes for increase of salaries , or better conditions of work should be put off until Sri Lanka has risen above its present development stage.

The university students of today are the tomorrows capital on which Sri Lanka depends for its vigorous development plans. They are the “brain” of the nation and they should not allow themselves to be manipulated by Lal Kantha or JVP or any other person or group. Their future lies in the future development of Sri Lanka therefore , they should prepare themselves with that prospect in mind.

Our Universities have the potential to reach Western university standards. An example is the University of Moratuwa- a leading University recognised the world over. It is therefore important to take corrective steps to improve discipline, and make the students understand that the University is an institution for the development of the intellectual capacity of young Sri Lankans to compete with the intellectuals of the world at large, and not to follow nincompoops like Lal Kantha to end up as casualties of the JVP’s political ambition.

The Minister of Higher Education instead of giving chances to foreign individuals “with capacity” to establish Universities, should make do with the existing National Universities to first, rank them according to their importance and improve their teaching standards, by recruiting instructors of quality, even “foreigners” to impart adequate knowledge to the undergraduates to prepare them for the competitive world beyond universities.

The language of instruction is no problem. No one should down grade instructions in Sinhala, or Tamil. Sri Lankans should be proud of their mother tongue, and should not be made to feel inferior because they have not received an English education. The Ministers contention that “……. Our students are mentally backward as they lack English language skills….” is wrong .

The French, Italian , German, Russian, Chinese, Spanish Universities provide university instructions in their respective languages. They provide facilities for students to study foreign languages. Why should it be different in Sri Lanka ?
English is a foreign language, therefore, these students of Sri Lanka should not be disparaged for their lack of English knowledge. But instead they should be provided with modern methods of learning foreign languages to make them proficient in English. Why not even in Chinese ?

English should be taught as a second language to all university entrants, so that they will have access to literature, modern science and technology .

But an important aspect of the University education the Minister should look into is the admission of Buddhist monks to universities.

The greatest disrespect and damage caused to the Buddha Sasana in Sri Lanka was the scrapping of the Privena System of education to Buddhist Monks, and admitting them to Universities. If some one can at least now rectify this great unpardonable error committed against the Buddha Sasana it would be another step towards the modernising of the Education system, and at the same time giving to Buddhism its rightful place of sanctity.

When an ordinary layman is ordained as a monk he adheres to 227 rules of Patimokkha. He gives up connection to lay life. But what has happened with the scrapping of Pirivena System and admitting Buddhist Bikkhus to Universities is that they have gone back on their vows of monkhood adhering to the patimokkha rules, and turned back to become laymen in yellow robes.

A monk has to live the life of a monk- a mendicant living on alms, not become an Administrator, Director of a Corporation, a teacher, Parliamentarian, a drivers, or a motor cyclists.

Therefore the Minister of Higher Education has to reform the existing Universities without setting up international universities, and above all he should separate the Sangha and the laity.

And while reorganising the universities for lay students, he should set up a separate university for Buddhist Monks, without allowing them to mix with the lay men and women. Buddha’s teachings including the disciplinary rules, cannot be changed to go with the modern way of living, or modern science and technological developments, because the teachings of the Buddha is timeless (akaliko)

The most disgusting sight we often see in manifestations in Sri Lanka university students, is the monks who take the forefront shouting slogans, with their robes in disarray, faces ugly with anger , disorderly, and for the most part unshaven and disgusting .

There should be a separate university exclusively for Buddhist monks. They should be instructed in Buddha Dhamma. But teaching foreign languages may enable them to spread the word of the Buddha.

Take Ban ki Moon before an International Tribunal for trying to bring disrepute to Sri Lanka, while ignoring evident war crimes by member states of O

Ban Ki Moon’s determination to go ahead with a panel to investigate possible war crimes by the Armed Forces of Sri Lanka, at the final phase of its military operations against the terrorists, seems to be a personal vendetta, rather than a sincere desire to know whether there had been violation of human rights.

Why does he make it a personal vendetta ? Perhaps because he was a party to the failed attempt of the member states of the West, led by UK, France and Norway to save the Sri Lanka terrorist leadership.

If Ban Ki Moon is a man capable of independent evaluation of the situation it may not have been difficult for him to first, differentiate “war” and “terrorism”. A conventional war is first declared by a country preparing to wage a war, to the country which is being targeted for the attack. Therefore the enemies are recognised and their movements known, and those who investigate could then enforce the Geneva Convention and all such gamut.

Second, to understand that terrorism is different because terrorism springs forth, unannounced and they attack a country without differentiating the armies and civilians. Ban Ki Moon knows what happened on the 11 September,2001.

The method of the terrorists to achieve their object is to create terror, assassinate, murder, kidnap, blow up buses, trains, air ports, attack from hidden areas often hiding behind civilian occupied areas , taking civilians under their control through threat and fear.

The terrorists are not seen in battalions , they are hiding most of the time to appear from somewhere least expected. They plant bombs, they send their suicide carder as civilians in buses or trains to either be exploded in a crowded bus, train or a market place. If not they lay in waiting as “sleepers” until an order is sent for them to activate and blow themselves at a given place to blow in “exchange” a VIP.

That is how the terrorists operate, and military operations to fight terrorism is entrapped with danger, specially for soldiers of an infantry who could be taken unawares, fall into ambuscades, walk into minefields, and collateral damages could hardly be avoided. This fact seems difficult for Ban Ki Moon’s grey matter to work out.

Ban Ki Moon has to be educated that the Sri Lanka Government forces adopted a special method to avoid possible material damage or death to Tamil civilians when they targeted places where terrorists were in hiding.

This had not been the case with the coalition armies led by the Americans in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan. They bombed villages where the talibans were supposed to be hiding and attacking those areas they killed civilians. They were continuing their bombardments unconcerned as it was for them a war against terrorists, and collateral damage to civilians were unavoidable.

It was only when complaints against civilian deaths were numerous, that UNO intervened to collect evidence. Having collected reliable evidence Ban Ki Moon shelved the information. He did not make any accusations against the coalition armies led by America.

Following is an article that appeared in a French web site , when the coalition armies led by America was killing civilians in their air raids against talibans, it is in French:

“.. Irak, Afghanistan, chaque semaine des dizaines de civils morts par des frappes de l´Otan, sans que cela ne soit vraiment sanctionné car ça dure encore et encore. Tragique concours de circonstances, plus de 90 civils afghans ont été tués le même vendredi 22 août, lors d´un bombardement aérien dans l´ouest du pays. En raison de la triste répétition de ces «dommages collatéraux», l´ONU has collected des «preuves convaincantes qu´un bombardement de la coalition emmenée par les Américains avait tué vendredi 90 civils, dont 60 enfants, 15 femmes et 15 hommes», (on a report dated 1 September,2008 in http://terredislam.bloguez.com)

Translate it reads :

“Each week in Iraq, and Afghanistan, tens of civilians are killed in aerial bombardments by Otan, without being really sanctioned and goes on again and again. In these tragic circumstances, more than 90 Afghan civilians were killed on Friday 22,August, in aerial bombardments in the West of the country. In view of the sad repetition of these “collateral damages", the ONU collected convincing evidence of bombardments of the coalition led by the Americans on the Friday22 in question, in which 90 civilians were killed, of them 60 were children, 15men and 15 women. “

The passage quoted above shows that UNO having collected reliable evidence of the death of civilians by the bombardments of the coalition armies led by America, did nothing to stop it or bringing it to the notice of the USA Congress( which seems to get reports on Sri Lanka’s past military operations quite often).

The Americans and their coalition partners have a lesson to learn from the Sri Lanka Government Forces. The precise targeting in bombardment adopted by the Government Forces of Sri Lanka will avoid collateral damages that America and its coalition partners continue to cause in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is some thing that Ban Ki Moon could recommend to America in their war against terrorism.

In the absence of such “ civilian safety related methods” of military action, the American and coalition forces are killing the civilians in their bombardments, putting those deaths to“unavoidable” collateral damages.

In such a situation how can one stand dumb to Ban Ki Moon’s appointing a panel to investigate the military operations of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces to investigate whether they had committed war crimes, when he has in his possession evidence of war crimes against America and its coalition partners. Ban Ki Moon is doing nothing about it, but continuing to harass the Government of Sri Lanka.

Why should not the Government of Sri Lanka demand an investigation into the reasons why Ban Ki Moon, has not taken any action pertaining to those deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan, while appointing a panel to investigate the conduct of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces ?

There had evidently been overwhelming evidence to inculpate coalition governments led by America of deaths to civilians on the bombardments against Taliban terrorists . But Banki Moon, the Amnesty International and the Human Rights watch very vociferous about Sri Lanka’s anti terrorist operations are observing holy silence about the violation of human rights and blatant killing of Civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq, by the coalition partners led by America.

For Sri Lanka the military operations against terrorism is over. It is looking ford to a future without terrorism, where peace is established, the communities are united, and the country is developed.

But for Ban Ki Moon, Amnesti International, Human Rights Watch, Eropean Union the terrorism in Sri Lanka is not over. They are carrying it in their minds, trying to save the terrorists and accuse the Government of Sri Lanka. They deny Sri Lanka and its people material help and moral encouragement to build unity, peace and social and economic development.

They are investigating to accuse Sri Lanka for its past activities to defeat and eliminate terrorism, to find whether Sri Lanka’s past military operations against terrorism lead to war crimes, so that they could enforce embargoes against Sri Lanka, like they did to Iraq, and Cuba, to stop unity among communities, stop development, and progress. So that Sri Lanka will remain poor fighting among communities without peace and development, dependent on handouts from the West, in return for poor Sri Lanka’s material and human wealth, its strategic position in the Indian Ocean, to be exploited by the West for their benefit.

Ban Ki Moon as a consolation for Sri Lanka, states that the panel he has set up will investigate not only the war crimes of the Government of Sri Lanka but also those of the terrorists.

In saying that Ban Ki Moon really takes us for fools. Where was he and his followers the Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the EU, all the time the terrorists were massacring our people, assassination our President, Ministers of Governments, Police Officers Army Commanders ? It is then they should have voiced their disagreements, and anger against the terrorists , not now when every thing is over.

If Ban Ki Moon and his coteries, want to investigate past crimes, violation of human rights by governments , aggressors against innocent civilians. There are many Nations he could start to investigate.

Ban Ki Moon and his nosy parkers can investigate crimes and violation of human rights of the American Indians by America, and Canada; crimes and violation of human rights of the Australian aborigines by the British in Australia; Japanese against Manchurians, and Koreans; the British and the French against Arabs; British against the Sri Lankans, South Africans, Kenyans; French against Vietnamese , Algerians; the list is long.

The Past is past, there is no time to waste on what had taken place, then. The Colonialism was not a period of holiday and amusement . It was a period when many colonised countries were devastated, plundering not only their material wealth, but also their pride, culture, religious beliefs and all that they valued as belonging to them.


While Ban Ki Moon and his coteries the Amnesty International, Human Rights watch , the European Union are buried neck deep with the weight of the Sri Lanka Military Operations against the terrorists, they still carry in their minds, Sri Lanka is engaged with its programmes of development, and building unity amoung the communities.

For Sri Lanka terrorism is now past history.

Sri Lanka therefore wants a little more space, and for that Ban Ki Moon, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the European Union have to get off its back and mind their own business , to allow Sri Lanka to continues its march towards progress, and Nation building.

Ban Ki Moon and his nosy parkers should know that Sri Lanka has no ethnic problems . It is a problem that was created by the interested Tamil politicians, and Tamil Intellectuals still making obeisance to the West, such as Pakiasothy Saravanamuttu, to wield their power over the Tamil population, and be some sort of Tamil Chieftains.

Those trouble shooters too are gradually finding a place in the Sri Lankan history, while others of all communities are emerging into being partners of a new nation of Sri Lankans.

It was a fortnight ago that two Tamil Parliamentarians who were even sympathetic to the LTTE terrorists and thought of a separate State for Tamils, gave up their idea of separation from the Sinhala majority and stated that they would work in harmony with the Sinhala Community and others, and with the President Mahainda Rajapaksa -who has given a new hope for unity, to share in the progress and development of the country as a union of communities.

These two young politicians, who have taken off time to think intelligently and put in their lot with the Sinhala , Muslim and other communities to make Sri Lanka a great Nation are namely : Prabah Ganesan and Palani Digambaram. Prabah Ganesan had said “Now is the time to develop the country. ” and had added , “President Mahinda Rajapaksa is one leader, who is elected by the people of this country and his mandate is to develop the country. It is time we all cooperate with him.”
Many Tamil people begin to feel that, “…. there is no point in continuing a hostile campaign with the majority community; instead it is better to work together with them to find an acceptable solution to issues facing the Tamils and Tamil speaking people of this country…”.

An heir to the terrorism named by the terrorist leader Prabhakaran- K.Pathmanathan has also promised to cooperate with the government and bury the old hatchet of discord that existed between the Tamils and the Sinhala, and work together for the common good of Sri Lanka.

The Tamil expatriates are beginning to question whether it is worth wasting time demanding a separate Tamil Eelam State and may soon join hands with the Sinhala Community- which is awaiting to receive them into its fold , when ever they decide to join their hands with them.

We are of course left with unconcerned critics mooning for the lost terrorism like the TamilNet, SriLanka Guardian, Groundview, Sunday Leader, and others like Jehan Perera, Kumar Rupasinghe, and the politicians hoping to oust the present Government and seize political power like those of the UNP, JVP, and TNA who are not really worth worrying about. Even Ananda Sangaree does not fit into the emerging new Sri Lanka.

In a recent comment to an article in the Lanka web a commentator Lorenzo wrote: “….unfortunately Tamils in the north east are tribal. Take a look at the parties they vote for.
TAMIL congress, TAMIL kachchi, TAMIL front, TAMIL alliance.
Look at what they demand.
TAMIL aspirations, TAMIL Elam, TAMIL grievances, TAMIL self determination, TAMIL nationality, TAMIL etc, etc.
This is same as in Tamil Nadu. Just look at the political parties and their tribal names and demands……..”
This too will soon end giving place to a country of united communities, “a one people, one country, one Nation”.

There you are Ban Ki Moon, stubbornly holding on to your panel to teach Sri Lanka a lesson by investigating into its past military activities, the present situation in Sri Lanka is far more brighter than you have expected, while scheming to make Sri Lanka a victim of your false allegations.

While you are holding on to your “Panel”, history and progress do not wait. As much as past is receding to history, social, economic, and cultural progress in Sri Lanka is marching fast forward. Ban Ki Moon too will soon be just a land mark in the progressive forward march of Sri Lanka.

There may be short comings and disappointments, like holes, rocks, and thorns on any uneven path, but Sri Lanka will overcome all that to make a reality of the object of progress and development to be a great nation.

Mervyn Silva phenomenon

The reported cases of dengue is said to be about 26000, of which about 175 were deaths.

Dengue fever which has taken an epidemic proportion in Sri Lanka is being swept under the carpet of Mervyn Silva phenomenon by the opposition political parties to inform the people and the international community through their press conferences , the inaction of the President and the Government to bring under control an eccentric Minister, as there is nothing more important than that happening in Sri Lanka.

The disaster that is being caused by dengue fever is no more the concern of the opposition political parties.

Undoubtedly Mervy Silva’s antics have taken a significant dimension that demands intervention of the Government and the President to prevent him from continuing his erratic behaviour in his own interest, and that of the President and the Government.

Mr. Silva seems to be showing an unusual inclination, to come into the limelight by resorting to actions that are unorthodox, and objectionable hoping for public acclamation, caring less if the sort acclamation turns to condemnation. Even if the epithet Court Jester seemed appropriate in view of his pranks, they are far from being intelligent and lovable as those gaucheries of Andare- the legendary Sinhala Court Jester.

The court jester or not, it is time that Mr.Silva is castigated for his foolish activities, and put a stop to them, as it has become a nuisance for the general public, and a means for the political opponents of the President and his government to make capital of the situation, to denounce both the President and the government for harbouring an individual not fit enough to be a Minister.

The critics of the President take his inability to put Mr.Silva in his place, as a weakness of a National leader on whom the people have placed their highest expectations to develop the country, and bring prosperity, peace and happiness to the people . The people expect the President to maintain decorum among his Minsters, and those around him.

Mervyn Silva perhaps deserves sympathy, as his behaviour pattern is not of a normal person. He seems to take what is irrelevant, for relevant, and what is annoying and foolish, for amusement and wisdom. Mr.Silva seems to think that he is capable of doing in his own way what the Government is not capable of doing through legislation. Therefore he does what he thinks is correct. He acts without wise attention without reflecting on the consequence of his act.

That is why on the face of it Mr. Silva’s objectionable act of tying a government officer to a tree seems to be his way of driving into the minds of the public servants the necessity to be alive to problems that require their attention, and their service to the public should be their primary concern. But he unfortunately acted without wise attention, without reflecting on the consequences of his act.

In the Sabbasava Sutta the Buddha instructing the Bikkhus on the abandonment of taints says “………Bikkhus an untaught ordinary person , who has no regard for noble ones and is unskilled and undisciplined in their Dhamma, who has no regard for true men and is unskilled and undisciplined in their Dhamma, does not understand what things are fit for attention and what things are unfit for attention. Since that is so , he attends to those things unfit for attention and he does not attend to those things fit for attention….”(MN.2. Tr.Bikkhu Bodhi).

There is no reason that Mervyn Silva should be excused each time he does some thing that damages the reputation of the President, and the government amoung the people, and gives the opposition political parties to discredit the President and the Government for the acts committed by him.

He should not be allowed to be the Biblical prodigal son who feasts on the fattened calf. But the situation has to be assessed from the several instances of his infractions, and action should be taken to stop a repetition, by sending him before a board of psychiatrists if necessary to evaluate his mental condition.

That would be a service not only for the people of the country who have placed their trust in the President and the government for wise rule, but for Mr.Mervyn Silva himself, as he is certainly suffering from an ailment he is not aware of, and which requires treatment.

It also would help the Opposition political parties- the UNP and the JVP to cooperate with the government to find an immediate solution to rid the country of the menace of the Dengue fever, instead of deviating to discredit the President and the Government, to hide their own political nakedness.

Stop bickering and get together to develop our country-Sri Lanka

Lot of people have taken exception to the blame worthy behaviour of Mr.Mervyn Silva. Many question why despite his irritating behaviour the President continues to keep him in the cabinet. The President may have his own reasons, perhaps he thinks it is safe to keep him in the Cabinet rather than let him loose outside without ministerial respectability, like an angry mad, horned bull amidst a crowd of people.

There are those who think that he should be “kicked” out of the cabinet, to avoid Sri Lanka being the laughing stock of the West. This is a flimsy excuse, as it really does not matter now what the West would think of Sri Lanka with or without Mervyn Silva in the cabinet. The governments of the West have worst erratic Ministers than Mervyn Silva .

If the West is watching Sri Lanka to commend it for its good actions and good behaviour, and condemn it for bad, they would have rose as one to applaud Sri Lanka for its incomparable feat of eliminating terrorism . But have they ? No, they have instead rose up as one to condemn Sri Lanka and accuse it as a war criminal just for eliminating terrorism. Therefore, it does not really matter whether the West is laughing at us or not for our irritating ridicules of an eccentric Minister.

The Minister in question should instead be sympathised because he may be suffering from some sort of irremediable mental disorder, and his place is in an appropriate Institution rather than in the Parliament.

But besides him there are others in the august assembly who are not just jesters or jokers but buffoons, and clowns whose appropriate place is a circus for children, if not in the same Institution recommended for the former. They are certainly the ones who should tickle the laughter glands of the Western Sri Lanka Watchers.

Mangala Samaraweera finally realised that he could neither fool the people, nor himself by being the leader of a one-man political party called SLFP (M), and joined the UNP announcing that he is a principled politician, and as such he has no alternative but to join the UNP.

Some would say it was a case of “savour” grapes . He had been holding on, hoping that some disgruntled members from the President Mahinda Rajapakse’s SLFP will jump on to his side, that not forth coming, the other alternative left for him was either to join the UNP or jump in to the “Beira Lake”. He had chosen the former.

Mangala Samaraweera has no principles, even if he shouts from roof tops in Colombo or Matara if one speaks of the same “principles” Mangala Samaraweera is speaking about. He left the SLFP, because he was removed from his portfolio of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He left hoping that the President might call him back, and that having not happened, he started a wild campaign against the President Mahinda Rajapakse first accusing him of having “bribed” the terrorist leader Prabhakaran.

Having failed to antagonised the people against the President with that accusation, he started the second campaign against the President Mahinda Rajapakse accusing him of floating a Rajapakse and Family Company, which has taken over the government. That too failed to appeal to the people to go against the President.

Instead the people replied to Mangala Samaraweera’s second accusation by electing the President.Mahinda Rajapakse for a second term with a thumping majority. But that accusation, was swallowed by another buffoon who fell for it, and added his own “spice” calling the President a Dictator, floating a family company.

Ranil Wickramasinghe continues his harangue against the Rajapakse Government , when every one around wants him to step down from leadership of UNP. If he has any principles he should have resigned from his leadership of the UNP long time ago.

Mangala Samaraweera who has now joined the UNP, does not want Ranil Wickramasinghe removed from the UNP, for his own personal reasons. It is obvious having just joined the UNP because of Ranil Wickramasinghe, he would not know what his place in UNP would be without Ranil as its leader.

Karu Jayasooriya seems to have the same problem. If Sajith Premadasa becomes the UNP leader what would be his position ? In order not to be in doubt he too claims that this is not the time to change the UNP leadership.

Are these people really patriotic and love the country so much that they want to send Mahinda Rajapakse and family to Beliatta? Or are they looking after their own interests ?

If they come into power what more can they do, other than what the President Mahinda Rajapakse had done, and is continuing to do ? Of course they will want to disband the “ Rajapakse and Family Company”. But what better proposition have they ?

Is that not sheer madness to do away with a President and his Government, that had carried out from the outset what they had promised to do ?

Governing is not easy, as criticising it from out side of it. Once those critics come back into power, they will undo all that had been done and reorganise things their way, which would not be for the benefit of the country.

Even the worst of critics of the President Mahinda Rajapakse and his government cannot deny that they have done a wonderful work to steer the country on to the correct path of development, and the country is now showing every sign of being able to rise above its status of a developing country.

We have moved our foreign policies from dependence on our former colonial masters and the West who have their own agenda for their further enrichment, keeping the developing nations under their control.

What are the Western Governments doing with the withdrawal of GSP+, accusing government for violation of human rights, setting up panels to investigate whether the Armed Forces of the Government had not violated human rights in eliminating terrorism ?

Who are our real friends ?

Can the opposition that criticises the President Mahinda Rajapakse and his Government guarantee our independence from the dictates of the West ?

The President Mahinda Rajapakse has the correct vision of development. If the opposition parties are real patriots, who want Sri Lanka to develop as an independent Nation , should instead of falling over each other to criticise the President and the Government, should fall behind the President to develop this country, to make of it a united country without separation of Communities, drawing what is best of each other for the common good of every one to make our country a developed Nation in par with the West.

We can do it and we have the potential for that sort of development, and the present President and his government have gone a long way in the correct direction and this is not the time to change. There are always difficulties, and even wrong decision taken, we are human we should be able to understand these mistakes, wrong decisions, and correct them to overcome difficulties, without harping on them ad in finitum.

The President Mahinda Rajapakse is far from being a Dictator. These are terms used to frighten the ordinary people. But they cannot be fooled any more.

When Marxism was introduced to Sri Lanka UNP went round campaigning that the left is a movement against religion, and against the countries cultural values, and the leftists call every one including the parents as comrades.

It had to be an intellectual politician like SWRD Bandaranayake to introduce socialism, and recognised cultural values. He invited the left to join him to form a united front. Bandaranaike was not a racist when he wanted to make Sinhala the official language, he was seeking to break away from the bonds of colonialism, to identify Sri Lanka as a Nation “à part entière”.

He was not given a chance by the Tamil racists like Chelvanayagam and the rest. They were trying to do what Jinnah did to India.

SWRD Bandaranaike’s daughter Chandrika Kumaratunga, in criticising the Government of the President Mahinda Rajapakse becomes a traitor to her fathers political vision. She is like Mangala Samaraweera, a person without principles , wailing the place she has lost among the people in Sri Lanka. She has become a tool in the hands of the west.

JVP too in holding onto Sarath Fonseka has given up their Marxist and Socialist principles. Sarath Fonseka is the one that dragged Sri Lanka into inconceivable difficulties with all nondescript humanists, agencies, activists, and most interfering western and local media. Sri Lanka after the elimination of terrorists had the path open for undisturbed progress and development. Sarath Fonseka put an end to that possibility.

The UNP should change from its age old principles of hanging onto the tail end of Western capitalism in the name of development, and cooperate with the President and the Government bringing in their constructive criticism to make our country a peaceful and a happy place for every one.

If Andare tradition is to be revived in Sri Lanka, the recruit should not exceed jesting , clowning , or buffoonery, and least of all should not be a

It has been said that during the rein of Sinhala Kings, there was a court jester called Andare who was employed to amuse the King, and his Ministers. There is no historical record about employment of court jesters but folklore has many stories about Andare and the pranks he played on the King , his Ministers and even the Queen.

He was probably there to amuse the King to take away the tension from the day to day work of the King and his Minsters. One Andare story as far as I can remember is the one where the Ministers wanted to play a prank on Andare, and how it rebounded on them.

The King and the Ministers had a day in the week when they go to the Royal Pond to take a bath. Andare always accompanied them on such outings. Each of the Ministers, unknown to Andare, took an egg along with him. At the pond when they were bathing one Minister asked who can dive into the pond and bring an egg. All the Ministers shouted back that they can. Then at a given signal all of them dived into the pond. Andare was surprised, but having no alternative, he too dived into the pond. After a while the ministers came up each holding an egg in his hand.

Andare too came up, but had no egg with him. Andare guessing what happened did not want to accept defeat. Not short of wit, Andare cried “ Cock-a –doodle doo “, and shouted you are all hens and I am the only cock. The King saw how Andare turned tables on the Ministers and had a hearty laugh.

The royal palaces or even the houses of nobles in Europe on the other hand had such providers of amusement to the King and his court of Ministers. They were known as jesters, jokers, fools or buffoons. They wore special multicoloured dresses and floppy hats made of cloth with corners looking like donkey’s ears with small jingle-bells. They made a funny laugh, and carried a sceptre-the bauble. They even criticised the Kings , the Queens, Ministers or even the guests.

They were like pets or mascots. Some of them were licensed fools, they could make a mockery of the Court . They entertained the Court with their clowning, playing music, juggling and telling riddles. King Henry VIII had Will Sommers as his jester.

The jester of King James was Archibald Armstrong. Archibald was a clever sheep-stealer, and supposed to have sought to become a court jester to escape being caught as a thief. It is said that Armstrong became a favourite of the king, and was given great honours at court. But when he became extravagant and began to insult influential people who visited the Court, the King had him thrown out of the Palace.

Jeffrey Hudson was the jester of King Charles I . He was very loyal and popular. He was a small man , therefore he was called the Royal Dwarf. He hid himself inside Giant Pies that were presented to the Royal Court and when it was to be served he jumped out of the pie to the amusement of every one present. In the English Civil War, Jeffrey Hudson fought alongside the Royalists. Jesters were also entrusted to keep the King informed of bad news, no body else would dare tell.

It is also said that the Kings trusted the counsel of the jesters, as they had no vested interest in any region, estate or church. After the over throw of King Charles I in the Civil War, the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell had no use of such frivolity.

Charles II, after restoration of Monarchy did not follow the tradition of employing a Court Jester, but he seemed to have liked a theatrical comedian Thomas Killigrew, about whom it had been written that , " Thomas Killigrew the King's fool and jester, with the power to mock and revile even the most prominent without penalty" . There after no British monarch had employed court jesters, but the tradition continued in Russia, Spain and Germany.

Stanczyk was the court jester of Poland, whose jokes and pranks were related to political matters.
The Court Jesters had been recruited from amoung the villagers and peasants. In Russia they were selected from among ugly and old serf-servants, older and uglier men were found to be more amusing and had a better chance of getting recruited as a court jester.
Tarlton the jester of Queen Elizabeth I was a swineherd . When the Duke Eberhard the Bearded of Wurtemburg in Germany, wanted to recruit Paul Wust as the jester he refused. Asked why he refused, he said “ my father, fathered his own fool, if you want one, father one yourself”
India too had Court Jesters recruited from those who were able to make the King laugh. Tenali Rama was one such recruit. Tenali Rama got the King Krishnadevaraja’s Guru to carry him on his shoulders. The King seeing his Guru is being humiliated asked the guards to beat the man riding on the shoulders of his Guru. Tenali Rama knowing what was going to happen jumped off the Guru’s shoulders and going on his knees asked the Guru to climb on to his shoulders to carry him to pardon himself. The Guru consented and climbed on to his shoulders and was being carried when the guards caught them, and beat the man riding on the shoulders.
The King seeing that it was his Guru who had got beaten , inquired why the Guru was beaten. Tenali related the what happened and the King found Tenali’s trick amusing, and he was recruited as the Court Jester.
The history of the manor of Gawsworth describes, the Jester employed in the Manor , one Samuel Johnson as "…..one of the last of the paid English jesters. . . . In addition to his being employed as jester or mirth-maker by the manorial Lord of Gawsworth, he was a welcome addition at parties given by the neighbouring country families, when he had free license to bandy his witticisms, and to utter and enact anything likely to enliven the company, and to provoke mirth and laughter."
Different from a Court Jester is a Buffoon, he is absurd, idiotic and nonsensical but amuses through his funny behaviour. He is described as ,” ..a clown like publicly amusing person, such as a court jester. In the more modern sense, the term is frequently used in a derogatory sense to describe someone considered a public fool, or someone displaying inappropriately vulgar, bumbling or ridiculous behavior that is a source of general amusement.”

Now about court jesters in ancient Sri Lanka the only known Jester is Andare. Therefore, one does not know whether there had been a tradition in Sri Lanka for the Sinhala Kings to recruit a Court Jester. Even the recorded history of Sri Lanka the Mahavansa does not mention a Court Jester. The history has not recorded even a Minister of a Kings who resembled a court jester.
But Andare as a court jester was intelligent and witty and never made a fool of himself. He is remembered lovingly for his wit and humour, but there is no story of his taking the advantage of his being close to the Kings to humiliate his country men in whatever way.
So if the tradition of a court jester is to be revived in Sri Lanka, one has to recruit one who will not exceed his jesting , clowning or even buffoonery, not to deviate from the Andare tradition.
It should be at least some one like Will Sommers:
“ But this Will Summers was of an easie nature, and tractable disposition, who . . . gained not only grace and favour from his Majesty, but a general love of the Nobility; for he was no carry-tale, nor whisperer, nor flattering insinuater, to breed discord and dissension, but an honest plain down-right, that would speak home without halting, and tell the truth of purpose to shame the Devil; so that his plainness mixt with a kind of facetiousness, and tartness with pleasantness made him very acceptable into the companies of all men.”
A Pleasant History of the Life and Death of Will Summers (1676)

Kumaran Pathmanathan, alias Tharmalingam, alias Shanmugam Kumaran, alias KP- Arms smuggler, money launderer, the heir to the terrorism of Prabhakara

There is a recurring news item about Kumaran Pathmanathan . He was the man who was named by Prabhakaran the terrorist to take over the terrorist activities after him. A person to be considered reliable by the worlds most ruthless terrorist Velupillai Prabhakaran to carry on his terrorist activities after him , must be one who is as equal to him to carry on terrorism from where he had stopped.

Robert Blake is said to have had direct contact with the LTTE terrorist leadership through Kumaran Pathmanathan- a known arms smuggler and money launderer. He was also identified as Tharmalingham, Shanmugam Kumaran or KP . He was placed on Interpol red notice, which seeks the arrest or provisional arrest of wanted persons with a view to extradition, at India’s request following the murder of Rajiv Ghandi by the Tamil Tigers.

Operating the Tiger’s procurement network clandestinely from Thailand and Malaysia, KP managed to evade arrest and was appointed as the LTTE head of International relations. And subsequently named as the leader of the LTTE after him, by the thalaivar Prabhakaran himself. This is how he was identified before his arrest by the Government of Sri Lanka.

Kumaran Pathmanathan did neither surrender to the Government nor did he after his arrest decline to continue terrorism as a means to set up an Eelam State for the Tamils in Sri Lanka.

He was procuring arms and providing other material needs of the terrorists to carry on their terrorism unhindered, with all modern facilities to operate their machines of terror. He was responsible for all the assassinations, murders and massacres, whether by explosion of claymore bombs, grenades, suicide cadres, or Soosai’s powered boats in the seas.It was only after the death of the terrorist leadership that the government was able to arrest him.

He was arrested as a terrorist who had been engaged by the terrorist leader Prabhakaran to continue terrorism in Sri Lanka. Therefore the government cannot differentiate him from the rest of the terrorists. He is therefore the only terrorist leader alive from all those who were eliminated or captured and held in prisons. He is perhaps still on the red list of the Interpol.

What guarantee has the Government of Sri Lanka that he could now be trusted ?

KP’s mind is unfathomable. He may pretend to have given up the intention to set up the Tamil Homeland which was dying terrorist leader’s request. But to what extent could Gotabhaya Rajapaksa or the President Mahinda Rajapaksa trust him. Prabhakaran never kept his word to the best of his interlocutors. Therefore, Pathmanathan, the best friend and accomplice of Prabhakaran is not reliable. President R.Premadasa was assassinated by a terrorist who won his trust and friendship.

Once he is free K.pathmanathan may be contacted by the Indian RAW, and Pathmanathan will play the same role he had been playing with the Government of Sri Lanka, with the Government of India as well. He is a shrewd man and has nothing to loose. In that situation the Government of Sri Lanka seems to be playing with fire in trying to give Pathmanathan political responsibility in the North and East.

Pathmanathan is useful both to India and Blake of USA to go ahead with the Agenda they had in mind when they were seeking to save Prabhakaran, to break up Sri Lanka and create a Kosavo style independent Tamil Eelam State. In releasing Pathmanathan the government of Sri Lanka will only be playing into their hands.

Karuna Amman was different, because he risked his life when he broke away from Prabhakaran and from terrorism. He is sincere, and he is different even from the other Tamil politicians like Ananda Sangaree, Douglass Devananda, and the TNA politicians. Because Karuna Amman is more genuine having no secret political agenda, if not he will not disband his political party to join the SLFP.

While other Tamil politicians still identify themselves separately from the majority community, Karuna Amman sought to unite with the majority. He could be compared to what was Barrack Obama to Americans- not a representative of the Black Americans, but just another “ American”.

Therefore, Karuna Amman cannot be likened to the shrewd, unreliable arms smuggler, and money launderer Kumaran Pathmanathan, as it would be an insult to Karuna Amman.

Pathmanathan has not given up his terrorist intentions, even today with all the talk about his giving all secret information concerning the LTTE terrorists he may still be holding on to his allegiance to his friend Prabhakaran, and may want to revive terrorism in a different way, for instance by breaking away North and East to set up a Tamil Eelam State, with the help of his old friend, Robert O’Blake, those in Norway and the Government of India- whose intentions will always remain an enigma.

Who are these Global statesmen who decry S. Lanka's peace without justice ?

They do not seem to understand either peace or justice.

The “Global Statesmen” Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Kofi Annan, and Jimmy Carter, now demand international concern over the post-war conduct of Sri Lanka.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu is known to be a highly excited man where terrorism in Sri Lanka is concerned. He knows only the Sri Lanka terrorists point of view ,and knows nothing of the point of view of the people who suffered from terrorism or that of the governments that tried to come to a political settlement with the terrorists and failed.

The same could be said of Nelson Mandela who apparently did not make any effort to understand what the problem with the terrorists in Sri Lanka was, but believed the stories recounted by the terrorists or their sympathizers that the terrorists were in fact freedom fighters claiming freedom from a Sinhala Government which is like the apartheid South Afrikaner Governments of South Africa.

With such scanty knowledge of Sri Lanka’s anti or post terrorist situation neither Nelson Mandela nor Desmond Tutu could justify their demand for International concern over post terrorist conduct of a government which had enough of interference from the International Community in favour of terrorism, and against a government and a people who are seeking unity and peace after thirty years of terrorism, assassinations, deaths, murders, and suicide bombs.

Kofi Annan was like Banki Moon an Administrator, not at all a Statesman with political experience in leading a Nation. His leadership in the UNO marked the downwards trend of the once august Assembly set up to bring Nations together and settle their disputes in “healthy” discussions.

Koffi Annan saw the UNO ridiculed and stepped over by the Bush Administration to wage an unnecessary war against Iraq, making a comic spectacle of a Kofi Annan unable to pronounce a word to stop the blatant act of a headstrong American President do what he wants, when he wants, with or without the UNO sanctions.
Kofi Annan did not have the guts even to resign from being the Secretary General of UNO to show his disagreement with the arbitrary decision of a member state which disregarded the authority of the UNO, which was a slap on his face by the Bush Administration !

Kofi Annan was also responsible for the Oil for food scandal where Iraq was required to sell petroleum in order to pay for food and medicine for its people. It is alleged that even Kofi Annan’s son Kojo Annan profited from this scandalous arrangement.

That is the background to one of the four elder “Statesmen” who now raises concern over post terrorist conduct of the Sri Lanka Government.

Worst of the four elders, grouped to get the International concern raised against Sri Lanka are Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. Some may take exception to citing Nelson Mandela as a misguided Statesman. Of course the world recognizes him with respect for his indefatigable fight against apartheid.

The President Mahinda Rajapakse is also an indefatigable fighter against terrorism, why then should Nelson Mandela join a band of persons who have nothing in common except the office from which they have retired , to be referred to as “global statesmen” by the Agence France Press, to bring disrepute to an equally great President of Sri Lanka that has brought peace to his country, and now trying his best to unite the communities and usher in progress and development.

But where Nelson Mandela is misguided is in his interference in to the affairs of the Government of Sri Lanka about which he has no first hand information. What he knows about terrorism in Sri Lanka is what he has been told by the actors themselves of terrorism, and their sympathizers .

Nelson Mandela who fought against the Apartheid Government of South Africa, who denied the fundamental rights of democracy to the indigenous Black population thinks that the Government of Sri Lanka is a government similar to the apartheid White Government of South Africa. There against the White Government, the Blacks, lead by Nelson Mandela were freedom fighters.

But that is not the case with Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka it was a handful Tamil youths trained by the Secret Agents of the Indian Government with an expansionist agenda as terrorists that was let lose in Sri Lanka in 1983, who assassinated 13 policemen of the Sri Lanka Government, and provoked the Sinhala people in the south in sympathy with the assassinated policemen, among them the unscrupulous criminals , to unfortunately rise against the Tamil people, thus preparing the ground for terrorisms to take root in Tamil populated areas in the North and East.

Beginning from then the terrorists gradually befriended the Tamil expatriates some of who had left Sri Lanka after the 1983 riots - started by the terrorists themselves, collected money from them and built a strong armed force capable of taking on the Government armed forces. They demanded separation of a part of Sri Lanka to set up their own Eelam State for Tamils.

That has nothing in common with what the anti-apartheid movement that was headed by Nelson Mandela. Nelson Mandela does not know this background, that is why he is now acting as a misguided Statesman, interfering into Sri Lanka Government’s efforts in governance, after eliminating terrorism that had barred its progress and development.

Edmund Tutu who has been called by the Zimbawe President Mugabe “ the evel Bishop” is the same. He does not know any thing about terrorism in Sri Lanka and their objective of dividing Sri Lanka and the communities by demanding the setting up of a separate State for Tamils, in a country where the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslims had lived together for generations.

Unfortunately, the Catholic Church which is not very “patriotic” preparing Sri Lanka to be a Catholic dominated country, after its failure to do so through Catholic Action which was brought to an end by the intervention of late H.L.Mettananda, P. de S.Kularatne and others, has not kept the Archbishop Desmond Tutu informed of the reality about Sri Lanka terrorism.

Archbishop Malcolm Ranjit Patabendige Don, should have if he is a real patriot of the country informed Desmond Tutu the real situation and asked him not to interfere in to the affairs of Sri Lanka as the Catholic Church is well represented in Sri Lanka and it can do what is necessary without Desmond Tutu having to discredit Sri Lanka on issues he is quite ignorant about.

Before Nelson Mandela, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, as “elders” trying to interfere into the Affairs of Sri Lank should look into grave situation in South Africa with regard to migrant workers, and criminality in general. It is much better those matters are satisfactorily settled, before they intervene to settle matters that do not concern them.

In an article “The Crime Shaking Mandela’s family”, Eliza Griswold of the Daily Beast.com reported on 24 July,2010:

“Although HIV/AIDS is a horribly familiar crisis, the grinding toll of South Africa’s everyday violence remains little more than statistics. With an average death toll of 50 a day, the country is the world’s second-leading murder capital of the world. (Colombia is number one.) But when it comes to rape, South Africa tops the list. A girl in South Africa has a one in three chance of finishing secondary school—and a one in two chance of being raped.
So what’s being done about this kind of violent pandemic?

The Earth Time in an article, “Three ment burnt alive by South African Mob” on 4.8.2010 reported, “An angry mob in a South African slum burnt three men alive on Wednesday after accusing them of stealing power cables.
Residents of the settlement in Lenasia South on the southern outskirts of Johannesburg surrounded the three men in their pick-up truck and set the vehicle alight with the men inside shortly after midnight, police told the South African Press Association. “

Times Topic:South Africa, reported in an article , “South Africans take out rage on Immigrants” on 20.5.2008 :
“REIGER PARK, South Africa — Feneck Mgawa, a 39-year-old mechanic from Malawi, came to South Africa 18 months ago. He owned a box of tools and got work right away, living modestly in a hovel in a squatter’s camp and sending cash home each month to his wife and two children.

He was exactly the kind of foreigner the hateful mob wanted to kill.
Last weekend, the marauders came to his shack and looked him over. Just to be sure they were not misdirecting their rage, they asked, “Are you a foreigner?” He spoke enough Zulu to lie, but what was the use? His accent would have given him away. He escaped with his life only after being beaten with sticks and pelted with rocks, he said.

Mr. Mgawa is now one of 6,000 immigrants displaced in recent days by xenophobic violence here in Reiger Park, just east of Johannesburg. Like many of the others, he is afraid to return to his shack or go to his job. He sleeps on the floor of a church and eats sandwiches and porridge donated by South Africans who are appalled at the murderous behavior of their countrymen.”

Again Robyn Dixon , the Times Staff Writer wrote on 20 May,2008 in an afrticle Migrants burnt alive in South Africa :
“The brutal apartheid-era practice of setting opponents on fire has been revived in this country's crowded, litter-strewn shantytowns. But now the victims are foreign migrants.

Anger over unemployment and rising prices and simmering resentment against illegal foreign migrants have exploded into xenophobic violence in South Africa, with at least 22 people slain in the last 10 days. Hundreds more have been injured and as many as 10,000 have fled their homes, as analysts struggle for explanations as to what triggered the violence.”

This mob rule seems to go unattended, and it continues even today. Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu during the few years left for them should concentrate their efforts to make South Africa treat the immigrants from their neighbouring countries more humanly, and as brothers and sisters.

Desmond Tutu had recently announced that he is retiring from public life to have tea with his wife. It is better that he spends his time more usefully that way, instead of poking his nose into matters he has not grasped quite well, worrying his head unnecessarily over what has been reported to him by the terrorist sympathizing expatriate Tamils and anti Sri Lanka pro terrorist western governments.

There is no prosecutions and disappearances of human rights activists in Sri Lanka, as the”Elders” have been informed. If they are correctly informed they will know that these are false accusations made by the opposition political parties to defeat the aims of the present government and come to power themselves. These are also publicised by some western governments who had an ulterior motive to save terrorism in Sri Lanka- a developing country which shows every possibility of rising above their “under developed” status.

The Sri Lanka Government led by the President Mahinda Rajapakse was able to defeat and completely eliminate the scourge of terrorism. This government is quite capable of looking after itself and develop the country and unite the communities to form a a united Nation of Sri Lankans. Therefore, what it requires now is for the foreign states and groups of humanitarians to keep away from interfering into its affairs until it progressively settles all problems it encounters after it eliminated terrorism.

We are still left with one more “Elder” good Mr.Jimmy Carter the former President of USA. He is a good individual very Christian does not want to displease others. He had been brought into the group of three “sages”, I presume because of his Noble Peace Prize.

As the rest he too must have got moved by stories recounted to him by the pro-terrorist expatriate Tamils. These white people more often think that coloured people are only capable of doing what is undemocratic and just according to their Christian Standards. And having learnt of bad coloured political leaders they tend to put every one in the same “basket”.

Mr. Jimmy Carter should try to get first hand information about Sri Lanka, before end of terrorism, and after end of terrorism, before he joins the band of “the wise” to castigate Sri Lanka on hearsay evidence.

For that purpose the Christian Church in Sri Lanka should step into inform other Christians that Sri Lanka is not what they have heard about from a selected few people sympathetic to terrorism in Sri Lanka.

The writer, is an independent citizen, without any connection to any political party or the government, who has seen different governments which had come and gone, and understands which government is doing a service to help Sri Lanka get onto the correct path of development.

Sri Lanka has the potential to develop and rise above its present status of a developing country. This potential wealth is being correctly exploited by the present government for the development of the country and unite the communities.

Therefore, the groups of humanitarians, human rights activists, and western governments in respect to their Christian benevolence and democratic adherence should leave Sri Lanka and its Government without being interfered, to continue its remarkable progress it is making towards development