Watch USAID!Its Activities are no different from those of Extremist/Fundamentalist American Missionaries of Yesteryear – Create Division & Animosity
Posted on April 21st, 2010
by hela puwath
The American EmbassyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s activities in the East and North of Sri Lanka are moving in a dizzying momentum ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” see the list below.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Recently another writer, Ajith Randeniya, fired off a timely warning ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Is Anyone Watching USAID?ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ He wrote, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-They also appear to, almost always, bypass the Colombo government and are done through deals at ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”mayorƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ levelƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. Is anyone in Sri Lanka government heeding these warnings?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Have we already forgotten what the NGOs, the Extremist Evangelists, and certain Western embassies were up to? (donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t forget the ICRC;ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ likeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ USAID, ICRCƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s projects serve a dual purpose!).ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ These same Extremist Missionary Organizations in Boston, USA, even now, fund some of our local NGOs and certain individuals.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Is our government scrutinizing the funding sources and uses of these individuals and organizations?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ How can any self-respecting government put up with these foreign activities, while a whole lot of subversive activities are going on.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In the early 1800s American Extermist/Fundamentalist Missionaries established schools exclusively in the North and East that gave a first class English education to ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Tamils onlyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ThatƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s what helped the British colonials to recruit and maintain aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Tamils onlyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ administration in Ceylon, and hold down the Sinhele majority.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-The American Ceylon Mission (ACM) to Jaffna, Sri Lanka started with the arrival in 1813 of missionaries sponsored by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM).
The British colonial office in India and Ceylon restricted the Americans to the relatively small Jaffna Peninsula for geopolitical reasons for almost 40 years.
The critical period of the impact of the missionaries was from the 1820s to early 1900s. During this time, they engaged in original translations from English to Tamil, printing, and publishing, establishing primary, secondary and tertiary educational institutions and providing health care for residents of the Jaffna Peninsula.
These activities resulted in many social changes amongst Sri Lankan Tamils that survive even today.
They also led to the attainment of a lopsided literacy level among residents in the relatively small peninsula that is cited by scholars as one of the primary factors contributing to the recently ended civil war. Many notable educational and health institutions within the Jaffna Peninsula owe their origins to the missionary activists from America.
Missionaries also courted controversy by publishing negative information about local religious practices and rituals.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Ceylon_Mission]
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This is not to say that providing a good education to Tamils, or to anybody else for that matter, is wrong ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” far from it; But to do so for ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Tamils onlyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The latter-day human rights champions and ant-discrimination preachers for Sri Lanka are non-other than the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-segregationistsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ Americans, where institutionalized segregation and discrimination against non-whites even up until the 1960s was culturally and legally accepted.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Now, with the American ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-segregationist/devisiveƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ activity in full swing in Sri Lanka, our government too, these days, are carrying on a huge campaign of development, almost exclusively, in the North and the East ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” is there no poverty, deprivation and desperation in the South, among the Sinhelas?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sure, there are the village concrete roads, and the large Hambantota harbor project ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” what else?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Or is this a contest against the likes of USAID?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Or is it, that the government is ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-going on its knees, to the Tamils of North and East, begging for forgiveans for the 37 years of meyham?
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The government must not forget the poor in the South, for they too suffered immensely ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” and through no fault of their own ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” and too, they were the oneƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s that sacrificed the most, with life and limb, to liberate the country.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ They may lie quietly for now, having not only sacrificed their lives, and lately having cast their vote to elect their leaders.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Be warned, not to forget recent history – the Southern rebellion.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is now easy for politicians to dismiss or forget that part of our history by blaming the JVP.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ JVP is now beaten. The truth is, JVP was only the symptom, or perhaps, the instrument; but it is the peopleƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s desperation that was the cause.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Are ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-aspirationsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ only for Jaffna Tamils?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ All that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Uthuru VasanthayaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ etc., (and the election campaigns) is all that the poor of the South see on TV, day-in-day-out. Great speeches and great promises will not fool the people in the South.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ We must not forget that what gave rise to the JVP has not gone away or changed ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” so far!ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ShouldnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t what Karuna says, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-give us what Colombo hasƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ equally apply to the Sinhela-poor in the South?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ And donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t forget, the JVP may be out of power in parliament, but the JVP or some other, can return!ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Besides, JVP will not shy away from exploiting this ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-discriminationƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ against the Sinhela-poor.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ If the government is doing great things in the South, it is not seen, it is not visible.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ We have no reason to apologize to anybody for the Tamil meyham of the past 37 years. It is the perpetrators who must apologise and accommodate.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ With all the great doings in the North and East, have there been any sign of appreciation or goodwill from the Northern Tamils? The continued demands of the same shows only racist/superiority and arrogance. Tamil ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-aspirationƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ is to again dominate the majority — as they did under their British Colonial Masters.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Their ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-aspirationƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ is simply to return to ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-ApartheidƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ to dominate the majority, their glory under the British. For ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-ApartheidƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ and ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-SegregationƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ they must look elsewhere ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” perhaps United Kingdom, or Homeland-Tamil-Nadu.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sinhela people too have ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-aspirationsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” to live in peace and security with all others, in their only country – Sri Lanka [SinheleƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢/ Hela Diva].ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In Sri Lanka there cannot be ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-SegregationƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ or ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-ApartheidƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, no matter what USAIDƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-aspirationsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ are.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Now, Coming back to USAID, given the hostility of Robert O Blake, Hillary Clinton and others in US Administration towards Sri Lanka and in particular to the Sinhelese], is it hard to imagine the motives behind this ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-aidƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Our government must take control of USAID activities in Sri Lanka.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Today:
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-USAID Launches New Business Alliance Program in Northern and Eastern Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Press Releases
Colombo, April 20, 2010: The U.S. Agency for International Development has announced a new business alliance program with Sri Lanka’s private sector. Partnering with five local businesses, the USAID Public-Private Partnerships for Northern and Eastern Sri Lanka (PPP) Program is expected to create the equivalent of 5,000 full-time jobs in the former conflict zones.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ These five alliances are all with indigenous Sri Lankan private companies. USAID’s investment of about Rs.600 million will generate an additional Rs.1,400 million investment from the private sector for a total of about Rs.2 billion. The sectors include Aquaculture, Apparel Manufacturing, Logistics, and Horticulture.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
The following list is a sample from the USAID office in Colombo:
[http://srilanka.usaid.gov/press_releases.php]
- U.S. Government Takes Sri Lankan [Tamil] Officials on Land Study Tour to Timor-Leste2010-02-26
- ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ United States Successfully Links Farmers in the East with New Opportunities 2010-02-12
- U.S. Government provides additional assistance for Sri Lankans returning in the North 2010-02-10
- ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Ambassador Butenis visits students in Sammanthurai VTC 2010-02-08
- The U.S. Government and Hayleys bring prosperity to farmers in the East 2010-02-03
- ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ U.S. Government launches dairy project in Batticaloa District 2010-01-19
- U.S. Ambassador joins with the Ministry of Environment to conserve forests in the North 2010-01-15
- U.S. Government links farmers to new markets and a brighter future 2010-01-04
- US Government strengthens multi-ethnic communities in Ampara District2009-12-15
10.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ U.S. Government helps to identify economic growth opportunities in the East 2009-11-16
11.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ U.S. Ambassador opens two schools rehabilitated by U.S. Government in Trincomalee District 2009-11-10
12.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ USAID supports a Career day for youth in the East 2009-11-09
13.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ US Ambassador Launches New Ice Cream Project Benefiting Eastern Farmers 2009-11-09
14.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ U.S. Government helps former fighters gain a new start in the East 2009-10-30
15.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ U.S. Government assistance increases milk supply to the new CIC Yoghurt and Curd Factory in Batticaloa 2009-10-23
16.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ U.S. Government helps build capacity of local officials in the Eastern Province 2009-09-28
17.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ U.S. Government donates computers to start Jaffna training center 2009-09-25
18.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ U.S. Government funds Sinhala and Tamil language training for eastern government officials 2009-08-24
19.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ U.S. Government funding benefits 200,000 IDPs in the North 2009-08-19
20.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ U.S. Government supports early return of displaced persons with another $15 million in emergency food aid 2009-08-10
April 21st, 2010 at 7:21 pm
You are absolutely spot on. We must be vigilant about bloody “yanki doodles”. They are looking to re-enter a potential strong-hold in the north and east to counter, possible Chinese domination. Gotabaya must be putting on his 3D vision apparatus to oversee what is going on. Hey….all Sinhalese please wake up….
April 22nd, 2010 at 4:13 am
As Western agents could not bulldoze us in the “invasive SL-Tamil terror”, now they have switched on to their natural skill, of shameless conspiracy mode. So USAID and others may be trying to develop north and east at pell-mell in order to antagonize the Nation in the south for a conflict, for these vultures to thrive. Eternal vigilance throughout the Hela Island is the best defence!
April 23rd, 2010 at 1:45 am
You have raised a number of issues.
Regarding the North and the East, maybe, there is a need for accelerated development to make up for the ‘neglect’ of these areas during the last thirty or so years. But you are right of course that whilst this is being done, the government should not ignore the needs of those in the rest of the country. As you have pointed out, they also have suffered because of the conflict, and it is these areas that provided the gallant soldiers to defeat the LTTE.
Regarding USAID, my information is that it is not engaged exclusively in the North and the East. I know personally of at least one project in Colombo which it supported substantially some years ago. And I note that the list of projects you have listed is “a sample from the USAID office in Colombo”. If it is only a sample, before we go on to suspecting sinister motives, can it be confirmed whether these are the only USAID assisted projects in the country? Or are there projects in the rest of the country that are also assisted by them?