A Matter of Huffing And Puffing To No Avail As Nothing Of Any Worth Towards Realities Is Likely To Come Out Of It If Sri Lanka Stands Her Ground!
Posted on April 13th, 2014
Insight By Sunil Kumar
April 15th. 2014
Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the UNHCR Summit in Geneva with respect to the passing of US led resolution for an international investigation into human rights violations during the Tamil Tiger insurgency passed by simple majority albeit the requirement of a two third majority in the opinion of some analysts outstanding and in all probabilities a firm requisite has opted not to comply with its demands and well within the right to do so being a sovereign democratic nation. This has been done on the grounds that such a call is a violation of sovereignity and interference into the internal affairs of a sovereign democratic nation as outlined by Sri Lanka’s Minister for Foreign Affairs the Hon. G.L.Peiris as well as the firm resolve of the President as the overall decision making authority on the issue.
As expected, those calling for this investigation have their transparencies towards the motive behind the call so visibly exposed portraying bias without real tangible evidence that they appear to show a desperation behind their call that can only be linked to the urgency of the Tamil Diaspora and a group of global Tamils who continue to be disillussioned about what the Government of Sri Lanka has done to restore the rights of all Sri Lankans and to safeguard the Nation from disintegration at the hands of the Tamil Tigers and their supportives and this is the most burning issue that is not only disturbing to all peace loving Sri Lankans who have had a new era of prosperity, tranquility and progress which is not only perplexing but brings to bear the worthlesness of the demands while also portraying those who call for such demads as insensitive, bull headed and ignorant where these points have to be driven hard and deep into the minds of all sane and reasonable people around the world that what the US and its bandwagon of anti-Sri Lankan resolve are doing is simply not acceptable especially given the true circumstances of the Tamil Tiger insurgency and who was really responsible for the violation of human rights.
Regardless of what the international community has been presented with in the form of falsified documentaries and testimonials the sob stories of hastily assembled injured parties which appear to be the only evidence ( far from being conclusive) where the US and its allies in the related perspective seem to be making a mockery of the justice and rationality needed towards conclusive closure as they have little or nothing to go by beyond speculation, conjectire and the mendacities of the global Tamil Daspora in this instance which more than rivals at times those of the Tamil Tigers.Their relentless pursuit of a perilously worthless venture egging on powerful global sources who appear to relish their involvement towards this worthless venture which seems tantamount to the flogging of a dead horse at best needs to stop! And the sooner they and all concerned realise this the better it would be for all concerned. Especially those who now try to rebuild their lives and aid the Government’s phenomenal progress in thr aftermath of the tainted and putrid Tamil Tiger insurgency.
In response to the strong armed tactics of the British Government with respect to their latest rhetoric that Sri Lanka will be subject to punitive action by opting not to cooperate with the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution, perhaps their shots need to be called to produce the real tangible evidence beyond the doctored presentations and grossly exaggerated information the world has been presented with by pro Tamil Tiger sympathetic sources towards their cause which beyond a reasonable doubt includes the Tamil Diaspora amongst a vast network of global anti Sri Lankan conspiratorial brigade which seems to be gathering momentum by virtue of the support of sources like the USA and others which need to be halted in their tracks specifically for the harm it threatens Sri lanka with at a time when progress within the Nation for all her citizens appear to be at a phenomenal peak. Thus it seems of little or no consequence that the British government has ‘warned’ that it will use its position in the Geneva-based key human rights body to actively press for an international investigation and contrary to such warnings there is a strong case for Sri Lanka to confront these warnings on the grounds that they are based on speculation and the falsifications of evidence sponsored by the Tamil Tiger sympathetic global lobby which needless to say includes the Global Tamil Diaspora or parts therof.
While it seems all well and good for British Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Hugo Swire in all his British pomposity to say that”‚”the international community now has a duty to act, and we will be using our position on the UN Human Rights Council to actively press for an international investigation given the lack of a credible domestic accountability process to date.” he seems to be well out of his ground to make such a binding statement where he seems not only unaware of the real facts surrounding the Tamil Tiger led internal armed insurrection which almost brought the Nation to her knees but also appears to be obnoxiously adamant in opposition about related issues which favour the actions of the Government of Sri Lanka towards self preservation of her loyal citizens and the protection of sovereignity and territorial integrity done well within the international statutes which govern them and in no way contradicted a bounden requirement that safeguarded all those in favour of Sri Lanka’s sovereignity and territorial integrity which of course excludes the terrorists and their supportives and what Sri Lanka’s adversaries are attempting to use as cannon fodder towards heir cause which in reality is pitiful.
To say that the international community has spoken through the United Nations Human Rights Council without reference to the bias and conflict of interest it is steeped in by virtue of Navi Pillai and her supportives with links to and sympathies with the Global Tamil Diaspora as knowledgeable sources are aware of where what is truly imperative is that that the Government in Colombo has no cause to listen to what has been said and what is asked of them purely on the basis that there appears to be a conspiratorial ring to it as proclaimed by many in a capacity to evaluate the related realities where eventually those hounding Sri Lanka would more than likely to be barking at the moon and relent their stance . Particularly the US of A with so much real issues related to human rights violations around the globe
To the discerning observer all of these sounds like a lot of huffing and puffing to no avail if Sri Lanka stands her ground!
April 13th, 2014 at 8:37 pm
if Sri Lanka stands her ground!
if Sri Lanka stands her ground!
if Sri Lanka stands her ground!
The nation is watching to see if MR is a Maha Raja matching his words with deeds, or a Maha Ranee as he has often proved himself to be.
Mario Perera
Kadawata
April 13th, 2014 at 9:42 pm
While Mario’s cynicism is understandable to a degree it also needs to be mentioned that” the Nation which is watching ” must show a degree of gratitude for much of what has already been done. This was no maharanee that wiped out the Tigers and initiated many projects that have truly uplifted the nation from many perspectives. if there is no positive input from those who benefited surely Mario must be a part of these.
April 13th, 2014 at 11:05 pm
Dear Sunil Mahattaya,
Yes, I am a part of those who benefited, and I am grateful.
Please do not take this rejoinder as personal.
Indeed many projects have been accomplished, while yet others are still ongoing. However whether they all have ‘truly uplifted the nation’ is debatable. Some of them have clearly become white elephants: Mattala and Norochchali are some such. Whether the upliftment of a nation can be gauged purely by ‘projects’ is open to question. I for one do not think so. The general model of our development has been Singapore. Singapore is a highly modernized State. But the upliftment of that nation was not merely based on the initiation and termination of projects. Its upliftment was founded and grounded on the elimination of two capital ‘C’ words: Criminality and Corruption.
For sure, there is no dearth of projects here, yet in our country they are seeped in corruption. The corrupt become rich, and the new corrupt rich become criminals to keep their riches. If you doubt me look at the composition of our parliament. And what about the Provincial parliaments? They are a veritable quagmire filled by loathsome detestable entities.
Practical every social sector in this country is in total disarray. Education is the pillar of the country’s future, yet it is a total mess. Vivid and livid details strike our eyes in which ever direction we turn them.
Look at our judicial system. Our courts have long since ceased to be halls of Justice. Mention any other sector you like, it is the same.
Sunil Mahattaya, as an ordinary citizen of this country, the many projects you refer to I find ‘pleasing to the eye’. They do not uplift me personally, What would do so is improvement in the service sector. But has the service sector improved? Not in the least. To get into a bus I must often fight my way through. To make my way out of it, I must yet again fight my way through. Countless times I remain standing dangling from a iron bar.
When I go to the central post of office of my town I find the most besieged counter manned by just one person, while all other counters are empty of personnel. When I sent a packet abroad, there I must undergo unacceptable situation. Firstly I must myself apply my own saliva and past my stamp. Then I must stand in the queue a second time to declare on a tendered slip of paper the required details. All this while others are taking my place in the queue. The post office is bereft of any type of modern machinery to accelerate such processes. Then when I tender my fare, the recipient does not have the change.
Development means to me the availability of certain basic facilities and even basic comforts for the ordinary citizen. Unfortunately the ‘many’ projects have not yielded such results.
Look at the banking sector. Just three years ago, the interest rate on fixed deposits was 14%. Just a year ago, it was 9%. today it is 7 or 8% depending on the bank. Our standard of living had eroded beyond recognition. Just go abroad and change your money, you will see.
Look at our national question. Has the government’s Tamil appeasement policy worked? NO
Has the government’s Indian appeasement policy worked? NO
Has anything of relevance happened since may 2009 for which the nation still remains grateful by re-re-electing MR to the helm of government? NO. On every front MR has been back pedaling.
Have the Sinhalese gained territorially by the 2009 victory? NO, but the Tamils have. They have literally colonized Colombo and its suburbs. Can we settle down in the North? NO. The TNA and Tamils will not permit it. Does the government react on behalf of the majority community? NO.
How does the government react towards the so-called International community…by bending backwards arc-wise to appease it. Has it brought dividends? NO.
In this country we only see the ever widening gap between projects and upliftment of the nation.
In the perspective of my discussion of your comment, the many projects you refer to have contributed very little to that end.
Mario Perera
Kadawata
April 14th, 2014 at 12:12 am
I share Mario’s sentiments (except the interest rate matter. Low interest rates for lending and saving is good as it contains inflation.)
Development works and ending the war have not added anything to the nation’s loan portfolio either. External borrowings stood at $13.5 billion in 2009. Believe it or not, it has doubled in the last 5 years. And we are still borrowing. I’m not against borrowing. But these projects must give a sufficient return that can be used to repay the debt. Certain infrastructure projects are useless. Monorail project which will be launched soon will be a white elephant. Railway extension to the north, beautification of Colombo and the examples Mario gave are high cost money wasters.
Targeted support for entrepreneurs, investment in education (equitably), proper controls at the customs and proper taxation schemes are more important than these. Resettlement of Sinhalese and Muslims in the north are also dire economic needs if the full potential of winning the war is to be obtained. Water supply schemes to CKD affected and potential impact areas is more important than some grand projects as it affects the lives of 2.8 million people.
Reclaiming land from sea for Colombo South Port extension is another massive white elephant. Colombo port needs extension into adjoining land area. That could have saved billions. It could also help to bring logistic support to expand transshipment. At the moment container yards are 10km or more from the port.
Indianization of the economy has deprived locals in both business opportunities and employment. The fabulous foreign reserve position in 2010 was wasted on luxury cars and other wastage. We don’t have to borrow so much if it was managed well.
However, I must add that Rajapaksa’s first term was much more frugal and wise in managing borrowings, reviving state entities and keeping corruption under check despite the war. Rehabilitating 1000 tanks (‘wew’) in 2005 had a huge impact on the economy that negated the tsunami impact. Billions could be channelled to war without selling state entities or borrowing over the top.
The UNHRC matter was also not handled well. So much was wasted on media with no impact. Vital legal issues were neglected. Thankfully it was corrected immediately after the UNHRC session.
April 14th, 2014 at 6:54 am
Indeed Gents! there are many glitches in our beloved Motherland that needs eliminating.Hopefully they will be, in time, we do need to be optimistic now that some of the major concerns have been addressed. Although our President is no miracle worker he has set in place much that needed to be done to MotherLanka after many oppressive adminstrations and the insurgency which was near debilitating and his task towards continuance despite his status is daunting.Sri Lanka today is regarded as one of the Miracles of Asia and we must grant this to the present Administrative team which has had many mountains to climb both from within and without but still remains a “Curate’s Egg” ~ good in parts and bad in some.
I fully concur with the theme that complete resolution to all ills will surely take time and also have trepidations about some of the negative issues you have raised as they too are real. Blessed are those who accept without cringing, to a greater part in gratitude the greater good that prevails in Sri Lanka today.
April 14th, 2014 at 9:29 am
Dear Mario! you sound like a cry baby. Do you know that the Interest rate in the USA for a savings account is 0.10% (zero point one percent). You are having it good if you receive 7% for your savings. Up to recently you had to use your saliva to stick a postage stamp. The new stamps are more convenient, but sometimes can be removed or comes off on it’s own. A little saliva costs you nothing, why make it an issue. Give a little time for progress to catch up.
As regards the Mattala International airport, Most airlines prefer or require an alternate airport in case there is a problem in one like the time LTTE raided BIA. An airplane carries a limited amount of fuel and needs an alternate place to land. There are no petrol stations in the sky if you run out of fuel. With only one airport most airlines avoided Sri Lanka.
You are very critical about the government like most Colombians. curruption is rampant in most developed countries. This is no excuse to put up with it. The President should start stamping out curruption as his next project, but must start at the top with the Politicians.
We have progressed very far in the last five years and if you allow this trend to continue your dreams may come true. You may be able to help by getting into politics and participating instead of standing on the outside and critizising. Unsuitable people get in because the suitable people stay out. Be a patriot and get into politics.
April 14th, 2014 at 1:44 pm
When Ban Ki Moon requested Colombo to cooperate in a comprehensive International investigation, Colombo declined. Since Mr. Ban Ki Moon is the Secretary General of the United Nations organization it should have ended this investigation. The very audacity of Great Britain now threatening Colombo with an investigation that cannot be carried out on the territory of Sri Lanka but will be forced to use documents and other such trumped up evidence such as the Channel 4 video to come to a decision, Sri Lanka is left with no option but to resist such a diplomatic attack perpetrated by a single nation.
What would follow will the the mandatory sanctions from this cabal of nations ranging from the UK, US, Canada, to some few Western nations. It will fail because sanctions do not prevent the tourist industry. These nations will issue “Travel advisories” to their citizens, but an article in the Island stated that China, and a couple of Middle Eastern nations, including Russia are now the leading source of tourism. China and Russia have stood firmly with Colombo against the Western cabal of nations. When it comes to commerce Sri Lanka has a wider range of nations that will NOT join any sanctions perpetrated by the UK. That includes Japan, Pakistan, China, ASEAN nations, Brazil (part of the BRICS nations) and many more including those in Asia, South America to Africa.
It is now routine to read about a delegation from some nation that has arrived to Sri Lanka to open up business ties with that nation. In this world of selfish political aspirations to selfish commercial aspirations the latter invariably wins. Just China alone has a personal aspiration both in the political and commercial areas to keep her trade with Sri Lanka on an upward trajectory. Sanctions seldom work, If they ever work. The most defeating aspect of a select group of nations applying sanctions on Sri Lanka is to see them fail. I include India in the basket of nations who may apply sanctions on Sri Lanka and by that destroy her dominant role as the largest economic partner with Sri Lanka to China.
April 14th, 2014 at 5:00 pm
Siri,
Mario is a PATRIOT just as you.
He served SL under DIFFICULT conditions and his BOOKS on SL (including THE BEAST) show his patriotism.
(I know he doesn’t care two hoots how I label him patriot or what. Just saying.)
What he says has TRUTH. Hope MR will ACT accordingly.
It is CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM. Certainly NOT destructive or malicious.
Some people blame MR with HATE. They are destructive.
April 14th, 2014 at 10:31 pm
Thank you Lorenzo.
Mario
April 15th, 2014 at 12:00 am
I fully agree with Mario on this statement , having lived in both countries over a decade.
“Indeed many projects have been accomplished, while yet others are still ongoing. However whether they all have ‘truly uplifted the nation’ is debatable. Some of them have clearly become white elephants: Mattala and Norochchali are some such. Whether the upliftment of a nation can be gauged purely by ‘projects’ is open to question. I for one do not think so. The general model of our development has been Singapore. Singapore is a highly modernized State. But the upliftment of that nation was not merely based on the initiation and termination of projects. Its upliftment was founded and grounded on the elimination of two capital ‘C’ words: Criminality and Corruption. ”
We should pay more of equal gratitude to those who paid in FULL, not to those who make merry afterwards.
Mattala is STUPID WASTE OF MONEY. Not sure about Norochchali.
April 15th, 2014 at 12:03 am
simple golden rule from Dilrook
“But these projects must give a sufficient return that can be used to repay the debt”
April 15th, 2014 at 12:54 am
“An airplane carries a limited amount of fuel and needs an alternate place to land. There are no petrol stations in the sky if you run out of fuel. With only one airport most airlines avoided Sri Lanka.”
They will land in Endia. That is ok.
You CANNOT build an international Airport for that purpose.
Even with the expressway operating fully between Mattala and Colombo, it takes too long ( 1.5- 2 hours) to reach the capital. May be OK for tourists going to Southern Hotels, but it is another 5 years down the line we may need it, assuming Hambantota develops 10000%.