ODIOUS COMPARISONS VS REALITY
Posted on May 15th, 2012

By J.B. Muller

(The writer is a Sri Lankan Burgher and a member of the Dutch Burgher Union and the Burgher Association. He is also a free-lance journalist with over 40 years of experience in both the print and electronic media.)

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ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Many Sri Lankan expatriates are wont to run-down their motherland unfairly comparing it with their adopted land of domicile ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” usually an Anglo-Saxon-Celtic dominated country.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Never forget that the governmental structure and systems still in force in Sri Lanka were ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ imposed upon it by the almighty British.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The changes, if any, are merely cosmetic.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  What was imposed from outside did not fit seamlessly if it fitted at all.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Then, it must also be said that the people ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Sri Lanka have not yet come to terms with this foreign imposition.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”democracyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ and ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”parliamentaryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ form of government the British introduced and imposed is, in fact and in effect, an authoritarian and arbitrary form of government where the ruling elites act with impunity and are immune from prosecution.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Since the introduction of this system in 1931, no ordinary citizen of this country has ever been consulted by any politician about anything.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Candidates for parliament or any other elective body are named and nominated by politicalƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  cliques styling themselves ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”parties.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The Electors merely go to the polling booth and cast their votes for the party of their choiceƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚whose candidate might be a thug, drug-dealer, racketeer, or one of those degenerate upstarts.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  These undesirables seek nomination because it is their route to position, power and personal prosperityƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚and to hell with the voter!

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Is it therefore not surprising that many of these rotters turn out toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  berogues?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The system is such that malpractice is rife with everybodyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s hands inside the pork-barrel.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  This is also due toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  wide spreadand deep-seated poverty.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  That endemic poverty was created by the three successive colonial governments and more especially inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the152-year British rule.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  During the period the colonial administration virtually raped the country by denuding theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  millennia-old high forest cover.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  This permanently changed the ecology and irreparably damaged our natural environment.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  From ancient timesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  this zone was designated ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”tahanam-kalayƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ or forbidden forest.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  It was sold to British entrepreneurs at two shillings an acre!ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Here,from 1823 onwards were successively established cinchona, coffee, and finally tea and rubber plantations.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The Sinhalese survivors of the brutal repression of the uprising by the British in 1818-9 refused to work as indentured or bonded labourƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚virtual slavesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚and the BritishƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  turned to the impoverished Ramnad District of South India, just across the Palk Straits for their requirements.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  They brought these Tamils across in a ferry and the wretched men, women and children (yes!), walked from Talaimannar to Matale.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The route eventually became theƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Skeleton RoadƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ because of the thousands who perished on the way leaving the whitening bones to mark the fateful wayƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚killed by disease,hunger, thirst, snake-bite and the attacks of elephant, bear and leopard.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  When they reached Matale they were auctioned off to differentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  planters,the Father to one plantation, the Mother to another and the children who could be put to work to even another in one of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  cruelest chapters of the plantation raj on the Island.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Donovan Moldrich has written evocatively about the tragedy of these people inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  hisƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Bitter Berry BondageƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ published in 1990 by the Coordinating Secretariat for Plantation Areas, Kandy , with a foreword penned byƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Paul Caspersz, SJ.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The deployment of these people in the Kandyan Heartland, later knownƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  as the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Plantation Tamils,ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ created another, almost insoluble problem for the country.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  When the British relinquished power in 1948, these hard-working people whose labour had become the mainstay of the colonial and post-colonial economy were disenfranchised in one fellƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  blow and rendered stateless by the British protƒÆ’†’ƒ”š‚©gƒÆ’†’ƒ”š‚© D.S. Senanayake. [The Citizenship Act, No. 18 of 1948 and the Parliamentary Elections

Amendment Act, No. 4 of 1949, and the Indian & Pakistani ResidentsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ (Citizenship) Act of 1949].

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The social fall-out of the British period had another dimension thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  also needs to be mentioned here.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  British military personnel, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”shoppiesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ and planters fathered children off Sri Lankan mothers andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  then blithely washed their hands off.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  This pricked the consciences of some and the Indian Christian Mission pioneered in establishing the Paynter Home in Nuwara Eliya to take care of these illegitimate children.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Many beautiful girls from the villages of Malpotha and Hingurugama ended up as prostitutes.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ NEGATIVE FALL-OUT OF COLONIAL RULE

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This country has a chequered history of 443 yearƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s of foreignƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  domination when those who wrested control imposed their culture, language, religion, mores, values, structures and systems upon the indigenous people.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  This was done through threat, coercion, subversion, bribery, and even bloody murder!ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The PortugueseƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  introduced religious fanaticism and intolerance into the land.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The Dutch introduced their brand of intolerance and created a class ofƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Company ChristiansƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ who were nothing but opportunistic hypocrites who would betray their own kith and kin for the plums of office.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  TheseƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  were the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”reddha-assa-mahathtayasƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ or ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”gentlemen who wore trousers under their cloths.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ When the British followed in 1796 they workedassiduously to create a class of shameless lick-spittles and toadies who imitated them to the extent of eating their breakfast kiri-buth[milk-rice] with a full set of British cutleryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚sterling silver fork, spoonand knife!

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The first uprising against British rule occurred in 1818 and wasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  bloodilysuppressed with genocide being committed in the Uva-Wellassa countryside. The Colonial Office 54 series at the Public RecordsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Office in London has the damning evidence!ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The scale of brutality and killing appalled some British commentators (Henry Marshall, JohnƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  DƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢Oyly).British officers encouraged their Kenyan Kaffir Askaris to roast and eat [barbecue?] captured Sinhalese patriots.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Perhaps weƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  should read all five volumes of Professor Vimalananda TennekoonƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s monumental series on the Uva uprising published by M.D. Gunasena & Co.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ,Ltd., 1970-73.) The uprising collapsed because the Sinhalese said that: ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦they could fight with men but not with such blood-thirstyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  demons whoƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢d eat human flesh!ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The second uprising occurred in 1848, starting in Matale, north ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Kandy .

That, too, was so viciously suppressed that it led to the recall of Viscount Lord Torrington, the British Governor.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Thereafter,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the British instituted and implemented a deliberate policy of taking the sons and daughters of the Kandyan Sinhalese aristocracy,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  converting them to the Anglican brand of Christianity and educating them in English.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  This was an extremely successful exercise in brain washing these children.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The object was to create a special class of natives entirely servile to their new British masters.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  They wereƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  thus completely alienated from their cultural roots, their Buddhist way-of-life, and their mother tongue.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Purged of everything ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”nativeƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  whichthey now held in contempt, the British appointed them to hold office (under British superiors) in the Civil Service they hadƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  established to run the Crown Colony.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  This process was also repeated in the Low-country or former Maritime Provinces administeredƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  successively by the Portuguese and the Dutch.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Here the landed gentry with such titles as ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Maha-mudaliyar,ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”mudaliyarƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ and ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”muhandiramƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  werebuilt-up into a parallel ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”aristocracyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ of sorts.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The British had succeeded in creating a new class of low-country upstarts andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  up-country degenerates who ate, drank, thought, dressed and behaved exactly like the British except that they had to always defer to theirwhite masters in everything.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Indeed, they were the spitting image of their British overlordsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚only their skins were (unfortunately) dark!

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In grooming this new class of sycophants the British were readying themselves to hand over the reins and permit the natives to run the internal affairs of the country in accordance with British interestsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  and under their tutelage.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Where there had never ever been any division on ethnic, linguistic, cultural or religious lines, theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  British encouraged divisions that accentuated exclusivity.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The concept of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”AryanƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ superiority over the Dravidians was imported from Europe .ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  What Max MƒÆ’†’ƒ”š‚¼ller constructed as a theoretical web of closely-related Indo-Aryan languages was transformed into a racial classification that put the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”WhiteƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ European races at the top.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The imperial British, drunk on the heady success of their armsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  worldwide went one better:ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  They were GodƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Chosen PeopleƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ to rule a heathen world with a rod of iron! The Anglo-Israeli movement bringsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  this out supporting their claims with verses from the Bible to back-up their belief in white supremacy and superiority! The black, brown,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  yellow,and red races were inferior and had, therefore, to be subservient to the almighty White!

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Part of this was the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”WhiteƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ Australia PolicyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚the ImmigrationƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Restriction Act of 1901 introduced by Sir Edmund Barton.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  He argued that ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-the doctrine of the equality of man was never intended to applyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  to the equality of the Englishman and the Chinaman.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  This policy (abolished in 1974) was part of this worldwide pattern. I personallyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  know of two Burghers (brothers) one of whom was permitted to land because of his fair skin and the other who was refused entry becauseƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  he was darker, at Fremantle and compelled to return to Sri Lanka .

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Many are the epithets, ethnic slurs and pejorative terms that wereƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  coined to describe those races and groups that were not quite white (including the Burghers):ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Niggers, apes, Chinks, WOGs, half-castes,mulattoes, darkies, Celestials, Croons, Charlies, crows, Chinamen, Japs, Gooks, Gables, Blue gums, buffies, Tea bushes, Orientals ,Slopeheads, Nips, Coloureds, chee-chees, blackies, Anglo-Indians, Perch monkeys, non descripts, Eurasians, Castizos, Golliwogs, JimƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Crows,Mestizos, Sambos, Jim Fishes, Spades, Tar babies, Toepasses, Bulai-bulai, Macacas, Powder burns, Mikoes, Kaffirs, Mixties, Mammies,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Teapots, Pusties, Thick lips, Mossheads, degenerates, Quashies, unter-menschen (sub-humans), Uncle Toms, Munts, Creoles, Nig-nogs,Pickaninnies, Bastars (Bastards), Sooties and so on.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  All these (and more) terms were used derogatorily to show the disdain of the WhiteƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Manfor the unfortunate non-White.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Of course, the list is longer and this is only a representative selection of insulting nicknames.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Speaking for myself I would wholeheartedly support scrapping theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  entire structure foisted upon us and its replacement by a wholly indigenous system of governance, which was a two-way street betweenƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  the ruler and the ruled.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The village council or local assembly was a genuinely democratic bodyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚of the people, by the people and for theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  People.The next level was the district and the final one, the national.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The monarch was consecrated in office by the five major divisions of society and succession was not hereditary.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  I say this unequivocally because the people of this country have endured moreƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  pain and sorrow since 1931 when universal adult franchise was introduced than in the preceding 2,500 years!

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  A LAND FREE OF THE CANCER OF PREJUDICE

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Pre-colonial Sri Lanka did not suffer from bigotry, extremism,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  chauvinism,or racism as the record amply demonstrates. The malignant cancer of racism, Aryan racial superiority over Dravidian, of whiteƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  aboveall, and the class structure of Anglo-Saxon-Celtic society was planted here and nurtured by the British in their own self-interest.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Westernized elites who comprise about five per cent of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  population and mainly inhabit Colombo and Kandy , detest The SLFP and everything it stands for including Mahinda Rajapakse.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  TheirƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  life-style and attitudes actually reflect a pseudo-Anglo-Saxon-Celtic way-of-life that is essentially rootless.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  They generally believe that they have a divine right to run the country to suit their convenienceƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚and the ordinary folk should be at their beck-and-call a sporters, ayahs, nannies, cook-appus, waiters, gardeners, chauffers, janitors, and security-guards.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  To these types a worker on aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  plantation is still a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”coolieƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ and a peasant-farmer is a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”godayaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ or yokel. Their mind-set is still colonial British and they would beextremely comfortable if the British, by some quirk of fate, were to re-occupy this Island .ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  These are the people who live in a time-warp.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ I knew at least one individual whoƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ll come to breakfast wearing shirt,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  tie,waistcoat, coat and trousers, walking-stick and hat in hand and sit down to bacon and eggs, with toast, marmalade and butter all to be washed down with a steaming cup of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Earl GreyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ English Breakfast Tea. His favourite newspaper was a week-old copy of ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”The TimesƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ air-mailedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  from London .ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  He went to church, Sunday mornings and was very particular that it is High Church Anglican.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  He called the waiterƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Boy!ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚in a very imperious tone of voiceƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦and this entire business was to keep me hugely amused when I was working at the Ceylon DailyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Mirror.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ We are free but we do not wish to enjoy the freedom of the wild ass.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  IƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢m well aware of the muck published in the Anglo-Saxon-CelticmediaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚entirely disgusting and valueless.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  In Sri Lanka things could beƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  much better as most of us have realized.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  We now have a visionary leader who is busy constructing the infrastructure for our prosperityƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  and hopefully, peaceful progress.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  He has the courage of his convictions and sensible citizens all salute him for that.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  We areƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  greatly relieved because he won a horrible war and confrontation that had dragged on for almost 35 years.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  He subdued a most dangerousƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  terrorist organization that no other local leader had the guts to even attempt because they were all toeing the Anglo-American ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”lineƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ of appeasement and separation.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Today, my wife, children, and grandchildren can walk the streets without the danger of a terroristƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  bomb blowing us to kingdom come.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  For that we are unequivocally grateful.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ His government has been called a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”regime.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  It isnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  It is a dulyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  elected government.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  What was a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”regimeƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ was J.R. JayewardeneƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s unilateral extension of his term by two years and his ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”referendumƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ to extend the life of his government illegally and undemocratically.I am proud to be a Sri Lankan for this is my own, my native land

 

5 Responses to “ODIOUS COMPARISONS VS REALITY”

  1. Ratanapala Says:

    This should be an eye-opener if such an thing exist for all unpatriotic scum who very often reluctantly call Sri Lanka home whether in Sri Lanka and abroad. I fully agree with the writer – he is a true son of Mother Lanka and knows first hand what is happening in Sri Lanka. Jealous eyes, rumor mongers, and slanderers can be counted by the bushels in Sri Lanka and abroad. To them progress Sri Lanka is making is sand in the eyes!

    Sri Lanka has no alternative but the Rajapakse brothers to keep the country going on the path to progress. It is a patriotic and democratic exercise to point out their mistakes for there is bound to be many despite the enormous good they have done.

    As he rightly points out President Rajapakse should have the courage to finish off what he started – to regain Sri Lanka for the true Sri Lankan sons and daughters.

  2. Kamal Says:

    It’s true.
    But some of our “patriots” will not rest till Mahinda and Gota end in the ICC.

  3. samaraweera Says:

    A good analysis of the history of Sri Lanka and the current situation we have in the country. As Mr. M. says, in Sri Lanka there are people, especially some Colombians and some Sinhalese who look down upon their mother tongue, who would welcome the British with open arms. We should applaud Mr. M for giving an accurate description of what happened in Sri Lanka in the past. As he acknowledges today people are not crying and dying because of the President’s courage to go ahead with the war despite threats by the West.

    P.A.Samaraweera, Australia.

  4. sena Says:

    However under any system, day light robbery of public property (recent e.g. dubious mega bank loans from state banks, ridiculous stock purchase by NSB) and even more alarming situation where the public and law enforcement institutions (not to mention the public lethargy) that suppose to ensure good governance and productive enterprise are not functioning is not acceptable and will inevitably lead to decay, not progress.

  5. samurai Says:

    J.B. (John) Muller passed away in June 2011. The above is one the many articles he wrote promoting Sri Lanka’s cause. He was a former journalist colleague of mine and more patriotic than some of our so-called Sinhalas

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