Have you looked at it this way : The 40 years of "experience" that Mahinda has is of a type of politics that has led to the steady degeneration of this country. It has been proved beyond any reasonable doubt that this system ( the one that Mahinda is such a brilliant exponent of) has led to the ruin of the country.

Maybe we need a man with a different outlook ? Sometimes big business hires a CEO from a totally different background to bring new thinking and vision into established companies.

Likewise, why not consider this such a venture ? No rational person can say that the Rajapaksa regime in it's present manifestation should be re-instated ! If he is to be brought back he should speak of reducing the size or his cabinet, appointing qualified people to top posts and controlling the likes of Mervyn....to even come close to DJ's line of reasoning.

Rewarding MR for winning the war fought by the Forces does not mean allowing him and his family get away with the corruption and nepotism of unprecedented proportions plagueing this country. One may have 40 yrs of experience but that is of nought if one is corrupted to the extent we observe today. Public money is being thrown away as never before. Friends and Relations are running riot at Public expense. One wonders how this so-called experience has benefited the country. We might as well have appointed a Kindergarten Teacher to be President and let the children run amok.

As stated by DJ let us not mix the two elections. Let the people decide between the two as to who will do better by the country. Thereafter we can decide on a Parliment of the people for the people.

I wish to disagree with Mr Jayatilleke. True the war was won. That was 6 months ago and Prez MR & Co have failed miserably to show any signs whatsoever of ideas proceeding to the next phase in the country's evolution. No ideas whatsoever except petty political wrangling!

DJ support corruption ,nepotism,family ownership of the public assets, mervynism of law and order,daylight broadway killing or abduction of journalists in day time ,summary execution of detainees, as long as he is allowed to sip Martini in the vicinity of Alps.Good Governance is anithema to him.This is the message he gives.Hope that Fidel Castro will not commit suicide

You are on right view Mr. Dayan Jayatilleka, even-though, you have some issues with the current government.

As Sri Lankan Tamil I don't want to our country like Pakistan, Sarath Foseka like Sia ul huk was in Pakistan.Sarath Fonseka is bad mixture for whole country.

Thank you

Dear Ravana,

Steady degeneration or no, we won the war on Mahinda's watch and that's a pretty big deal which was not accomplished even by the daughter of two illustrious Prime Ministers, when she had the chance.

You can move from one company to another but you can't become the CEO of one company without having any experience or education WHATSOEVER in that relevant field.

The only man who as candidate, would possibly have been a better prospect for the country in its next stage of development is Karu Jayasuriya, but RW has put paid to that. Let's hope the UNP and the Opposition give him the leadership in time for the Parliamentary election, now that SB's return to the SLFP renders the result of the Presidential election fairly predictable.

This article articulates the characteristics for a president to be are consultation, compromise and consensus. In my view the current presidency have none of them. He was not in any consultation with Tamil community who was demanding a major shift in the government position towards them. He was not ready to compromise any for the betterment of another community who was living for long period than the majority he was representing. He didn’t show any consensus with rest of the world during the last war and won with huge human disasters on the earth.

The article warning the readers not to make any mistake as what Tamils did in the past. The Tamils only mistake was agreed with the British, when they threw the freedom to this country, that Tamil will live with Sinhala rulers without assessing their communal cleansing attitude. Today, Tamils learned to support the Sinhala military leaders than the coward Sinhala political leaders.

Tamils see the Sri Lankan political leadership as ruthless and inhuman leaders. They have decided many years ago that political negotiation would not be possible with this ruthless leader. It would be better to give a hand to the true worrier to lead this country. The reason is that he will be at least more honest and true to himself and for the people who trusted him.

This article compared the Karuna and Sarath. Karuna didn’t have the courage to show the world that his thought and policy was correct by contesting in any election. He went hiding through the back door. On contrary Sarath was openly challenging with the current political leadership. That is braveness and openness. In any method we cannot compare Karuna and Sarath. It is like comparing a fox with a lion.

In all essence, this article is seeding a fear factor among the readers. I think, event the next door intelligence department is also having the same view on Sri Lankan issue. So the question is that is this article was sponsored by some third party.

Old habits die hard and a shift in emphasis is not easy as there is always a fear in the Lankan establishment that unless the character and values of the post 1956 era stays in the front burner and the minorities are kept in subjugation there is no redemption for the majority community if the gains accumulated from that period are reversed.That is implied in the thrust of of DJ' argument. This is due his inability to understand the nature of the challenges which face the country at present which require special attention.
What leaders who represent the majority community have not understood is that policies and proposals that solely benefit the majority at the expense of the minority and divide Lankans as "us" and"them" only generates short term concessions and benefits. To keep going on that basis will ultimately erode the freedom and progress of the entire country and that includes the majority as well.Emergency laws,Check points, house searches white vans and media curbs,escalating prices is the order of the day and these equally affect the majority as well.

If that is to be challenged there has to be an overall change by devising strategies which are inclusive of all in the form of jobs,schools,health care and laws applied in such a way as not to discriminate.

Neither of the two candidates in offer are capable of tackling and facing that challenge today.That is the position.

A nice try DJ in your inimitable "I came to bury, not to praise" style! The issue that you chose to conveniently avoid is this - MR has shown callous disregard to Democracy and has rapidly usurped the entire nation's admin power structure to be within the family and thug-loyalists. That has now spread to cornering the Land, business and wealth, not to mention most of the Media, often by threat. The signs are that the tentacles are beginning to wrap around the Nation's Politics for a monopoly on that too. The advanced election announcement came as a result of the potential threat to such intentions, in case the citizenry were to open their eyes a little too early that would devastate the popularity quite rapidly. Are you happy with or should the citizenry be happy with these power grabs by the Royalty? If MR were to get re-elected, wouldn't it further consolidate the power grab? Is that the democratic progress the country should look for? So, the question is, should the country contain the power grab by denying MR a second term or should they help him consolidate the Family Royalty by re-electing him?

Mahinda is afrid of giving any devolution first and then go to polls because he knows the Snhala Buddhist chuvinistic mass does not like to devolve any thing to the Tamils, and he does they will not elect him for the 2nd term.

Mahinda is afrid of giving any devolution first and then go to polls because he knows the Snhala Buddhist chuvinistic mass does not like to devolve any thing to the Tamils, and he does they will not elect him for the 2nd term.

I do not see any reason why Mahinda should not claim credit for the "War Victory" for he was the commander in chief at the time. Technically he is also responsible for the 'action' and 'inaction' or 'atrocities' committed during that time. Ironically he will also have to face that part of 'atrocities against civilians' directed against him, if he continues to claim the victory, side-lining Sarath Fonseka.That would be a good launching pad for SF?

But any logical minded person would ask one question. If he is such a leader who could lead the security forces with scrupulous plan and execution to bring about a victory of such magnitude, why he is not in a position to lead his Ministers to handle their functions of the Ministries assigned to them?

If he could be identified as a leader of a team, we have seen the past, that problems arising in the ministries, however much paltry as they were, left for him to sort them out, thus leaving the blame for the unrest to the respective Minister. Has he, ever pulled up a minister for not doing his job while he is purportedly capable of solving most of them with one meal, a discussion and a stroke of a pen?

Fortunately for him, the intellectuals of Sri Lanka like DJ have short memories or have developed personalities that cannot perceive the obvious.

Equally fortunately, the people are beginning to see the total picture, but unfortunately the UNP and JVP have chosen a wrong candidate....but who knows with the present set of politicians?

The article should have appropriately been titled “Why Mahinda should NOT be re-elected as President?” Dayan, are you not – in your position as an upper middle class citizen – seriously affected by the punishing CoL? You are a wage-earning pedagogue, after all.

What then of the vast majority of ill paid workers, government employees, the under-unemployed, the small time traders and even farmers in the millions. People are ashamed to admit even among their own immediate circles they and their children are missing out on meals.

That balanced daily diet of meat/fish (or even dried fish), 2-3 vegetables, dhall curry and rice – is now a thing of the past and to many has become something of a dream. Even eggs (you need at least 5 in an average home per meal)string-hoppers and pol-sambol have become a luxury. All we have is the Minister concerned – when people complained of shortage of Onions – to dismiss the complaints and offer his own two onions.

What an insensitive and uncouth Minister??? Medical services, education, law and order, judiciary to a large extent, civil liberties are all in a serious mess. What is in excess is abject poverty, thuggery, intimidation, corruption, bribery, minor and major robberies - now by generally decent folks. Not to mention untrammeled impunity by anti-social criminals annointed as “honourable” government ministers and legislators.

You know all too well of the Foreign Ministry and the madness there which has lowered our once good image in the international scene. The days when the police were identified with protecting the people are gone. Now the people fear the police uniform - many of them are crooks themselves and some even hired killers. Even the now weak Commonwealth insults us by refusing to hold the CHOGM on the due date of 2011.

What is our response? Bogolls is caught again lying while the whole world is watching us in Nick Gowing’s Hardtalk BBC programme? ICRC now tells the world the solemn assurance given by our Foreign Minister to international bodies about A9 opening and access to IDP camps is yet more unadulterated lies. Did Sri Lanka ever suffer this indignity in the world stage ever before?

Isn’t this all the result of that deception to the people under that misnomer - the exaggerated Mahinda Chintanaya – a process of presumed deep thinking. In this case the thinker did not have the capacity for even ordinary thinking in the 40 years of experience that you emphasise so much in this piece.

As to the main thrust of your argument Gen Fonseka did not have governing experience - was’nt it so with Mrs.B - who later on came out well. And CBK benefited from on-the-job-training - thanks to her sound education and inherent family background of governance.

Of the Russian President Medvedev or more familiar territory to you Hugo Chavez, Eva Morles, the trade-unionist Lula da Silva? They all evolved to be experienced leaders over the years. I do not envy your task to prop up MR but I am afraid this affable simpleton disappointed the nation in almost every field of activity.

As to the victory in the final battle against the LTTE, that crass unprincipled opportunist Wimal Weerawansa (now surreptitiously building his own Palace) left the cat out of the bag when he recently said – attacking the General – “Ranil could have done the same thing if he was prepared to use so much of firepower disregarding so much of collateral damage and civilian deaths” He said this in different words. It is that factor the global community was against and not the elimination of the LTTE.

Remember, many countries already showed this disapproval with the LTTE by banning them. Naturally, the Govt used its entire propaganda blitzkrieg to mislead the country and the world – an area in which they are matchless. MR has failed because he cannot do better. Remember the ole Hollywood pitch “What you see is what you get”

ISS

When other Embassy heads are being re-called to work for MR Election campaign, DJ has commenced his work. If he did write canvassing for SF by giving out all that is hidden about the regime of MR, DJ will be considered to be opposing just because his tenure in Geneva was withdrawn in an non-statesmanship style?

The "pretty sophisticated political animal" a.k.a
Sinhala Madoyas need the arguments of DJ to prop-up
MR. SF is not the ideal choice for an opponent and must be so admitted by most readers, however the track-record of MR and his 40 yrs. in Politics has to be re-judged. The opportunity he has given the peace-loving
deserving people by a 2 year reduction of his
own will is Divine. This can be considered to be the ONLY act of STATEMANSHIP that he has ever undertaken in his 40 yrs. and will be the last!

40 yrs. as a Politician was given him to prove his
standing - the records says it all. Would anyone in
his right mind vote back MR to rule in a Democracy?
If he has achieved something which others have not,
his demeanor to a National problem and the actions after the War does not provide ammunition for another
go - MR did not have a sense of "consultation, compromise and consensus" for the job as a Leader!
The "check & balances" doctrine is not in the knowledge of the incumbent President and therefore deserves to be
re-elected according to the Writers argument!!

Even Dr.Mervyn Silva has the period in Parliament as DJ
puts it to qualify for Presidential candidate now!!

MR is the only political leader to lead our country at this time. And without any doubt, he is the winner of the Presidential election in January 2010..

But we must change the constitution to limit Presidents executive power. The President must responsible for the Parliament and need to make Judiciary above President.

Corruption is a common thing among politicians everywhere in the world today. To prevent or minimize corruption we need a strong opposition. But until Ranil leading the UNP there is no strong opposition in SL.

Dayan's "civilian lawyer-politician leaders" brought only untold misery to Tamils ever since independence!!!!

Dayan must have conveniently forgotten the organized pogroms against the Tamils in 1956, 1958, 1977, 1983 and so on!!! He was not affected, so he expects everyone to forget!!!!Nothing has changed even after the war is finished!!! Still Tamils are under the mercy of the Sinhala hoodlums!!! Still they have to carry a special identity card, still they have to get permission to go from A to B. Still their houses are occupied by the killer army, while they languish in the refugee camps, begging for their food and clothing.
Still they are shuffled from one camp to the other to hood wink the UN and other aid giving organizations. Still the white vans are roaming the streets, looking for victims!!! Still Tamils are shot without asking questions and the killers go free!!!! They may be even rewarded!!!! Hindu temples are being looted, and destroyed!!!Budhist temples are being constructed in places where there are no Budhists, while the average citizen of all ethnicity go hungry!!!!It is a laughing matter when the people at the top, go to India to pray at Hindu temples, and worship at the feet of "pseudo swamis" while trying to convert the Hindus in "Ealam" to Budhists!!!!

For Dayan, he has to sing for his supper!!! For the Tamils it is a question of life and death!!!

In short, according to Dayan(he goes round and round and subtly says this) Mahinda Rajapakse's only qualification to be re-elected is because of his "Genocidal Rule". Since the victims are Tamils Dyan does not care!!!!

Both these gentlemen have ample experience in their respective fields and during the darkest our of the nation they were the best we had to warm those respective seats. At that moment if Mahinda being the civilian politician, thought of interfering in the military matters we would have seen it as a riduculous thing and we will never achieve what we have today. Then now when the need of the hour is a savvy politician with as many experience as one could have, why should we even bother to think of a retired general with a track record of always being an autocrat who is a politikal kindergardener for the job ? Sri Lankans are used to be intelligent people.

You are on right view Mr. Dayan Jayatilleka, even-though, you have some issues with the current government.

As Sri Lankan Tamil I don't want to our country like Pakistan, Sarath Foseka like Sia ul huk was in Pakistan.Sarath Fonseka is bad mixture for whole country.

Thank you

It is a basic truth that JVP and UNP are totally divergent in their economic and political views, but there is a common flat form which they both can co-habitate.
This is the good governance of the system including finances,where the MR regime is a total failure.
I know there is no any difference between SLFP and UNP when it comes to the behaviour of their stalwarts; they all behave like not better than bulls, good that these people do not eat grass.
But in recent history, if anybody achieved anything to the country through right or wrong means it is SF and RW. SF killed VP in a sheer blood bath and RW pursued in his peace process until he was thrown out. Both events are potentially positive events, which has potential to guide us through economic prosperity. When it came to the war MR is not different than any of his predecessors because all the political leaders in our country wanted VP dead, since the time his existence.All failed mainly because of the international arena was conducive to LTTE and LTTE was strong in their own way.
We should thank Bin Laden for LTTE's failure; no body else.
MR happened to conquer solely because VP chose him to do that.
We all know that CBK became president out of nowhere, without any political experience or commitment. This means anybody can become and survive as president as CBK did it twice,with a track record of utter failure. Does this means MR deserves another term?
In that sense SF is far better than both MR and CBK. At least he has achieved something to the country by right or wrong means.

Mr Srilankan if Rajapaksa did not eliminate Terrorism ( I would not call it winning a war) you would not have had the puppet Fonseka and the Puppet Master Ranil to vote for. If you think this puppet show can deliver the goods you are kidding yourself.There is an exception however.Unless you want to see the separatist movements re emerging and bringing back the same old chaos which we witnessed over thirty years.

Do you think the JVP, the poor rural folks and the Colombo elite, who are the backers of Ranil UNP can work together when these parties are poles apart in their ideology.Have you heard the song "Yaman Bando Vesk Balanna"

You think Ranil,Fonseka, his mates and backers are not corrupt?,Haven't you read the articles in this publication about Fonseka and his Son in Law?

Get real buddy.Corruption is a universal phenomenon. All countries have corrupt politicians and all politicians look after their family and friends.It is the degree of corruption that varies among countries or individuals in power.

I am sure Rajapaksas are at the lower end of the scale if any in comparison to your mates in the Opposition when it come to corruption.

My dear Dayan, We dont need your academic Vedibana.IT is better to keep it for yourself.Because we know much better than anyone else.You may not remember ,but we remember.People like you have no clue about suffering masses.What have you done to people during the Premadasa period? (Remember what happened to you at the Lalith's funeral?)Then what did you do during MR s period? Have you done anything for the country? You did many things for Rajapakse regime! Now you try to whitewash them with your theories.My friend how much did they pay for your contract.First of all try to identify what people really need.Especially people who doesnt have a voice.Then speak out.May be the junta rule will win again.That doesnt mean those people get food or equal rights...be a human bieng!

My dear Dayan, We dont need your academic Vedibana.IT is better to keep it for yourself.Because we know much better than anyone else.You may not remember ,but we remember.People like you have no clue about suffering masses.What have you done to people during the Premadasa period? (Remember what happened to you at the Lalith's funeral?)Then what did you do during MR s period? Have you done anything for the country? You did many things for Rajapakse regime! Now you try to whitewash them with your theories.My friend how much did they pay for your contract.First of all try to identify what people really need.Especially people who doesnt have a voice.Then speak out.May be the junta rule will win again.That doesnt mean those people get food or equal rights...be a human bieng!

Hi Dayan,

I beg to differ. The text books and even Sri Lanka today is full of examples of CEOs' from different fields coming in and turning companies round. The only background Fonseka needs is in administration and honesty and I guess he has them both. Of course a strong background in not tolerating B...L S...T is also a massive bonus !

Mr. Dayan Jayathilaka is always very clear in his opinion.But everybody is entitled to one as many of the bodily organs of each of us.
Now let us, the common , rational thinking people look at things in a perspective of most agreeable terms.
Most of the Mahinda backers in last election(including myself) are disillusioned with the state of affairs over the last few years.The only solace being the WAR victory and it is bygone now leaves a level field for anybody to claim the crown!.
Let us not talk about the past anymore and see how we can move forward and think in few laymen terms what is going on.
President himself admitted the education System is in shambles.
No wonder!!! the Cabinet minister reponsible is too busy politicking and ensuring their perpetual hold of power with PS, Provincial. Presidential and General elections.
( with an apology to late hon I. M. R. A. Iriagolla, C. W. W. Cannangara one should think twice calling the current folks in relevant posts, honourable anyway!!!! )
In this country is there anything higher in priority than the work for next election????
That is what we need to change.
The infrequent elections out of th order or due period throws the whole country into a chaotic uncertainity and lull of business activity causes severe revenue loss!
People are too busy with whom they should peddle influence in future and seek ways and means to please acordingly.
look at the state media instituitions they are baltantly violating the public trust placed in them and have become the crown clowns and lackeys, it is a pain to see them for a moment, thanks to SLT people who can afford PEO TV have a break.!!!!
The country goes from election to election and , parlimentatarians jump from side to side depending on the color of the weather and size of the perks offered and long behold brag about it in the national media and heckle the very party they just left.
The public is in a transe and try to make the head or tail of their cock and bull theories of why they left so and so party, from just weeks ago they were blagarding the very party they jumped into!!!!.
So SF did not mince his words when he mentioned he will put an end to it, thus paving the way to this unprincipled individuals setting up bad examples for the generations to come. How does SF do it ? or abolish the Executuve Presidency is another matter for long debate but, certainly we need change and we need it now!!!.
Chinthanaya is fine what happens right now is 'Mahinda Vindanaya', sulking in the pugnatious fruits of the Mahinda Rule for those who can peddle influence in the current regime.
The general public are thrown bones in terms of removing artificail Taxes imposed thanks to WAR effort expense cover etc.
In essense if this nation wants to move forward and progress we need to place in power a leader with Progressive thinking( not necessarily emotional and superstitious) who has objective thinking and vision.Clear regulatory bodies to decouple governance and monetary management.
Transparent bodies to grant and monitor development projects,to put it succinctly, let us remove the power of politicians to finger every PIE.!!!!
Then let us see how many are vying to get into politics?

-aj

As CBK came in to power out of nowhere in 1995 and re elected in 1999 on the sympathy of Srilankan women, is it reasonable to re elect MR, even though is claims pseudo credits for the crushing of LTTE militarily?
MR has been in the cabinet since 1995 as a senior minister and I cannot remember him achieving anything in his two terms before being elected as president on the sympathy of VP and JVP. If not for JVP and VP, MR would be still in the opposition of a reasonably peaceful country.
Sure people got caught to his SWRDB like costume but they forgot that this man is fat than the legend, and getting fatter beating Anura Bnadaranayake.
When it comes to experience and commitment , I think there were few ministers in CBK's cabinet who did a much better job the MR; namely Fowsie, Richard Pathrana. I would have definitely voted for Fowsie if he had elected a the presidential candidate in 2005.
So this man’s track record is hopeless and as he knows it, he called for an early election before people throw him out of the seat! How can we underscore an unnecessary presidential election at this juncture, just held for him to come for the second time?
I recently heard that this is the most corrupted government since 1977! Problem is we don't have authentic reports to verify it.

Some people will mortgage their souls.. recently Rajiva Wijesinghe tried his political analysis on whether Sarath Fonseka is a puppet or not and got quite a well deserved response from the Transcurrents readers..

http://transcurrents.com/tc/2009/11/gen_fonseka_showed_he_has_no_i.html#more

What these so called academics prove is that they are willing to do anything just for a mere job. They have the fortune of being a handful of individuals who can write a sentence in English in this Madamullana administration and therefore adorn the titles of “academic and intellectual”

That goes for Dayan as well.. after being treated like a condom and discarded by the administration he seems to have been hooked on again by some carrot.. must be the carrot of Foreign Minister which keeps many following the Pied Piper..

Please Dr. Jayathilake.. it is not too late to save some dignity.. get off this circus of jokers trying to appease a despot. You are better than that. Some day you will be rewarded for your actual talents and which should not include bum sucking.

How soon human beings forget!In May,2009 we were kissing the ground the president walked on.There is no doubt that Mahinda Rajapakse has earned the right to lead the country for at least one more term and show us that he will deliver what he promised, that is inter-communal harmony backed by solid legislation to guarantee Human Rights, Non -Discrimination and Equal-Opportunity coupled with Economic Development in the North and the South.Electing Gen Fonseka, a non politician at a time so critical to finally consolidating the military victory and converting it to political, social and economic gain and inter-communal harmony, is too great a risk to embark on.We all know where Ranil Wicks and the JVP were whilst the battles were being fought.The JVP is on it's last legs and Ranil will always be remembered for his cowardice and unpatriotic behaviour.The UNP is as good as dead with this man as it's head.One other matter the people can demand is that each candidate make solemn promise to the people from the Sri Maha Bodhi Vihara that if elected they will abolish the Executive Presidency within six months and return power to the Parliament and also get rid of the proportional representation which allows the most unpopular and unelectable candidates to be on top of the list simply because of political connections and favours and not merit.Then each candidate will be responsible personally to his/her constituents and it'd be within the true tradition of the democracy we enjoyed.This would be a final defeat of JR,s neo-facist political legacy that has brought on this corrupt system in the first place.I doubt that either of the candidates would have the courage to make such promises.If either does he would be worth considering in preference to the other.I am sure if one does the other would too, so it would make no difference.

Dr. Dayan, athida ahagaththa! You "hauled coals" for MR and the Clan at UNHCR, Geneva; got all high may be having "on the rocks" and became vociferous about 13 or something and when you let your fingers do the talking, you were called to rest - the death is announced of D. E. M. O'cracy.

I just don't care about the outcome. I will vote for SF beause MR has failed us after the war; moreover failed all those Sinhala/Tamil/Muslim-Malay/Burgher folks who paid the supreme sacrifice and made destitute in the war to eliminate the LTTE. We, the silent but apolitical majority, paid our taxes in time so that MR & Co. could wage the war to get some breathing space in our daily lives. Still we pay Rs. 130/liter for petrol.

This all whilst MR has the audacity to fly in a helicopter, with tax payers money, for campaigning. MR does not know good governance and because of that he will not get my vote!

Dear Critics,

Kindly read carefully, the new Report on sri Lanka issued by the US Senate's powerful Foeign relations Committee, under the signatures of respected and highly intelligent and ethical Senators Kerry and Lugar. It charts a new path for relations with SL and provides a whole new perspective , which includes a positive, constructive revaluation of President Rajapakse and his achievement...so much so that human rights INGOS are already screaming blue murder! I am saying no more or less than that Report, though I published it before the report appeared and I had read it. So, all your criticisms and imputations about me, must apply to John Kerry and Richard Lugar!

Oh by the way Sapumal, it was Gen kobbekaduwe's funeral , not lalith's. so what? a mob set upon a single individual-- me -- and stripped and beat him bloody, which did not cause him to change his views on Premadasa or remain silent on them for even a day. If your heroes are the mob, no wonder you take the political stand that you do. Doubtless the voters will not!

I can understand the Srilankan Tamil people feel hurt and disappointed about the course of action the Rajapaksa regime had to take over the last three and a half years.Therefore they have all the right to criticize Rajapaksa, which ever way they deem appropriate.

But to read the Sinhala people who seem to be educated coming up with unproven silly allegations about Rajapaksas and posting drivel here is beyond belief, to a fellow Sinhalese like me.

Even Appuhamy can see the shifty connivance of these schemers to topple Rajapaksa and get the" Ranil UNP" into power.Unless you have an ax to grind for personal reasons these rubbish is not going prevent the Rajapaksas moving this country to its right full place, after thirty years of mayhem.

It is worth to remind these English educated Sinhalese to read the comments of the boss of Mahindra Group, about the future of Srilanka.

Dear Dr. Jayathilake,
Please stop humiliating yourself. You need not be bitter about the manner in which you were treated by this administration but any self respecting human being should not be thrilled just because they get a free trip to Vietnam and a promise of a better job in the future after getting humiliated the way you did.. Stop this embarrassing worshiping of an administration which has shown that it is more like the Myanmar Junta than any other civilised government in the world. You may not like the UNP, its leader or its policies but kindly don’t jump on this sad bandwagon of praising a dictator for personal gain and actually insult a war hero, who you defended not too long ago. Our country deserves much more from the likes of you who have the ability to fathom, analyse and present the actual situation…only problem is when that analysis gets clouded in personal ambition the people see you for who you are.. a hypocrite. Hope you would prove me wrong.

new Report on sri Lanka issued by the US Senate's powerful Foeign relations Committee, under the signatures of respected and highly intelligent and ethical Senators Kerry and Lugar does not in any way underscore present regime and holding early polls to secure MR regime for another term.
It only values in a slightly positive note the progression made by present regime for resettlement of IDPs.
Does any body think that country has returned to normalcy after declaring early polls on the basis that MR does not have any more work left to do,as he has accomplished his all promises?
Some one can ask from JVP because they are the people who wrote that "Kurahan Chinthanaya" and the number of false promises which never came true. Crushing of LTTE militarily does not end his promised work despite it is being the main promise.
In that sense SF has got more work to do,instead of retiring early. He managed to clear a corrupt and divergent army and guided it through a tough terrain for the demise of LTTE.
Why can not he clear the present rogues in Parliament and clear the country for ever as Lee Kuan Yew did?
Here I am not supporting him but counter arguing.
If elects as president Srilanka will never be the same again.

DJ seems to be struggling with himself to justify why he is backing a despot when there is a call from the extreme right to the extreme left for General Sarath Fonseka to become the next President. He may be shrewd (and intelligent) not to call SF a traitor or not give him the due credit for the military victory, but by allying himself in the same camp as Mervin Silva (the goon, not his father), pseudo nationalist Weerawanmsa, fraudster Sajin Vass and jingoist JHU, Dayan exposes himself as a fraud and hypocrite as well. People wonder why this man has to back MR if not for his own ambitions.

DJ should be given credit for being a brilliant political analyst. He sees many angles which are missed by many. Having read his writings it seems he is very uncomfortable in an extremist camp which espouses in word and deed for nationalism. For a man who not too long ago professed federalism as a viable option and didn’t give excuses for it is remarkable that he could be together with the calibre of people that make up this administration. So if not for personal gain why is he in with them?. Maybe admiration for MR? But the more plausible answer is for his own gain. It is indeed sad that when the likes of DJ could have been part of a process that would usher in change and give hope for a better day he chooses to side with an administration which seemingly has views far from his own. For a man who dreamt of a better day with Obama it is indeed very sad that he doesn’t see the opportunity for change in his own country.

Dayan please see the light.. MR has had his moment now its over.. Don’t be on the wrong side of history!!

Dayan Jayathilake -How much more will you sing for your recent FREE trip to Vietnam courtesy of MR (Tax payers)

This Guy Dayan is another face of Sinhala chuvinisam (Un like his father) What ever he says in these colums,are to hood wing and confuse people especially Tamil diaspora.He boastes that he helped Srilanka Hide its war crimes, human right abuses and genocide and he gloses over and hides the abuses the Sinhala mass,Gov,military,with the help of thugs unleased on un armed Tamils since 1948 to 1976. He only talkes about the Ltte violence which was a symptom of the disease Sinhala Supremacist Chuvinism caused by Mahavamsa mind set, Fear psychosis, as articulated clearly by SWRDB in 1955 "With their books and culture and the will and strength characteristic of their race, the Tamils (if parity were granted) would soon rise to exert their dominant power over us” It was not just the Mahavamsa inspired notions of 'primacy' that have been the impetus, but also something else-the fear of domination."

There is or was no different in Mahinda Chintanaya , Dayan chintanaya, Sarthh F Chinthanaya, SWRDB chinthanaya or UNP chinthanya if any.
Mahinda Rajapaksha articulated with clarity in July 2009
Now, my theory is: there are no minorities in Sri Lanka, there are only those who love the country and those who don’t... For reconciliation to happen, there must be a mix [of ethnicities]. Here the Sinhalese, the Tamils, and Muslims inter-marry. In my own family, there have been mixed marriages: Sinhalese with Tamils, Sinhalese with Muslims. This is Sri Lankan society"
Given President Rajapaksa's genocidal record, it seems that his theory of reconciliation may be simply stated: kill off as many Tamils as you can and then marry or rape those that you have failed to kill. It is this Sinhala society which President Rajapaksa seeks to pass off as a Sri Lankan society - albeit with a Sinhala Lion flag , with an unrepealed Sinhala Only Act, with Buddhism as the state religion, and with the Sinhala name 'Sri Lanka' which the Sinhala majority gave the island unilaterally in 1972.
We are fully aware that the world is not rotating on the axis of human justice. Every country in this world advances its own interests. It is the economic and trade interests that determine the order of the present world, not the moral law of justice nor the rights of people to determine the order of the present world, not the moral law of justice nor the rights of people. Evidence is emerging in the latest US report.Dayan you should have another party in Colombo Together with Hogana,Rajiva,Bogo, Gunaratna,& Bandula,

Dayan, I agree wuth you 100% until you reverse your position if an when SF wins :-) You are a darling chameleon :-(

Someone who can solve the Ethno-National Identity crisis with participation of the masses of ALL ethno-religious groups in the country AND then establishing best form of governance with future security for ALL should be elected the PRESIDENT.

I agree that MR has 40 years of political experience. But, if that is all that it takes to become a successful political leader, why does he have so many advisers paid out of public money?

All MR has is the war victory to cover up for all the mismanagement that goes on in other spheres of his governance. Many MR supporters including Dayan Jayatilleka want the public to pay a token of gratitude by re-electing him. But, war is now over and does he have a vision for the next 6 years? What measures will he take to curb corruption and nepotism, will he reduce the size of the cabinet, has his stance on the executive presidency changed(he promised to abolish in 2005) and does he hope to work with the other parties to bring about a political consensus on a devolution mechanism or will he continue to avoid that?

Dear DJ,Taking 40 year of experianc of MR and SF Who Have Acheived the result. who is corrupted.Eventhough MR has 40 year of political Experiance wrer are we today as a country.What was his plans to our future.As a leader his immidiate ministers robbing/murdering beheve like beast and what action he took. Just look other side and silently approved those acts. Do we want this regime for another 8 years.
and you talk a about genaral become civillian leader.Look at gen washinton .As soon as he finish the war He became civillian and became first prasidant of USA.and now the country is a most powerfull .you dont have to be more interlectual to became politician or even to become prasidant,just be smart.And this is the only occupation you dont have to have any education qualification.If mayvin silva can became a minister why gen SF cannot be a prasidant.Dear DJ We admire your Interlectuality but you shouldn't tell us how educate you are .Then you also going to be Dr maryvin silva's gang.Remember Dr DJ we need to look for future .We has to move fast without corruption.

President Rajapakse have been in Politics and Civil Administration for 40 years, which does not give him automatic extra qualification than General Sarath Fonseka.

All positive thinking people can see how Rajapakse regime is ruling the country, I don't need to list them one by one.

I personally think well diciplined General Sarath Fonseka is much better than current President to rule the country with his good subordinates.

All leaders of the country since Independence anyhow contributed to the Civil war which demonised the country for more than three decades. All these so called political leaders had some kind of qualifications (except two)but all of them brought to the country is more division among communities and corruption in every where.

Why we do not want to give a chance to highly diciplined General who won the war which all qualified political leaders brougt to the country.

Only qualification MR has is that he just obeyed what India told, and Indian did everything behind the scene!!!. He was not worried about the Human rights or he did not have any qualms about killing, maiming, torturing etc. As long as he could rob and plunder the country along with his countless cousins, nieces and nephew he was prepared to do anything.
Do we want a man like him as President for another years or even forever!!!! On the other hand he will do anything to get "re-elected". The "election" could be a facade!!!