So the hatred goes on and on....I wonder what Ranil did to you and I feel sorry for a man burdened with such a huge ego. Such A huge ego that he can't stop spewing forth his hatred, or rather his ego will not let him !

Typical! According to you, its all the Tamils' fault. The one-sided anti-Tamil violence before the LTTE came into existence never happened right?? It is only the Tamils who have to be criticised and need to apologise and the SL state and Sinhalese have nothing to apologise for?

By the way, of the four Tamil leaders mentioned by RW, three were murdered by the current regime, a regime you support. You have conveniently ignored this.

We need a new constitution that represent the will of the people.

This can be achieved in a UNITARY state with an independent public service selected on merit. And other activities selected on merit.

The choice is either this or a federal break up of Sri Lanka. I would much prefer a unitary status with merit and willingness to achievement as opposed to federalism which is really halving the problem with no real solutions to either unit of federation.

With all due respects to the UNP, I tend to agree with DJ that Ranil is a serious liability and bent on sinking the entire party. He seems to assume that everyone who voted green in the past is going to continue voting for him. If at all this will be due to others in the party something that he is doing his best to sabotage.
A viable alternative is General SF and the JVP who at least are sticking to their principles whereas UNPers still have the tendency to pole vault.Significantly Ranil seems to have dissociated the UNP from the current predicament of the General. No one seems to have even signed the petition. How is it possible to change that quick? RW should explain.

What is wrong with Mahinda?

Please don't insult this great man by asking him to learn from others especially foreigners although you have a personal grudge.

I am a great admirer of both Putin and Deng but our Mahinda is equal or better given the circumstances in our environment.

So you don't need to worry mate.

Give our President 6 years and you will see the difference.

A Lee Kwan Yew would do wonders for Sri Lanka. The kind of politician who would work for the common good and not for personal enrichment or glory.

Dear Dayan Jayatilleka,

Well Done Sir, once more again! I have seen some of your articles earlier, but I can tell you that this is the best one of them all.

First of all, I really liked your idea as you are trying to advise EVEN the President of Sri Lanka, Rajapaksa about how he should conduct politics. It is very much regrettable that you already forgot the "fate" of Sarath Fonseka, who also tried to do exactly the same, what you are doing now.

Secondly, you are a self-claimed "critical supporter" of Rajapaksa & Co. Here, you contradict yourself. If you REALLY are a HONEST human being and at the same time, you are critical to Rajapaksa, you won't be able to support him, since HE would never have let you to be alive now.

Thirdly, from your article, everyone could easily see, where you are standing as a human being. Both Deng H. Peng and V. Putin are tyrants and they both should have been brought to the ICC and be punished for their gross human rights violations. But unfortunately, they both are political leaders belonging to two powerful countries.

Fourthly, how "clever" you are calling Ranil for a political sado-masochist? It is widely known among the world political leaders that Ranil is the most moderate politician the country has right now (apart from our comrade, Mr. VK). Ranil is a loser, obviously, but it is not because of he is a political sado-masochism but indeed, because he is moderate and he does not play on the racial cards (definitely not the same degree) to what Rajapaksa & Co do.

Finally, you are also stating that the masses are behind Mr. Rajapaksa. My question to you is: who are the "masses" for you? - Tamils?, Muslim-Tamils? or Estate Tamils? The support to Rajapaksa among the Tamils is very minimal. Rajapaksa & Co has not much support among the “moderate” Sinhalese either. It is only the “chauvinists” and the “opportunists” liker yourself, who support his regime. This is the only reason for, why Rajapaksa & Co is still in power. In the light of this truth, it is not surprising that the Rajapaksa & Co has the majority's support and that they are in power in Sri Lanka. The political leaders like Rajapaksa himself around the globe will always be in power as long as they can play on the “racial, religious and/or caste” cards. But, I hardly need to tell you that the global society is silently watching these leaders and the global “legitimacy” of this kind of leaders is always “doubtful”.

Trust me, when I am telling you that the “hands” of the “justice” will soon come to embrace you all and it won’t be too long, before you all will end up in the ICC for your genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity against the Tamils. It is really very sad to see that people like Rajapaksa & Co and yourself never learn from the history. Unfortunately, when you first come to learn, it might be too late for you all to realize it. Trust ME.

If anyone wondered why we do not have the unity and peace the Chintanaya lot has been shouting about, the "real" thoughts of how to approach the Tamil issue come out now and then. "The Village level devolution" is one such and is meant to be a Great Concession and a Symbol of the Mangnanimity of the War Victorious Sinhala Nation. This will trickle in bits and pieces in future discussions - including those with visiting foreign dignitaries to whom the packaging will be different while the content remains the same. Clearly, the Tamils, who have suffered for so long and so much, may not have the apetite for this "crumb from the Royal table" If the Rajapakse Administration is trying out Naramsimha Rao's politics of "procrastinate a difficult political problem for so long it loses its relevance" this may fail badly. As some see it there are 3 ways to solve the problem :-

1. To take action now and transparently
2. On the basis of the 2-Nation within a single country basis.
3. The main political parties in the NEP have spelt out recently the possible basis of a resolution - which is a good starting point.

No one can stop the Govt from accomodating other
Tamil individuals or groups for parochial reasons, it is clear the Tamil people have rejected the many known discredited Quislingams masquerading on their behalf. The regime has the savvy to know who the real representatives of the Tamil Nation are. It is in everyone's interest that action be taken without delay. The UN will go through with the Inquiry Panel to save its own integrity. Even if the extremes of intervention or UN troops may not figure in the lesser punishments of travel bans on selected Govt VIPs, freezing of their bank accounts overseas (that was the lot of the Myanmar junta, Gaddafi, Al-Bashir of Sudan et al)will be feared more for obvious reasons.

ISS

We all have to beg the forgiveness of the people for all the pain we had inflicted on them.
All of us are responsible for all these tragic events for which we have to apologize to the people.

If Ranil has said the above we salute him for his magnanimity and humanitarian gesture from a Singhalese leader of major party in Sri Lanka. This is statesmanship. This is the starting point for the reconciliation and reconstruction of racial harmony in Sri Lanka.

I can understand the fury of DJ that Ranil will become further unpopular among the majority Sinhalese and lose the election, paving the way for a landslide victory for MR and UPFA. The demon in the form of Sinhala Nationalism has already been created. Whoever talks for or sympathetic with minority Tamils are branded as LTTE supporters and condemned as party to a conspiracy. Sinhala masses have been repeatedly fooled by this Nationalism.

The demon can only destroy by himself. Let us wait for another 6 years for the self destruction to happen and by the time people of Sri Lanka wake up from this intoxication the country would have gone beyond repair. DJ as a political analyst can see the writings on the wall.

However, there are optimistic supporters of MR including DJ who will try to propose solutions such as identifying a Deng Hsiao Peng or Vladimir Putin in MR but it would be a futile exercise.

I think that the country does not deserve Ranil.

We all have to beg the forgiveness of the people for all the pain we had inflicted on them.
All of us are responsible for all these tragic events for which we have to apologize to the people.

If Ranil has said the above we salute him for his magnanimity and humanitarian gesture from a Singhalese leader of major party in Sri Lanka. This is statesmanship. This is the starting point for the reconciliation and reconstruction of racial harmony in Sri Lanka.

I can understand the fury of DJ that Ranil will become further unpopular among the majority Sinhalese and lose the election, paving the way for a landslide victory for MR and UPFA. The demon in the form of Sinhala Nationalism has already been created. Whoever talks for or sympathetic with minority Tamils are branded as LTTE supporters and condemned as party to a conspiracy. Sinhala masses have been repeatedly fooled by this Nationalism.

The demon can only destroy by himself. Let us wait for another 6 years for the self destruction to happen and by the time people of Sri Lanka wake up from this intoxication the country would have gone beyond repair. DJ as a political analyst can see the writings on the wall.

However, there are optimistic supporters of MR including DJ who will try to propose solutions such as identifying a Deng Hsiao Peng or Vladimir Putin in MR but it would be a futile exercise.

I think that the country does not deserve Ranil.

Hi DJ,
Once again you have an acumen for quoting some 'centipede eating' kind to quote to confuse people. Looks like you have got a fresh offer from the powers that be, and we are expected to hear an announcement of another appointment eventually? You are a realist cum survivalist! Remember you could be analyzed by your unstable political stance by the future generation. Go ahead you are not going to make a difference. You will survive as long as you live like Dew, Vasudeva and Tissa. Good Luck!

The writer quotes Tamilnet which also reports a "Sinhala Only" ceremony when the Governer laid the foundation stone for a jaffna municipal building - with the Mayor and Minister Devananda ( with a plethora of garlands as usual)- both not daring to say even a few words in tamil - and that mediapersons walked out of same.Also reported are attacks by the Minister's goons on campaigners of UNP and other parties. Also reported is the demolishing of the Thileepan Memorial by the army, which has bulldozed all LTTE cemeteries in the north and east already.
This is the state of affairs which Ranil wishes to correct so that the nothern tamils will feel accepted by any future government.This will ensure peace of mind and remove the fear of 'state terror' which even now pervades the northeast with disappearances of persons, appearance of dead bodies,armed robberies especially during curfew hours, continuous harassment of civilians at check points,extortions arbitary arrests and detentions etc.The problems of civilians evicted from 'high security zones' which are no longer necessary and the travails of IDPs which amount to oppression of the tamils have also to be corrected.
The sinhala hardliners couldnt care less about this state of affairs affecting the tamils. The writer ignores all this in his attack on Ranil,in his single minded support of Mahinda R's government.

This is like pouring water on a ducks back dream on no reform but corruption yes in a gigantic scale but the poor citizens will be eating cakes

Nathen

Mr. Nakeeb,

Do you think the people can last the next 6 years? The CBSL indicated Budget deficit for 2010 around 7% but Dr. Harsha de Silva elsewhere today in an interview says it is around 45% - which places us in a more dangerous predicament than Greece. Rice, Milk Powder, Sugar, Fish, Chicken, Egg, Dhalls are well outside the reach of the lower middle class and the still lower segment. Vegetable/greens prices no better. The State markets Petrol/Diesel at highly taxed levels for its own survival. For the CEB to survive rates must go up. Bus/Train fares are unlikely to come down or remain at current high levels. These are all indications of the collapse of the economy. Irresponsible rhetoric of our leaders has lost us the GSP. The next tranche of the IMF loan is doubtful. A weak, ineffective UNP or a lack-lustre JVP can result in a larger crop for the Govt on April 08. But where is the much needed relief to the people on the CoL and revamping of the economy to come from?
We might have to invent another "war" to keep the regime floating. I read somewhere today a regular writer talking of an ancient prediction slant-eyed people will rule the island around this time. Are we already there? Did Nirupama Rao drop in just to say Hi
and feel the weather?

ISS

"Perhaps what he needs is a parliament that will keep him on his toes and act as a check on the ideological apparatuses of the state. Such a balance of forces may once again bring out the best in him. If, however, post-parliamentary election, the configuration continues pretty much as it is, and the hegemonic ideology remains undisturbed, what will be Sri Lanka’s trajectory?"

From this DJ seems to say that what is necessary is a government that could check the power of the President, in other words advocating the opposition forming the Government. while the rest of the article seem to pacify the Government's brute rationality ie reasoning with their brawn.

If Ranil had said " We all have to beg the forgiveness of the people for all the pain we had inflicted on them. All of us are responsible for all these tragic events for which we have to apologize to the people." then what should be read into it is that the leaders and those who elected the leaders should feel responsible for the action and the inaction in not recognizing and following up on the realities of all legislation beginning with free education, the first act of decentralization (The issue at hand).

Has anyone observed that there were two revolts in the country and it was from the South and North where the colonial missionaries established educational institution which went against the grain of the culture in place and thus educated the populace across the hierarchy of the cultural classes of the society. Those educated thus found discriminated in competing for the jobs that were only available at the center and revolted.And both revolted against the system of Governance and the cultural restraints. This also applies to the Political opportunities as evidenced by the leadership takeover within SLFP and Earlier within the UNP

What would have happened if all schools and the curricula were upgraded to single unified standard after Kanangara's legislation, thus equitably developing the education institutions, instead of restricting the one's that were developed, there would have been highly decentralized educated populace capable of managing all levels of governance and development resulting in decentralized form of governance with the whole island developing uniformly.

But unfortunately it is human to think of protecting one's acquired position and wealth from competition that thinking in terms of what is actually needed for the populace is counter conducive, as seen in this oped by DJ. Yes you need maintain your position as a political analyst and what better way than to invite dialogue ( Which is necessary for you) through creating managed controversies which is done well here.

But the issue at hand is for all individuals to work toward creating a society where each individual can realize reaching the highest potential of his/her skills, like you, thanks to your position in society at birth because of the culture and not because of the efforts of those who governed and those who allowed them to be governed. So it is pointless to stand aside and blame or praise others for the leadership but to acknowledge the fact they who are being blamed and praised are there as leaders because the others could not be lead those leaders themselves.
In other words " All of us are responsible for all these tragic events for which we have to apologize to the people (Each other)."

Ranil is playing the ‘goody two shoes’ character by apologising for the war trying to curry favour with the Tamil electorate in the North. Unfortunately as Dayan accurately surmises the electorate in the North are hardened TNA voters and Ranil will not be able to convert these into votes. Ranil has this inherent gift of appeasement that previously has had disastrous consequences. The electorate will never forgive him for the appeasement of the LTTE with the CFA that resulted in murder of hundreds of Sri Lankan forces and other innocent Sri Lankans from both communities. His political antenna is also seriously flawed as this foolish act of contrition saves no purpose other than give solace to the Diaspora and the separatists. These pronouncements will also translate into a loss of votes for the UNP among the voters who suffered under the LTTE insurgency.

We still have comments in these columns that still advocate a dual nation on a single country basis. This has been the mantra of the Federal party sixty years ago and of the TNA since the eighties. This is the twenty first century and the political dynamics especially after the war are not the same and the solutions that seemed possible in the last century do not apply anymore. Modern communications and fast travel within the next decade will make Sri Lanka a smaller place and the new political realities will take this into account. Also the population of Tamils in the North and East have also diminished considerably since then, partly due to the insane policies of the LTTE and organic movement of population.

There is another writer here who comforts himself that the ICC will take Sri Lanka to task. I am afraid he does not understand the workings of the ICC under the auspices of the United Nations. Let me elucidate him.

The International Criminal Court has no jurisdiction in respect of a state which is not a party to the Rome Treaty except where there is a referral by the Security Council, or the state concerned voluntarily accepts such jurisdiction. Sri Lanka together with the USA, Russia, India, China and Israel are not party to the Rome treaty. In Sri Lanka’s case even if a Security Council referral did manifest, China and Russia will exercise their veto as they too have similar issues within their borders.

Ranil was powerful minister in the cabinet which presided over:

1983 mayhem
Burning down of Jafna library

Apologising only now?

Sri Lanka has TOO MUCH DEMOCRACY.... It is a CONSTIPATED DEMOCRACY.

That is why the Likes of the TNA and OTHER TAMIL TRAITORS and SECESSIONISTS are allowed to FREELY PREACH TERRORISM and TREASON in our Parliament under our very noses and have the AUDACITY to call it FREEDOM of SPEECH.

Please keep in Mind when all these So called "CIVILIZED" WESTERN INDUSTRIAL countries were PILLAGING the GLOBE and AMASSING the WEALTH for themselves... none of them PRACTICED any sort of DEMOCRACY. They engaged in COLONIZATION, TYRANNY, MURDER and SLAVERY.

Now in the light of their DECLINING and DIMINISHING EMPIRES they continue to try and keep our "DEVELOPING" countries down by exposing us to the POISONOUS ELEMENTS that are responsible for their DOWNFALL.

Any political analyst - if to be taken seriously- must not only be fair but appear to be so in his/her thoughts, be they written or spoken. It is manifestly clear that Dayan Jayatilleke singularly lacks this essential attribute which helps raise the individual from the "herd". Dayan lacks the great attribute of "independence" which unnecessarily lowers his standing in the esteem of all fair and independent minds. When he uses a rhubarb stick to censure some among the ruling elite and a near crowbar to censure Ranil W for his slightest indiscretion, he only bares the regrettable side of him that keeps him from reaching the heights that he should. In other words when he metes out his judgment disproportionately, he loses credibility, rather than gain any; however clever or intelligent his arguments may sound to the average reader.

In a birthday tribute written recently in these columns, Ranil W. was portrayed among many things as a great orator by the writer. Not in Ranil's wildest dreams could he ever lay claim to such a pedestal. Truth be told, he is no orator in either sinhala or english. In fact in public oratory he is an abysmal failure, which ranks among one of the chief reasons why he languishes while others far less capable and honourable flourish. Also in trying to emulate the populist speakers his recent "Poda" ventures needlessly lowered the standing he previously enjoyed as a man who never used a podium to insult another. These were crass attempts at populism which were totally unnecessary and damaged his largely dignified image.

Further, his leadership leaves much room for comment. He vascillates when the need is assertion; he appears blind to the young and talented in his own camp who are much cleverer than the ageing fossils that are often trotted out, and he tolerates mediocrity more than what is good for him or his party. In fact, he has many faults like all normal humans do, but none of them serious enough to castigate him the way that some do. In case you think I am an acolyte, please rest assured I dont know him and do not feel the need to do so. Mine is just an independent opinion.

For me, the hallmark of a civilised person is his ability to accept the greatest provocation without feeling the need to retaliate. These are the attributes that make ordinary men leaders and then, statesmen. Of this quality, Ranil Wickremasinghe has in great abundance.

DJ for all his analytical powers and other attributes should sit on mother earth and chew a blade of grass while contemplating on using his manifest skills towards promoting decency, honesty,justice and fairplay among those who come forward to govern us, now and in the future.

Now, that would be something!

For a moment I wish to digress a little.

An article is only as good as the 'fabric' with which its views are woven.

The writer has an audience. He has a clout. His place in Politics, as is, in Sri Lanka is assured. Week after week he 'floats' his theories. How balanced are his opinions?

Let us begin.

-------“All military camps in Jaffna peninsula will be scrapped if UNP wins” – Ranil ------

It may or may not be a true quote . But how about the sentiments displayed. Wouldn't that be a good step towards reconciliation. Shouldn't that be the approach of a writer?

------- with no mention of the travails the people of Jaffna visited on themselves and the rest of the country by incubating and succouring a fascist movement, bolstering it over other, more humane armed options even within the Eelam struggle ----

Is the writer now accepting that Jaffna was nurturing LTTE. What became of the claim that LTTE was terrorising the Tamils.

-----By the way, in its election manifesto the TNA has neither a word of criticism of the LTTE ----

If Jaffna was nurturing LTTE, how can a political party be critical of a group that was for the people? Wouldn't that be suicidal?

----- in the face of Ranil’s appeasement of federalism ----

What is wrong with federalism ... ...?

----- Those pictures would not have gone down well with today’s electorate. They revealed Ranil as the ‘organic leader’ of a decadent social class which lamentably, seems to have a death grip on the UNP ---

Does the writer have a grudge against that class'...?

----- It was clear that no one – Brown, Miliband or the Global Tamil Forum -- could kick Sri Lanka or its people around on Mahinda Rajapakse’s watch, and of that I was proud ----

The cloak drops! Sri Lanka's people!! See where the writer's pride lies!!!

----- an adaptation of the Maoist policy of ‘unity and struggle’ is still the right one ----

Shouldn't what is good for the goose be good for the gander too?

---- UNP, with its social insensitivity to the sentiments of the majority of the people, of the masses -----

I commend the writer for an open admission that the sentiments of the people count. TNA too has the sentiments of its people in mind.

---- If, however, post-parliamentary election, the configuration continues pretty much as it is, and the hegemonic ideology remains undisturbed, what will be Sri Lanka’s trajectory? ----

Interestingly, Tamils too look forward to that day that will provide the answer to this seemingly playful surmise.

PS:
Instead of floating puns, Dayan should come clean with his answer to the cancer that is consuming the country.

*** Do you think the people can last the next 6 years? The CBSL indicated Budget deficit for 2010 around 7% but Dr. Harsha de Silva elsewhere today in an interview says it is around 45% ***

Senguttavan,

What color is the Sky in your WORLD?

Do you live in Sri Lanka? I do,... and things are picking up just fine. Stop pulling these BOGUS STATISTICS from your rear end and take a look around. Sri Lanka is on the Up and Up and your LOONEY TUNE FEAR MONGERING is falling on Deaf ears (as usual).

DJ's intellectual mind is free to advocate/ or give free advice for his motherland's Leader ( who represents the Sinhalese ) to study and learn from Deng S.P and Vladimir Putin. He wants MR to learn how to be authoritarian but not about the SECULAR constitutions of those countries. Of course DJ will come out with his existential theory even after MR regime's 99% Sinhalese armed forces conquering the NE.

Why does not he bring in Chairman Mao's era ( prior to the gang of four ) for learning from Mao? Why does not he bring in Sun Yat-sen ( Sun, considered to be the "Father of Modern China" both in mainland China and in Taiwan, fought against the imperial Qing government and after the 1911 revolution ended the monarchy and founded the Republic of China )to learn from his actions. Why does not he talk about how the overseas Chinese ( Chinese Diaspora )of all shades contributed to China under Dr. Sun, Chairman Mao and Deng SP ? Deng SP had the foundation of his predecessors. In Srilanka what good foundations the successive Sinhalese leaders did after hood winking the minorities and getting the sovereingty, territorial integrity and freedom for Sinhalese under unitary status and not for the minorities ?

Even Vladimir Putin was able to bounce as a leader from a new Russia because of the change Gorbachev brought it for the good or bad of the communist ideology. Why DJ does not see any parallel between Gorbachev and Ranil ? How come DJ accepted JR- Rajiv ( not elected by the people of NE )pact and worked as a Minister and now an ardent supporter of truimphalist MR regime?

In the mind of DJ majority of the NE Tamils are fools and it is the Tamils fault for their predicament since 1948 by electing the wrong political parties. As I am one of those Tamils who does not think like DJ and as an ex- LSSP suporter my advice to DJ, now that you have gone to Singapore (a secular state where leaders do not use religion to come to power), you learn from not only LKY but his past colleagues by going through the books, videos of national day rally speeches, parliamentary proceedings etc from the libraries there and the archives.

It is sad you have not given your free advice to MR to change the basics of his Chinthanaya by learning from the beliefs of Sinnathamby Rajaratnam who was born in the island of Srilanka from a village in the now Sinhalese army occupied land in the North. I guess, how can you go against your own theory that Tamils can not think or their leaders do not think like you and have any grey matter like you.

It is also sad as an intellectual and an academic DJ is putting down TNA and UNP in an unbalanced and irrational way for their political stand and doing a one sided political campaign for MR regime from another land where fairness and law and order and good governance prevails. With this mind set how on earth you come out with credible findings from your research topic.

Heart to heart DJ wants the Sinhalese army to occupy the NE permanently as MR has said and make every part of the island as Sinhalese dominated and thereby burying even a federal status to the minorities.

Dr DJ,

Appreciate anyone in publically. Criticize personally ( That way you can get more out of anyone)

You know Mahinda very well. He is the best president for all time for Sri Lanka. and He is the best leader we have seen so far in Sri Lanka as well. He don't need to follow others. He has all the qualities and knowledge.
Your argument is right. However, You personally know MR then why don't you talk to him rather than publicly criticize MR.

I am Tamil and I think MR will satisfy Tamils with equal rights to everyone. Tamil people never trust Tamil Leaders who could have brought peace and at least minimum settlement with Indian support. Now Tamils are paying for the price.

Rahulan

Devinda,

You have proved my point. You are under the intoxication of Sinhala Nationalism and continue to believe that everything will end well.

If you want to be enlightened just read the concluding statement of DJ above:

If, however, post-parliamentary election, the configuration continues pretty much as it is, and the hegemonic ideology remains undisturbed, what will be Sri Lanka’s trajectory?

ISS always comes up with ridiculous comments.

Dr Harsha must have got his figures that are not available to the IMF,which is one of the most important organizations in the world.

Comments like slant eyes taking over Srilanka are nothing but pathetic racist comments which are totally obnoxious in this day and age.Coming from a person who claims to be a victim of discrimination makes it nothing but abhorant.

Dayan J.,

If given the opportunity as a youth reaching 20, would you choose a chinese/russian or american university for your education?

If given the opportunity, would you say "No" to an american offer of a university for your education in preference to a russian one?

If given the opportunity, would you choose Russia, china, or any western country to be domiciled and be employed?

If given the choice, would you rather be the ambassador in Moscow, Cuba, or China, or, would you prefer to be our ambassador to the US or UK or any european country?

Would you agree, that there is far greater influence of the western countries in sri lanka than that of China or Russia?

If so, why? Has such influence been rammed down the throats by successive governments or, is it just that our people in the cities prefer it that way over time, while those in the villages wouldnt know the difference anyway?

Then what right have you or anybody else to say, that Sri Lanka should follow this model or that whilst himself being somewhere else?

Let us be honest about all this. All these "do gooder" types are very fine theoreticians, but in practice, every one, including you, prefer a more comfortable, stable and free life in a free society. These are the attributes that enrich the quality of life after all.

Just to digree, the only way China came up this fast is because of enormous input of foreign funds into the country, to exploit the cheap Chinese labour. In turn, China's economy benefitted hugely. It is an absolute capitalist country with a "communist" tag, only for purposes of "showing off".

When talking high and mighty of Putin, let us not forget Gorbachev's magnificent 'dismantling' work of a regime of repression before him. Putin inherited a different Russia, but still it is not the place you would go, if the same job as now would be offered to you in Moscow?

Honesty in all things written and spoken will garner you greater respect than the path you are now treading.

Here goes the man again. He is full of nuts. This guy Dayan should be first sent to the Angoda Hospital for appropriate treatment.

Devinda:

The sky in Cbo 7 is opaque...As to the bogus statistics you accuse me of - eggs that were at Rs7 are now Rs20. While you were told last year the Govt will export excess rice produced as a result of that brilliant Agriculture Minister Dimu Jayararatne, you are now forced to east sub-Standard Pakistan

This low quality rice is imported by the STC-CWE at
US$395 whereas it is sold to the Pak Poultry industry at US$70 per ton there. The difference, you ask?
Surely, dear chap, add the many Mr.10% around involved in the process and you get your arithmetic right.

ISS

dear dayan,
you are wrong already mr is a combination of vladmir putin and deng xioping.both have the ignominy of crushing democratic movements and mr has emulated them without any difficulty becoz srilankan society aka sinahalese society is so brutal unlike chinese or russian society which atleast has little bit of humanism in them.your view that jaffna people were responsible for birth of ltte needs a correction rather it was sinhalese who were responsible for the birth and growth of ltte riot after riot 1958,1977 and 1983 only reinforced tamil belief that extremism is the language which sinhalese will listen to and not moderation.can u explain the dealings between ltte and mahinda rajapakshe during the elections of 2005 presidency what about the report of pay off by rajapakshe to ltte to boycott the elections that paved way for rajapakshe getting elected narrowly.pls explain dayan.