Sri Lanka News Updates with Discussions

Reading the various news reports in the Sri Lankan and Indian media recently, could and would the GOSL confirm that it is still responsible for governance or has it been delegated to the U.S. and India? Has Sri Lanka become a colony again?

After the infamous Indo-Lanka Agreement of 1987 and the 13th Amendment that was forced on Sri Lanka so Rajiv Gandhi could win votes in Tamil Nadu, there was the spectacle of J. Dixit, the Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, strutting around attempting to behave as if he was the viceroy. In this effort he was ably assisted by J. Puri who was also in Sri Lanka and recently claimed that what India did then and now in Geneva was right for Sri Lanka.

The Tax Poem

At first I thought this was funny...then I realized the awful truth of it.
Be sure to read all the way to the end as that`s the punch line!

Tax his land, tax his bed,
Tax the table at which he`s fed.
Tax his tractor, tax his mule,
Tax his cow, tax his goat,
Teach him taxes are the rule.

Tax his work, Tax his pay,
He works for peanuts Anyway!
Tax his pants, Tax his coat.
Tax his ties, tax his shirt,
Tax his work, tax his dirt.

Tax his tobacco, tax his drink,

Previously overlooked by tourists and investors alike, Sri Lanka is shaking off a troubled past to regain its historical status as an economic hub in South Asia, at the centre of a new Silk Route, embracing its proximity to the Asian giants of India and China.

Sri Lanka is winning international recognition for its impressive economic progress. After three years of peace, old wounds are beginning to heal. Today, with strong security, flourishing tourism and a fast growing plethora of industries, the island is convincing investors that it is among the world`s most promising emerging prospects.

R. K. Radhakrishnan

India stance towards the Eelam War IV changed from `negotiations` and `peace talks` between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers to `terrorism should be countered with resolve` in late 2008, a book written with considerable establishment support, `Gota`s War,` launched here on Monday has said.

This means that the Indian change of heart happened much before its then National Security Advisor M.K.Narayanan flew to Chennai to assure DMK president M.Karunanidhi in April 2009, that there will be a temporary ceasefire ahead of the May 2009 elections. In effect, the Congress-led UPA government was telling its one of its biggest coalition partners one thing, while its policy was firmly another. Mr.Narayanan later met Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on April 29, 2009. From available accounts, the President, at that point, did not cave in to any of the demands made by India.

Please vote for Bahrain & avoid CHANNEL 4 winning the award for Killing fields

Pleas do it right now quickly..... click the Link below & vote for Bahrain
[pass this to all Sri Lankan friends/relations & well wishers]

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-04-23/Bafta-TV-Awards-2012-nominees-Current-Affairs---which-should-win?

(Commemorating the 19th death anniversary of the late Lalith Athulathmudali.)
April 28, 2012, 4:24 pm

Death Anniversary of Late Lalith Athulathmudali.)

Nineteen years ago on April 23 as I sat in the hospital varandah unable to muster enough courage to see the slain body of Mr. Lalith Athulathmudali, I had a sad and strange feeling that this was the end of great politics in our nation. Today, as we are challenged by the international community, I still feel the loss.

There are only two names that come to mind about who could have saved the nation and the embarrassment that we are compelled to counter - Lakshman Kadiragamar and Lalith Athulathmudali. It is our misfortune, they are no longer with us. On this death anniversary of Mr. Athulathmudali, I would like to ponder what he would have done differently in a situation like this.

A smile from Lanka
Jug Suraiya

From The Times of India, 15 March 2012:

The best gift we can bring back from a so-called `failed state` is a smile

Visiting Sri Lanka i noticed a peculiar expression on the face of almost all the people i saw: Sinhalese and Tamil, Buddhist and Hindu, Christian and Muslim. It took me a while to figure out what this strange expression was: it was a smile.

By Indira A.R. Lakshmanan and Pratish Narayanan - Mar 15, 2012 4:43

India has failed to reduce its purchases of Iranian oil, and if it doesn`t do so, President Barack Obama may be forced to impose sanctions on one of Asia`s most important nations, Obama administration officials said yesterday.

A decision to levy penalties under a new U.S. law restricting payments for Iranian oil could come as early as June 28, according to several U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Is mutton halal?

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-27/sri-lanka-president-spokesman/3603454

Sri Lanka spokesman rejects human rights allegations

Be nice to America

In 2009 Libya was a friend to the US so much so that Libya allowed several US corporate giants to enter & approval was given for training of Libyan security personnel & civilians. These were the civilians that eventually became rebels given arms by the West to overthrow Gaddafi in a movement called liberating Libya . Arming locals has become a new strategy to avoid deaths to coalition forces while NATO is tasked to take on the indiscriminate air strikes. So what has been the cost for killing a man who has ruled a nation for 42 years without debt to the IMF or the World Bank? It took 8 months for US-NATO to take over Libya, the pro-US Libyan Government may celebrate & rejoice but that celebration is as short-lived as the jubilations in Iraq & Egypt where the people are beginning to realize their country would have still been better off with Saddam Hussein & Hosni Mubarak!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=t3vjsT4ue8A

Say No To Buddhism In Sri Lanka - Rosy Senanayake

Comparison between few EMs...

Chao....