Pilliyan’s Visit to Dalada Maligawa and crocodile tears of looters of Jaffna library

One of the very first functions of Chief Minister of Eastern province was to visit Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy. This happened to be a historic occasion in Sri Lanka history. Sri Dalada Maligawa was attacked by LTTE terrorists in 1995 killing many devotees and severely damaging the sacred place. Dalada Maligawa is the most sacred place of whole Buddhist world where tooth relic of the Buddha is placed. Sri Lankan Buddhists are privileged to have this holy asset that is respected by millions of Buddhists in the world. From ancient days the tooth relic is cared and worshipped in similar manner to worshipping the living Buddha.

It is sheer cultural jealousy of LTTE terrorists that lead to attack of Sri Dalada Maligawa. Not only Dalada Maligawa, but also Jaya Siri Maha Bodhi (Bo tree) of Anuradhapura was made a blood bath by ruthless LTTE terrorists. Hundreds of devotees were brutally gun down on a poya day. There were mass murdering of Buddhist monks in Aranthalawa and many other occasions. In each of those occasions, rulers appeared in the media and tried to convince the nation that those acts were merely to agitate Sinhalese. They never dared to call those inhuman exercises as acts of hatred and terror. Our so called leaders were indirectly uttering that Sinhalese always looking for oppress Tamils and LTTE is exploiting it. But those having their foot in this mother land know that even 1983 riots was mainly sphere headed by thugs of UNP who were thrilled after lamp and pot racket in the 1982 election and burning of Jaffna library as part of election violence in Jaffna local election.

After long political coma, the Sri Lankan nation took a courageous decision in the last presidential election electing a leader who can account for the nation and deal with terrorism. The government has not only succeed in defeating terrorism, but equally proved the Sri Lankan nation that terrorism is the enemy and not the Tamil community. In 88/89 period Sinhala youth rebel against the fascist rule of the government and they are now given an opportunity to fight against the system in democratic manner. This government has extended the same opportunity to the ex-rebel Karuna/Pilliyan fraction to come into democracy and solve their problems in democratic manner.

When Pilliyan visited Dalada Maligawa, it was not a strange experience for those who are familiar with Buddhist literature and hold Buddhist values. There are plenty of related Jathaka stories which includes containing of ‘Angulimala’, ‘Alawaka’, ‘Nalagiri’ etc..No sooner they were restrained; they were no longer branded and cornered as dodgy, but given an opportunity to enter into mainstream society.

It is those who spread ethnic hatred by burning Jaffna library, loot the innocent Tamil by way of using arrogant political power are now shading crocodile tears on Pilliyan’s visit to Dalada Maligawa. Still LTTE terrorists in North are trying to exploit hatred of burning Jaffna library by not allowing full functioning of it. Here in South the same role is played by petty opportunistic bankrupt politicians who are now throwned into the dustbin of contemporary history.

We all Sri Lankans must commend the courage of Pilliyan to visit the Dalada Maligawa which once they destroyed and making a public statement on their wrong doing. We must equally praise the Maha Nayaka theroes for accepting Pilliyan as another human being who has come back to civilized path and blessing him in his new journey. We all Sinhalese and Tamil have our values deep rooted in our cultures. It is those who are molded and brought up in post colonial palaces and still serving their Anglo Christian masters in the west that is howling against advent of Pilliyan into Democracy while cuddling blood hungry LTTE terrorist leader Prabakaran!

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The life of the Buddha, the great teacher of all being

The Buddha was born as a human being and became the enlightened one with his own effort and long struggle. It was simply the compassion towards all being that led the Buddha to preach his finding (dhamma). Thus he became the teacher of not only human being but for all other super human beings including gods of higher realms. His doctrine consist of anithya (impermanence), Dukkha (non satisfactoriness, suffering) and Anathma (no self, soul or control) nature of every being fully disclosed the reality of life. His teaching has guided millions individuals to liberate from suffering and also make this world a better habitable place. Even today there are millions of followers of the great teacher and many other schools and religions have adapted some part of his great teaching. Without his great disclosure of Dhamma, we all would have been fighting each other in crave and ignorance. The Vesak day is a great opportunity to contemplate the life of the great teacher and his good qualities.

Birth
On the Vesak full moon day of May, in the year 623 B.C. there was born in the Lumbini[1] Park at Kapilavatthu[2], on the Indian borders of present Nepal, a noble prince who was destined to be the greatest religious teacher of the world.

His father was King Suddhodana of the aristocratic Sākya[3] clan and his mother was Queen Mahā Māyā. As the beloved mother died seven days after his birth, Mahā Pajāpati Gotami, her younger sister, who was also married to the King, adopted the child, entrusting her own son, Nanda, to the care of the nurses.

On the fifth day after the prince's birth he was named Siddhattha which means "wish fulfilled". His family name was Gotama.

Education
As a Royal child, Prince Siddhattha must have received an education that became a prince although no details are given about it. As a scion of the warrior race he received special training in the art of warfare.

Married Life
At the early age of sixteen, he married his beautiful cousin Princess Yasodharā who was of equal age. For nearly thirteen years, after his happy marriage, he led a luxurious life, blissfully ignorant of the vicissitudes of life outside the palace gates.

With the march of time, truth gradually dawned upon him. His contemplative nature and boundless compassion did not permit him to spend his time in the mere enjoyment of the fleeting pleasures of the Royal palace. He knew no personal grief but he felt a deep pity for suffering humanity. Amidst comfort and prosperity, he realized the universality of sorrow.

Renunciation
Prince Siddhattha reflected thus:"Why do I, being subject to birth, decay, disease, death, sorrow and impurities, thus search after things of like nature. How, if I, who am subject to things of such nature, realize their disadvantages and seek after the unattained, unsurpassed, perfect security which is Nibbāna!" "Cramped and confined is household life, a den of dust, but the life of the homeless one is as the open air of heaven! Hard is it for him who bides at home to live out as it should be lived the Holy Life in all its perfection, in all its purity.[4]"

One glorious day as he went out of the palace to the pleasure park to see the world outside, he came in direct contact with the stark realities of life. Within the narrow confines of the palace he saw only the rosy side of life, but the dark side, the common lot of mankind, was purposely veiled from him. What was mentally conceived, he, for the first time, vividly saw in reality.

Realizing the worthlessness of sensual pleasures, so highly prized by the worldling, and appreciating the value of renunciation in which the wise seek delight, he decided to leave the materialistic world in search of Truth and Eternal Peace.

When this final decision was taken after much deliberation, the news of the birth of a son was conveyed to him while he was about to leave the park. Contrary to expectations, he was not overjoyed, but regarded his first and only offspring as an impediment.

The palace was no longer a congenial place to the contemplative Prince Siddhattha. Neither his charming young wife nor his lovable infant son could deter him from altering the decision he had taken to renounce the world. He was destined to play an infinitely more important and beneficial role than a dutiful husband and father or even as a king of kings. The allurements of the palace were no more cherished objects of delight to him. Time was ripe to depart.

Great was his compassion for the two dear ones at this parting moment. Greater was his compassion for suffering humanity. He was not worried about the future worldly happiness and comfort of the mother and child as they had everything in abundance and were well protected. It was not that he loved them the less, but he loved humanity more.

Leaving all behind, he stole away with a light heart from the palace at midnight, and rode into the dark, attended only by his loyal charioteer. Alone and penniless he set out in search of Truth and Peace. Thus did he renounce the world. It was not the renunciation of an old man who has had his fill of worldly life.

It was not the renunciation of a poor man who had nothing to leave behind. It was the renunciation of a prince in the full bloom of youth and in the plenitude of wealth and prosperity -- a renunciation unparalleled in history. It was in his twenty-ninth year that Prince Siddhattha made this historic journey.

He journeyed far and, crossing the river Anomā, rested on its banks. Here he shaved his hair and beard and handing over his garments and ornaments to Channa (charioteer) with instructions to return to the palace, assumed the simple yellow garb of an ascetic and led a life of voluntary poverty.

The ascetic Siddhattha, who once lived in the lap of luxury, now became a penniless wanderer, living on what little the charitably-minded gave of their own accord.
He had no permanent abode. A shady tree or a lonely cave sheltered him by day or night. Bare-footed and bare-headed, he walked in the scorching sun and in the piercing cold. With no possessions to call his own, but a bowl to collect his food and robes just sufficient to cover the body, he concentrated all his energies on the quest of Truth.

Search for truth
Having left behind his home and family, the Bodhisatta or "seeker of enlightenment" (as he is now called) headed south for Magadha (present-day Bihar), in whose environs small groups of seekers were quietly pursuing their quest for spiritual illumination, usually under the guidance of a guru. At the time northern India could boast of a number of accomplished masters famous for their philosophical systems and achievements in meditation. Prince Siddhattha sought out two of the most eminent, Alara Kalama and Uddaka Ramaputta. From them he learned systems of meditation which, from the descriptions in the texts, seem to have been forerunners of Raja Yoga. The Bodhisatta mastered their teachings and systems of meditation, but though he reached exalted levels of concentration (samadhi), he found these teachings insufficient, for they did not lead to the goal he was seeking: perfect enlightenment and the realization of Nibbana, release from the sufferings of sentient existence.

Change of method (the path of asceticism)
Having left his teachers, the Bodhisatta adopted a different path, one that was popular in ancient India and still has followers today: the path of asceticism, of self-mortification, pursued in the conviction that liberation is to be won by afflicting the body with pain beyond its normal levels of endurance. For six years the Bodhisatta followed this method with unyielding determination. He fasted for days on end until his body looked like a skeleton cloaked in skin; he exposed himself to the heat of the midday sun and the cold of the night; he subjected his flesh to such torments that he came almost to the door of death. Yet he found that despite his persistence and sincerity these austerities were futile. Later he would say that he took the path of self-mortification further than all other ascetics, yet it led, not to higher wisdom and enlightenment, but only to physical weakness and the deterioration of his mental faculties.

The Middle Path
The ascetic Gotama was now fully convinced from personal experience of the utter futility of self-mortification which, though considered indispensable for Deliverance by the ascetic philosophers of the day, actually weakened one's intellect, and resulted in lassitude of spirit. He abandoned for ever this painful extreme as did he the other extreme of self-indulgence which tends to retard moral progress. He conceived the idea of adopting the Golden Mean which later became one of the salient features of his teaching, one which balanced proper care of the body with sustained contemplation and deep investigation. He would later call this path "the middle way" because it avoids the extremes of sensual indulgence and self-mortification. He had experienced both extremes, the former as a prince and the latter as an ascetic, and he knew they were ultimately dead ends.

To follow the middle way, however, he realized he would first have to regain his strength. Thus he gave up his practice of austerities and resumed taking nutritious food. At the time five other ascetics had been living in attendance on the Bodhisatta, hoping that when he attained enlightenment he would serve as their guide. But when they saw him partake of substantial meals, they became disgusted with him and left him, thinking the princely ascetic had given up his exertion and reverted to a life of luxury.

The Buddhahood
Now he was alone, and complete solitude allowed him to pursue his quest undisturbed. One day (now we call Vesak full moon poya day), when his physical strength had returned, he approached a lovely spot in Uruvela by the bank of the Nerañjara River. Here he prepared a seat of straw beneath an asvattha tree (later called the Bodhi Tree) and sat down cross-legged, making a firm resolution that he would never rise up from that seat until he had won his goal. As night descended he entered into deeper and deeper stages of meditation until his mind was perfectly calm and composed. Then, the records tell us, in the first watch of the night he directed his concentrated mind to the recollection of his previous lives. Gradually there unfolded before his inner vision his experiences in many past births, even during many cosmic aeons; in the middle watch of the night he developed the "great insight eye" by which he could see beings passing away and taking rebirth in accordance with their karma, their deeds; and in the last watch of the night he penetrated the deepest truths of existence, the most basic laws of reality, and thereby removed from his mind the subtlest veils of ignorance. When dawn broke, the figure sitting beneath the tree was no longer a Bodhisatta, a seeker of enlightenment, but a Buddha, a Perfectly Enlightened One, one who had attained the Deathless in this very life itself.
For several weeks the newly awakened Buddha remained in the vicinity of the Bodhi Tree contemplating from different angles the Dhamma, the truth he had discovered. Then he came to a new crossroad in his spiritual career: Was he to teach, to try to share his realization with others, or should he instead remain quietly in the forest, enjoying the bliss of liberation alone?

Teaching the Dhamma
At first his mind inclined to keeping quiet; for he thought the truth he had realized was just too deep for others to understand, too difficult to express in words, and he was concerned he would just weary himself trying to convey his realization to others.

The Buddha then gazed out upon the world with his profound vision. He saw that people are like lotuses in a pond at different stages of growth, and he understood that just as some lotuses close to the surface of the water need only the sun's rays to rise above the surface and fully blossom, so there are some people who need only to hear the noble teaching to win enlightenment and gain perfect liberation of mind. When he saw this his heart was stirred by deep compassion, and he decided to go back into the world and to teach the Dhamma to those who were ready to listen.
The first ones he approached were his former companions, the five ascetics who had deserted him a few months earlier and were now dwelling in a deer park at Sarnath near Benares. He explained to them the truths he had discovered, and on hearing his discourse they gained insight into the Dhamma, becoming his first disciples. In the months ahead his following grew by leaps and bounds as both householders and ascetics heard the liberating message, gave up their former creeds, and declared themselves disciples of the Enlightened One.

Each year, even into his old age, he would wander among the villages, towns, and cities of the Ganges plain, teaching all who would lend an ear; he would rest only for the three months of the rainy season, and then resume his wanderings, which took him from present Delhi even as far east as Bengal. He established a Sangha, an order of monks and nuns, for which he laid down an intricate body of rules and regulations; this order still remains alive today, perhaps (along with the Jain order) the world's oldest continuous institution. He also attracted many lay followers who became devoted supporters of the Master and his Sangha.

The parnibbana (passing away)
After an active ministry of forty-five years, at the ripe age of eighty, the Buddha headed for the northern town of Kusinara. There, surrounded by many disciples, he passed away into the "Nibbana element with no remainder of conditioned existence," severing forever his bondage to the round of rebirths.

He was born as a human being and learnt and experienced the reality of every being. He had a long struggle to find a way out of suffering of beings and finally find the cause of it and the solution with his own wisdom. It was simply the compassion towards the human being that led the Buddha to preach his unique finding (dhamma). Even after 2550 years, people who follow his teaching pay their gratitude to the great master.

References:
- The Buddha and His Teachings by Venerable Narada Mahathera
- Buddhism in a Nutshell by Narada Mahathera
- The Buddha and His Dhamma by Bhikkhu Bodhi
- Life of the Buddha in pictures

[1] A pillar, erected at this sacred spot by King Asoka, still stands to this day to commemorate the event.
[2] The site of Kapilavatthu has been identified with Bhuila (Bhulya) in the Basti district, three miles from the Bengal and N. W. Railway station of Babuan.
[3] Gotama is the family name, and Sākya is the name of the race to which the Buddha belonged.
[4] Majjhima Nikāya, Part 1, Mahā Saccaka Sutta, No. 36

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Defence.lk defeat Tamilnet in popularity

The winning or loosing of a war is not solely determined by the gun power of the battlefield. It is moral support for person behind those weapons that matters most. It is not only those individuals in the battlefield, but the will power and aspiration of the whole nation that build up the necessary momentum to defeat the enemy. When Mahinda Rajapaksa government was elected by the common people of the country, the arm forces of the Sri Lankan government had been fighting against LTTE terrorism for over two decades. It is the same security forces that has fully cleared and restored democracy in entire Eastern province and they are now tirelessly marching towards the den of terrorist leader Prabakaran in all fronts.

It is military and more importantly political leadership that has made the difference. For the first time, the government set clear vision in importance of defeating terrorism by all means. Importantly, the government never let down the security forces. There were neither political bribing for Ealam policies nor give into military pressure in the form of bomb blasting targeting civilians and politicians. The civilians showed the same determination and their only request after each and every massacre by LTTE is to crush terrorism at the earliest possible time. Therefore, the soldiers in the battlefield have the confidence that their effort is not going to be jeopardized or undermined by the politicians in Colombo.

Media plays crucial role in all aspects of the war. It plays a essential role not only in getting the support and collaboration of the common people, but winning the support of the international community as well. When this government came to power, it was only Tamilnet that has been dominated in spreading war related news in the net. Most of the leading world media networks were referring to the news published by Tamilnet because government did not have an effective mechanism broadcast the truth. On the other hand, despite the brutality of acts of LTTE terrorists, Tamilnet site had managed to create a professional impression in presenting their version of news thereby whitewashing all the blood in tiger’s hand.

The government’s reply to Tamilnet was the introduction of new Defence.lk site. While Tamilnet has been operated for decades, Defence.lk has only about two years of life in the web. Defence.lk site started in the flavor of just another boring government web site. But quickly it learned and adapted to become the leading news provider in the fight against LTTE exposing true nature of LTTE terrorists.When troops are nearing the LTTE tiger den in Kilinocchi, the Defence.lk site has now silently overtaken the popularity over the Tamilnet site. Alexa web ranking is the most popular public web ranking system in the net. It remotely collects web usage data from the Internet users to analyse the daily traffic of the poular web sites. According to Alexa web ranking, now Defence.lk has crossed the popularity and user reach over Tamilnet.

It is only a small percentage of Sri Lankans that have access to internet. Therefore, this clearly indicates that now international community trust defence.lk site for security related news in Sri Lanka. LTTE can no longer target civilians in mass murdering and fool the international community by spreading wrong information using their news network. This victory in media campaigning is as important as capturing Thoppigala and Madu. So all the people who support the fight against terrorism should celebrate this victory and commend the media front of the defense ministry.

Ref:
http://www.alexa.com

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The result of the election: the victory for democracy and defeat for separatist terrorism

The long march of democracy in Eastern province started with the liberation of Mavillaru sluice gate from LTTE and restoring the supply of water for the innocent farmers in the area. It was a time when LTTE artillery were even targeting Tricomalee town and strategic Navy camp as a result of shameful CFA signed by UNP leader Ranil Wickramasingha and Prabakaran. The monks of JHU timely influenced the government to take speedy action at a time when new UPFA government seemed to be trapped with the CFA signed by previous UNP leadership. The success of Mavillaru operation not only prevented another attempt of LTTE to chase away Sinhala and Muslim farming community from Eastern province, but also mark the beginning or new democratic era in Eastern province.

Demilitarization
It was clear military and political leadership that resulted in those limited military operations to continue until whole Eastern province is liberated and LTTE terrorists are chased away. The breakaway Karuna fraction of LTTE played a substantial role in defeating LTTE in key urban areas including Vakarae in Batticaloa District. The Karuna fraction went into extend that they even operated suicide attacks against Wanni LTTE carders.

Development
The government correctly identified that peace without progress can sink people’s hopes fast. The province was in urgent need of improving the infrastructure facilities and supportive services, which are prerequisites for accelerated development. Recognizing this imperative, the GOSL set up a comprehensive three year development plan as part of the Eastern Revival, a programmed to improve the infrastructure facilities and uplift the living conditions of the people in the East. It is again evident that various ‘rights’ organizations backed by INGO’s are no longer interested in developing the Eastern province and it is GOSL and its ministries that are playing a key role in development activities of the East.

Democratization
By conducting the provincial council elections, the government has completed its endvour of liberating Eastern province. Democratization started with conducting elections for local government bodies in Batticaloa district. While JHU initiated the military offensive against LTTE in Eastern province, JVP played leading role in establishing logistical ground for separate Eastern province.

The liberation of Eastern province got the political flavor when UNP leader Ranil Wickramasingha stated that liberation of Thoppigala is mere capturing a forest. UNP’s attitude towards the military operation against LTTE was further evident when UNP media spokesman Laksman Kiriella, in their weekly media briefing, mentioned that “Any bull can wage a war”. It was clearly an insult to brave soldiers who have risk their own lives to preserve independence of motherland and liberation of people from LTTE fascist terrorists.

When the government called for the elections in the Eastern province, UNP was more interested in finding reasons to evade the election than genuine interest in contesting. UNP’s stand was pretty much in line with the stand of LTTE that strongly opposed in establishing separate provincial council for Eastern province. However, UNP could not find a genuine reason to stay away from the election and therefore UNP formed a coalition with Hakeem fraction of SLMC. Ironically, it is only Ranil Wicramasingha and Rauf Hakkem that has signed accords with LTTE leader Prabakaran and both of them are still in the same political trail even after LTTE is defeated and chased away from the Eastern province. When Tamil political parties like TMVP openly canvassed for separate Eastern identity, UNP is still advocating merger of North and Eastern provinces (basis of Ealam).

UNP’s main political theme in the election campaign was demilitarizing of Pilliyan fraction. Pilliyan group has been playing strategic role in defeating LTTE in the eastern province and defending the area from infiltration of LTTE carders from Wanni jungle. This has greatly eased burden from the government security forces in the East thereby allowing them to focus in operations in the Wanni jungle in the North. As usual, UNP became the voice of Wanni tigers and Ranil Wickramasingha played the role of political psyloc demanding full disarmament of anti LTTE Pilliyan fraction in their transition period when government is still engaged in full scaled war against LTTE terrorists. Although LTTE’s proxy party TNA indirectly campaigned for UNP, the result clearly shows that LTTE’s political stand is no longer imperative among Tamils in the Eastern province.

The challenge of new East
The people of Eastern province have sealed the military victory against separatist terrorism by winning the UPFA in the election. The UPFA list consisted right mix of candidates from Tamil, Sinhala and Muslim communities and the people of the Eastern province has exhibited that they have high hope in democracy. Now it is the responsibility for the elected representatives in the Eastern provincial council to take up most of the political responsibilities in developing their home land and live in peace and harmony.

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The agenda of LTTE: Formulating infertile political leadership in the country

For over two decades, it is only a single military and political leadership that has been prevailing under the fascist rule in the Wanni jungle. That is LTTE self appointed supremo Piripaharan. In the mean time, there have been five presidents ruling the country and military leadership has passed from hand to hand due to logistics and other rules of the country. Piripaharan is having only a single mission that is to defend and rule his territory by fascist iron fist. He has simply killed and eliminated political and military threats from the Tamil society. In the contrary, the political leadership in the South has to pay attention to multitude of problems of the country ranging from economic development to social and political issues.

LTTE political wing with the support form of INGO’s have actively involved in destabilising economy and political structure in the south. The well planed killing of political leadership of the country is a key part of the master plane of LTTE. It started with killing the political leadership of Tamils. The long list started from the killing of Alfrad Doreappa who was the Mayer of Jaffna and then the list of killing spans Amirthalingam, Thiruchelvam, Yoganathan, Laksman Kadiragaramar and Jeoraj Fernadopulle and many more. The LTTE has silently removed the educated Tamil community from politics and paved the way for mere puppet politicians to get open license to represent Tamils on behalf of Piripaharan. Only a handful of leaders like EPDP leader Duglas Devananda and Ananda Sangari managed to survive. Still their politics is confined to liberated area due to threats from the LTTE terrorists. Mr. Devanada has miraculously survived dozens of close assassination attempts mostly due to his own skill and vigilance. He is a great example for politicians to know how to combat terrorism effectively and professionally. You can not win over terrorism by being an easy target of the killer. First one must safeguard his own life so that he can work on plan to hunt the hunter. That is how leaders like Devananda have preserved even a slightest hope of democracy in the Tamil society.

In parallel to eliminating leadership of Tamils in the North, LTTE unleashed the same tactics in the South. Since 1977, UNP had been long ruling the country and UNP leadership under J.R Jayawardana let the LTTE separatist terrorism to spread beyond control. While the old selfish fox was succumbed to natural death, all his secondary leadership in the UNP became victims of LTTE. The chain of killings started from killing of Ranjan Wijayarathna who had wowed to crush LTTE in similar manner that he had crushed insurgency of JVP in the South. However he proved to be only a boaster than actual leader and became a soft target to a LTTE suicide bomber. From that day we have seen quite a number of so called ‘leaders’ who are shouting and setting days to crush terrorism, but they were not even able to care about their own security. If a leader is not even caring of his own security, how can the Sri Lankan nation count on those leaders to liberate our emerald island from the terrorists?

The LTTE hunting list of UNP leadership included R. Premadasa, Gamini Dissanayaka, Lalith Atulathmudali, Gamini Premachandra, Weerasingha Mallimaracchi, etc. LTTE created the vacuum in UNP leadership by killing all the genuine second level leadership and the result was a mere character like Ranil Wickramsingha to get the leadership of the UNP. Ever since, both LTTE and their INGO supporters have cashed in both political and military fronts.

Now LTTE is eying to create similar situation in the UPFA government as well. So far LTTE has successfully targeted key cabinet ministers C.V. Gunarathna, Laksman Kadiragaramar and Jeoraj Fernadopulle. However LTTE has been failed in assassinate attempts of ministers Nimal Siripala and Mahinda Samarasingha in the political arena, Gotabaya Rajapaksa in defense segment and Major General Sarath Fonseka in the very military front.

If we allow LTTE to prune our leaders in political, military or administrative fields, it will result in infertile, incapable and puppet leaders to immerge and that is what LTTE is eying for in their long term political and military strategy. This type of weak leaders has no option but to negotiate and cohabit with terrorists. International community can easily manipulate this type of puppet. INGO agents find safe heaven under these so called leaders and therefore INGO media agents always inflate and promote white feather of these weak (so called) leaders as mark of humanity and peace, dependency on international community as great diplomatic relations. That is when people have to push or drag so called leaders rather than leader providing vision and initiative.

Leadership is something that can not be artificially crated within a selected personality. It is skills evolved due to natural competition and experience that create great leaders. Regardless of color or supporting political party, we all Sri Lankans must emphasize the need of safeguarding our leaders before it is too late. That is why we all must unite in defending our leaders in fight against LTTE fascist terrorism. The government also has a responsibility to provide security for all the leaders without considering their political stands, because leaders are great assets of the country that any political party, and above all, the country can benefited.

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Bomb blasting in public transport – Ruthlessness Vs. recklessness

The defeated LTTE terrorists have once again revealed their cowardice by targeting civilians in a bomb blast in public transport. This is just two days after they lost their forward defense line in the north front and completely lost their territory of Madu area south of the tiger den. Since terrorists are no longer capable of facing security forces, their only option is to try and inflict physical fear towards the civilians by mass murdering and killing. Of course there is hired media mafia backed by INGO’s in the south to transfer this physical fear in to fear psychosis in the society aiming at jeopardizing the victory against terrorists.

This is not the first bomb blast in public transport. We all must be shameful as a nation that we are still unable to stop this nuisance of terrorists. First, we should understand that all these bombs were targeting at civilians and it is our responsibility to defend our lives. It is clear that security forces can do very little in preventing this type of coward acts. Unfortunately some of Sri Lankans are so miserable that do not even value their own lives.

You do not need rocket science or complicated procedures to prevent this type of coward acts. But the success is highly depended on the collective responsibility of the nation rather than letting it to the hands of security forces or government. Most of these bomb blasts in the busses were resulted in parcels that were kept in the racks in the buses. Once the parcels are kept in racks, it is very difficult to track the owner of the parcel/bag and the culprits can easily sneak away. The worst thing is that the same person can involve in hundreds of bomb blasts of similar manner.

We should remember that unlike in the past, now we are witnessing a war that is winning day by day and forces are gradually advancing towards the den of Prabhakaran, the psychopath leader of the LTTE. The war is definitely going to be ended within less than one year. So can’t we be self disciplined and defend our selves from this type of coward attacks?

Vigilance and check ups are important. But check ups are more appropriate for long tour busses rather than short distance travels especially in rush hours. However banning parcels and bags being kept in the racks of the busses and trains will greatly reduce the risk of bomb threats by goons who are targeting this type of coward attacks. Of course people may come up with different complaints and pro LTTE campaigners will try to fabricate various theories against this type of proactive measures.

Our brave soldiers are sacrificing their lives to defeat the terrorists and bring about lasting peace to the country. If we can be self disciplined for our own safety, then we are just a bunch of miserables. By the way, chances are that you may not be the last one to be died in a public transport vehicle, so better think about this sooner rather than later.

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Lal Kantha - The brain child of UNP media front

Once UNP lost the presidential election in November 2005, they realized that they are no longer going to win the heart of people over UPFA government under Mahinda Rajapaksa. In 2005, Mahinda Rajapaksa won the election without any support from his own party leader Chandrika Kumaratunga or his deputy nominee from his party Anura Bandaranayke. When key members form Mahinda Rajapaksa’s own party was secretly campaigning against him, it was JHU and JVP that come to support him. Wimal Weerawansa played a key role on behalf of JVP in the presidential campaign for Mahida Rajapaksa. In the post defeat analysis UNP think tank clearly identified the fact that as long as UPFA get the support of JVP, they are no longer in a position to challenge the government.

UNP knew that, due to ideological differences, they can never come in to coalition with JVP on political grounds. Therefore they had no option but to attack and destabilize JVP. Their key enemy was the democratic public front of the JVP which is the key to JVP vote base. However UNP had not enough political strength to directly attack JVP. As a capitalist party they look for their natural option which is attacking JVP from the back doer. They identified few prospective JVP members for their plan.

Any person involved in politics has personal aspirations. Marxist party like JVP is no different. The only difference is that individual aspirations are thrust in the coat of sugary ideologies like communism and socialism. Still there is a possibility to pick people having petty individual goals rather than broad national interests. Even human emotions like jealousy and suspicion can be easily manipulated by seasoned and crafty politicians.

Internal Front of the conspiracy
There were two fronts identified in the conspiracy. The hand picked persons of “front A” was working in the background canvassing in the central committee of the JVP. Initially, they were in need of surfacing different political ideologies to counter the dominant democratic fraction of JVP. This had initially created ideological debate in the JVP central and political committee and this was evident in the last Budget period. This ideological confusion was later successfully derived into suspicion and ‘conspiracy theory’ which is required in ultimate goal of splitting and ousting key figures of the party.

Public/media Front of the conspiracy

“Public opinion is like a ghost in an ancient bungalow. No one has seen it, but everyone fears it. I do not fear it anymore, because now ‘Public opinion’ can be formed by advertising firms as well.”
- Gregory Maha Adikaram (Guerilla Marketing)

The “front B” was playing supporting role justifying the hidden agenda of internal front to the public. In fact this fraction played key role in successful execution of the conspiracy. The pro UNP media played key role in the overall plan. They selectively identified Wimal Weerawansa as their key target to attack. They were careful in attacking selected individual rather than the JVP itself. In fact they wanted to justify the public that Wimal Weerawansa is a peculiar character to JVP. Suddenly there was a buzz about Weerawansa’s mobile phone, hair, even his children and wife. They selectively targeted Weerawansa to politically kill the image of him. In the same time they were boosting the image of Lal Kantha as a moderate, loyal and true leader.

One year back Lal Kantha was just a trade union leader and central committee member of JVP. In the past he tried to play the role of ‘Shylock’ and win petty popularity among trade union circles. However he did not find much success in his traditional role. Now suddenly Lal Kantha has been made the key public interface of JVP with the support of pro UNP media mafia. This confidence of pro UNP media was not won overnight. But he had to make several statements regarding UNP and its leader Rani Wickramasingha to convince the relevant parties that he is genuinely committed with their original plot.

“We have sometimes criticised the UNP, but that is a different matter. However, when it comes to the question of honesty of Ranil Wickremesinghe , he has an unblemished record. There had never been even a single accusation against him of misappropriating State funds. Similarly, there are also other UNPers who are honest”
- Lal Kantha ,JVP M.P. addressing a meeting organized by CTB workers attached to the Badulla Depot on Sep 10 2007

Firstly, he openly cleared the image of Ranil Wickramasingha from all the corruption allegations. He went an extra mile and said that there are other UNPers who are also honest. When he cleared UNP leader Rani Wickramasingha who has been heading the cabinet as the party leader, he has effectively cleared all other corrupt figures in his cabinet. No one in the media was there to question Lal kantha about what his openoion about selling of Insurance Company and selling of Sathosa, etc (In fact character behind Sathosa deal was actively involved in the conspiracy from UNP side) that was under UNP regime of Ranil Wicramasingha.

Then on another occasion, Lal Kantha went ahead and made a statement to media saying that “Unlike many other politicians, one can learn many things by talking to Ranil Wickramasingha”. He was not only washing the dirt of UNP and its leader Ranil Wickramasingha, but also busy boosting the character of ever defeating political clown of the century. By that time, all the pro UNP media agents were going after Lal Kantha to get statements on behalf of JVP. It was now garneted that all his statements were target in attacking Mahinda rajapaksa government rather than UNP. In return the media made Lal Kantha in the next step in his leadership ladder. It was a win-win situation for both UNP and Lal Kantha.

JVP as a party has thrown ten years back to their original hard struggle in the democratic path. There was mass slaughter of youth of killing in 1971 and 1988/89 periods. Time will reveal if third round of slaughter under UNP leader Ranil Wickramasingha is on the card as the second part of the conspiracy. Ironically, it is success or failure of new political movement of Wimal Weerawansa that is going to determine the completion of abortion of phase two of the conspiracy that will govern fate JVP carders remained in the party.

Related Posts:
- Wimal Weerawansa – An extraordinary leader among the ordinary
- JVP, Marxism and country
- Fate of JVP in the aftermath of budget 2007
- Multiple personality disorder and JVP

Ref:
- Lal Kantha’s comment on UNP leader Ranil Wickramasingha
- Ravi for JVP or Lal Kantha for UNP?

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Thoughts on New Year

Nowadays, it is not with the nature’s call of “koho.. koho..”, but with noise of various merchants that first reminded the arrival of New Year. Still we have managed to preserve our traditional values with our Avurudu celebrations. The New Year is the time when whole family gets together and celebrates. Luckily we are still not confined to the atomic family and every one look after not only their parents but grand parents and other relatives. New Year is the time for those who spent time in the hustle and bustle of the town to go back to their village and enjoy the serenity of nature.

Remember our heroes
While we all are celebrating the New Year with whole families in the South, there are thousands of our fellow youth engage in fierce battle to protect our mother land. If we did not pay our gratitude for them before lighting the traditional oil lamp to celebrate our new year, then we should be ashamed of being a selfish bunch. Their families are celebrating Avurudu in the absence of their father, husband or brother and it is our obligation to celebrate the festival with those families.

Astrology: The bug in our Buddhist tradition
There are few bugs cling in to our traditional New Year celebrations over the years. When throne of Sri Lanka was betrayed to South Indian kings (due to various myths related to clans and traditions), many of our traditions were infected with Hindu myths which are contradicting with our traditions that had always been based on Buddhism. Introduction of astrology into our traditional Avurudu celebration was part of it and we have still failed to shed this foreign tail. Being an agricultural based society, our Avurudu celebration is having high regard for the Sun which governs rain and other natural resources. However due to the power of petty astrologers, the nation had to celebrate the festival of Sun in the dark of night time.

People’s Avurudu vs. Merchant’s Avurudu
As usual the marketing people tried their best to commercialize and exploit Avurudu festival to fool the consumers and collect their hard earned money. These marketing forces were trying hard to replace Kavun and Kokis with chocolate and biscuits and Luckily Avurudu is a festival which has its roots in the nature and therefore the artificial consumer products of multinational companies finding it difficult to challenge our traditions. There was a time when our traditional Avurudu festival was highly exploited by liquor companies. However, now we are seen a relatively liquor-free Avurdu celebration with promote peace and harmony in the society.

Celebrate victory over Western cultural invasion
With the government setting example, people are more inclined to celebrate Avurdu celebrations based on our cultural and religious values. Now after long time, the common people of the country have once again won cultural freedom under people’s government. The helm of the politics is no longer under the control of colonial agents and multinational businessmen. In the last year we have shown great commitment not only to win our freedom from the terrorists, but also to win over various cultural, and political invasions. Therefore we all should celebrate our victory in unity and determine to continue to march in the same path and make complete cultural, political and economical freedom so that we can celebrate our next Avurudu festival in true Sri Lankan glamor.

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Wimal Weerawansa – An extraordinary leader among the ordinary

The marketing people can temporally blow up character of an ordinary person using well planned publicity campaigns on different themes. The white feather of a feeble clown may be presented to general public as a prince of peace. Licking of boots of colonial masters may well be presented as international diplomacy. However those are mere artificial boosting and dumb character will surface with time.

In the same time, there are extra ordinary people who are born gifted. They have personality that is unique and excel in multitude of disciplines. Wimal Weerawansa is clearly fallen into that rare category. He is a natural born leader with genuine attraction of common people of the country. He is not mere a politician or political activist, but a man with great visionary and aim. That is why he succeeds in all his social and political endeavors. Wimal Weerawansa is undoubtedly the most eloquent speaker in contemporary politics. His speeches are not only expressive but also extremely logical and realistic. That is why he has become a genuine crowd puller in various political and social movements. He single handedly attracted large number of liberal youth in to the JVP vote bank.

Revival of JVP
From its inception in 1971, JVP leaders were happy to call themselves as Marxists. However their Marxist uprisings were twice failed (1971 uprising and rebel in 1988/89) and thousands of youth paid the price in their lives. On the other hand their Marxist political manifesto presented by then JVP leader Rohana Wijeweera was defeated in the presidential election in 1982.

Once JVP return to democracy in 1990 s, they continued to march in the same Marxist path for some time. In that initial period, JVP formed a coalition with NSSP leader Wickramabahu Karunarathna and contested for the local government election. However, JVP suffered their worst election defeat in the history that time.

With that defeat, JVP took a U-turn in politics. They suddenly kept aside the ideology of “Ethnic autonomy” (which is part of Marxism). It is not only the ideological principles, but their external public interface was also changed. The reddish posters were gradually transferred to brownish yellow format (the template that Sihala Urumaya had adapted before) and patriotism and liberalism were more evident in their public rallies. Wimal Weerawansa was playing a key role in this transformation. He spent all his talent, sweat and energy for this mammoth endeavor.

Opportunistic Parrots
The soul of most of JVP front liners were already venemed with hard core Marxism. They tolerate these new liberal changes only because they witnessed drastic growth in their vote base in return. However most of them are either a bunch of rotten Marxist in heart or mere opportunistic dumb characters. Most of these JVP front liners are only capable of vomiting Marxism in monotonic tune. Their speeches are as dry as dust and they are bunch of covert people without any cultural and social roots in this society.

Distinct personality
In the contrary Wimal Weerawansa was able to map Marxism with our culture and history. He was a confident leader with natural ability to attract people. Wimal Weerawansa truly believed in social liberalism and he was playing an active role in putting JVP back in democratic track. He did not have a long military history and he was already popular in Sri Lanka as a journalist who worked for “Hiru”, “Lakmina” and “Lakdiva” news papers under the name of ‘Wimalasiri Gamlath’. He never became a blind follower, but a constructive and realistic professional politician. Wimal Weerawansa is a skilled organizer, eloquent public speaker, powerful debater, creative writer, a poet and above all a sensitive human being who loved his mother land even more than he loved himself or his party. He unconditionally fights against all the evil forces including western colonial powers, their local agents in the form of petty political parties and INGO’s and separatist terrorists. Wimal Weerawansa was the biggest threat to the empty people only with big ambitions.

Well planed operation
The biggest challenge to Weerawansa came from the post colonial agents in the UNP and allied INGO agents. Firstly, they created a fierce camping to tarnish the image of this talented person. Their hired journalists and cartoonists in media played a key role in this initial campaign. Suddenly there was a buzz about Weerawansa’s mobile phone, hair, evn children and wife. They selectively targeted Weerawansa to politically kill the image of him. Then they managed to buy selected characters from within JVP front line to utilize against Wimal Weerawansa. Their obvious selection was none other than Lal Kantha who is the trade union leader of JVP. He had been playing the role of Psiloc in trade union activities and UNP clearly identified that thise extreme character can easily be persuaded for their plan. This agent was craftily utilized to create a split within central committee of JVP.

There is no rational for JVP who took cabinet portfolios in CBK government to refuse to enter into Mahinda Rajapaksa government. This government by all means is progressive than CBK's government. Not a single government institution has been privatized and lot of benefits and subsidiary are being given to lower income class. Still central committee of JVP decided to stay away from the government giving various conditions and reasons. Now this is the big time for those double agents to come out and give proper explanations.

Now Wimal Weerawansa has been effectively oust from JVP and it is certainly temporary victory for UNP and it’s ever defeating (so called) leader Ranil Wicramasinghe. In the recent past, the UNP’s Ranil fraction had only a couple of seats more than JVP in the parliament and Ranil was at the verge of loosing his ever loved post of leader of opposition. This is a big temporally relief for Ranil Wicramasingha.

However, Wimal Weerawansa is a strong and extra ordinary leader and no one can predict his reaction to current conspiracy. Challenges are gold for true leaders and we may witness big change in political balance in near future.

Ref:
- Special speech made by Weerawansa at the Parliment

Related Posts:
- JVP, Marxism and country
- Fate of JVP in the aftermath of budget 2007
- Multiple personality disorder and JVP

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LTTE set new example in exploiting sport for terrorism

LTTE had been setting new examples in terrorism in the past. They established the craft of using suicide bombs to the world. Most of LTTE suicide bomb missions have utilized women. LTTE has been identified as a terrorist organization having the highest number of child soldiers in their military wing. They have already killed leaders of two countries including Rajeev Gandhi, former prime minister of India and R. Premadasa, former president of Sri Lanka. They have killed large number of democratically elected politicians in Sri Lanka. In the past LTTE terrorists massacred hundreds of devotees at ‘Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi’ in Anuradhapura, which is highly regarded as one of the most sacred place for Buddhists. LTTE have killed hundreds of Buddhist monks in cold blood in various incidents. The ‘Aranthalawa massacre’ is considered to be the darkest incident in the world where large number of religious leaders (monks) is killed in a single incident. Another LTTE sucide bomb attack targeted the holiest place of world Buddhist (‘Sri Dalada Maligawa’) which hosts the tooth relic of the Buddha.

Ever since first Olympic game was held, sport had been considered to be symbolic gesture of world peace and harmony. The first blood spot in sport was marked in September 5, 1972. The Munich massacre occurred during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany, when members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostage by Black September, a group with ties to Fatah organization. By the end of the ordeal, the terrorist group had murdered eleven Israeli athletes and coaches and one German police officer. The attack was widely condemned around the world, with King Hussein of Jordan - the only leader of an Arab country to publicly denounce the Olympic attack - calling it a "savage crime against civilization… perpetrated by sick minds."

Since that incident, security had been a concern for all the world sport events. If the Munich incident was never happened, the sport could have still preserved its original intent of peace and harmony. However one bad example can set whole mechanism under threat and now security of athletes has become a great concern in all the world sport events.

Now LTTE has set another example for world terrorist organizations to follow.
LTTE suicide cadre has blown himself killing 14 civilians including the minister of highway and road development, Jeyaraj Fernandopulle who attended for the starting ceremony of marathon race. K.A. Karunarathna, the former national marathon champion and South Asian marathon gold medalist and Luxman Alwis who is the national athletic coach of Sri Lanka were among killed in this covered act. They have been involved in organizing this sport event. The most of others killed in the blast were athletes participated for the marathon event. The most of the innocent people killed in the incidents are the athletes participated in the marathon event itself.

Now the whole world has a new challenge when organizing sport events. Every time LTTE terrorists invent a new terrorism mechanism, it is not only Sri Lankans but the entire world is presented with new challenge for guard against barbaric terrorist strategy.

Ref:
http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20080406_06

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Killing of Jeyaraj Fernandopulle: A lesson for all the politicians in Sri Lanka

Mr. Fernandopulle is one of the most popular politicians in Sri Lanka. He has been the esthetic worrier in the parliament in the recent past. He never promotes politics based on hatred. He believed only in democracy and unconditionally fought against terrorism in whatever form. His only weapon in politics was use of words, and even during fierce debates in the parliament, he was seen smiling with an open heart.

We all have witnessed his organizing power and dedication as active minister. President Rajapaksa had enough faith to select Mr. Fernandopulle to sphere head “Maga Naguma” (developing the roads) programme and he was able to show results soon rather than late. It is only few weeks ago that Sri Lankan nation witnessed a overhead bridge that was built within weeks and he laid foundation for few more of the bridges in last week. The whole road and highway structure was completely revived under the leadership of Mr. Fernandupulle.

It is unfortunate that Mr. Fernandopulle decided to attend to the starting of marathon race organized as a part of a New Year festival. It was reported that he was clearly notified that he was in the top of LTTE’s killing list. It was mentioned that the claymore attack on late MP D.M Dassanayaka may have originally targeting him. Despite all these facts he decided to attend this ceremony providing a loop hole in his own security. One may said that Mr. Fernadupulle did his politics among common people and it is inevitable to skip this kind of situations. However, it is unintelligent act to attend this type of petty event when he is in the very top of LTTE’s killing list.

It is unfortunate culture in Sri Lanka that people expect their political leaders to attend all sort of minor activities. It is equally stupidity of people to invite a national figure to this type of events risking his life and thereby risking their own lives as well. Terrorist do not care religion or sport as a symbol of unity and peace. This is the time for all the true politicians to act in professional manner when they are engaged in the fight against one of the barbaric terrorist organization in the world.

This is a country where ancestral politicians plot with their colonial masters in the West to cut down various development supporting activities. This is a country where feeble political clowns who do not have personality or leadership lick the legs of terrorist organizations and western diplomatic personals to get their support to come to power. In this back drop Mr. Fernandopulle set a great example and lived like a true leader and served the nation. The terrorists always fear those genuine leaders and not mere political clowns and post colonial agents. Although he had a meaningful life, his own intrinsic weakness leads him to become a victim of the terrorism in meaningless manner. Will our politicians learn a lesion at least this time and add some meaning to the death of this great son of Sri Lanka.

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Arthur C. Clarke and us

The post colonial mentality has made many Sri Lankans to think that Sri Lanka is too small country to live and meet their aspirations. However Arthur C Clarke was a British born and he emigrated to Sri Lanka in 1956, where he lived until his death. When he decided to settle in Sri Lanka he was already a world renowned person as a science fiction author, inventor, and futurist. His staying in this tiny Island never seem hindering his scientific research and writings.

Arthur C Clarke is most renowned for his scientific predictions. He explored into the future with rational thinking and open mind. Ironically the desire to know the Predictions of life is part of way of life of most of Sri Lankans. Unfortunately it is checking the horoscope and zodiac signs, looking for astrological auspicious time etc. that has creep into our society which are completely baseless and non-scientific. The biggest joke is that so called followers of Buddhism that is based on “Anithya” (impermanence) and “Anathma” (no-soul/no-self) concepts are also going after these myths. The scientific prediction methodology of Clarke has not yet been fully absorbed into Sri Lankan culture.

While most of Sri Lankans after getting free education leave the country without paying a penny in turn to the country, Arthur C Clarke decided to settle in Sri Lanka. He granted the money received as apart of various awards to build “Arthur C Clarke centre” which is affiliated to university of Moratuwa. While most of the politicians and so called intellectuals of this country are always looking for what they will get from this country, Arthur C Clarke loved this country and always try to give something back to the country that he live.

It is sixty years since independence and still there are people including politicians who think that public appears in wearing Sarong is bad for their state. In the contrary, Arthur C Clarke appeared wearing Sarong in quite a number of TV programmes and he discussed various topics in relax mood. While our ‘gentlemen’ are still wearing the European suite even under tropical sun heat, this great intellectual quickly adapt to our climate and culture.

When most of our people value western customs and culture as supreme, Arthur C Clarke admired our Sinhala Buddhist values and his recent predictions included that “Buddhism will be the only survived religion in the future” and “All the people will ultimately be vegetarians”. When Clarke is predicting the future which we already practiced before colonization, today the business and marketing mafia is trying to pull us to the western culture for mere profits.

Even the funeral of Arthur C Clarke was a great example of a great person. He was actively involved in writing and other scientific work even at late 80s and served the world. He never wanted to have a “funeral ceremony” for his dead body and left another lesson for Sri Lankans.

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