𝑾𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝑾𝒂𝒊𝒍 ( දුක් ගන්නා රාළ )

It was interesting to read the comments made by the visiting foreign ministers from France and the United Kingdom, after their failed mission to secure a ceasefire in Sri Lanka. They claim, this was requested to help the innocent civilians but many of us know that their modus operandi. It was definitely not to help innocent civilians still held by the terrorists but to help the trapped terrorists give more time and enough diversion to help them to escape. Mr. Kouchner says that we pleaded with the government to allow international relief agencies and NGOs immediate access to those areas. Mr. Miliband says that we were here not to save the terrorists but to help innocent Tamils. But how and why only now are the questions that they failed to answer. First, let us not forget that this terror outfit is a banded organization in many of the countries including United Kingdom, yet they still manage to operate openly and without impunity. Secondly, many of the international aid agencies and...

The latest news to hit the news wires is that The British and French Foreign Ministers are rushing to Sri Lanka to ensure an immediate ceasefire. This move is said to ensure the safety of the trapped civilians but what I am unable to understand is how they would ensure that by having a ceasefire? The civilians are trapped in the zone still held by the terrorist, not because of the fighting but they are held against their will by the terrorist to use them as a human shield. The recent mass exodus witness by the rest of the world, of trapped civilians from the terrorist held area, when the Sri Lankan Army breached part of the erected earthen wall is a clear indication to prove this point. This terrorist organization is a banned organization, all over the world which had been fighting an unjust war against democratically elected governments for the last three decades. If any wants to gauge the backing of the people for the present government’s policies, the recent poll results o...

A few days back, during the festival times, Sri Lankan government declared a 48 hours ceasefire to allow trapped civilians a peace of mind as well an opportunity to cross on to the safe areas. The LTTE who ridiculed this ceasefire arrangement then has hacked and shoot during that period, many of the trapped innocent Tamil civilians, one time that they claimed that they are duty bound to protect, simply because they too want a better life has decided to crossover to the government side has suddenly decided to have an unilateral ceasefire today. The interesting question here is why now? Is it because that they fear the inevitable, the dream turn in to a nightmare and soon they will have to owe up to their own misdeeds? I hope the Sri Lankan government would not easily give in to the Arms twisting tactics of some western influences, who have had many other hidden agendas in this protracted bloody war this time and finish the terrorist once and for all. I am sure The world would ...

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR April 22, 2009 Armchair adventures Reading the exploits of Vladimir Yarets in “Silent Conquest” (Issue 318 in TheWeek, dated April 8, 2009), stirred the insatiable vagabond in me from its slumber a little. Unfortunately, it was short-lived. I am a coward in a very broad sense and my nature of procrastination, like in the past, has gotten the better of me this time also. I hope the guy can write, despite his other disadvantages, and one day he will put his experiences on to paper in the form of his memoirs or whatever you call it. While wishing him good luck in his pursuit, I urge him to put pen to paper soon, so that my insatiable vagabond can be satisfied, even without having to leave my cosy reading chair to mount a monstrous-looking two-wheel contraption like that.  Sasanka De Silva, on email SILENT CONQUEST   It is impossible to get Vladimir Yarets, who has been travelling the world on a motorbike for nine years, to sit down and have a conversation. Not only b...

This is the latest addition to my previous Blog under the heading "Heros are born instantly. Some get due recognition but others fade in to obscurity". This are some of the pictures of the Hero, who saved the Lankan cricketers recently.

The Sri Lankan government’s decision to have a 48 hours ceasefire is a very laudable and a brave one. Laudable because, it will allow the trapped innocent civilians a peace of mind during the festive times and brave because I do not think that any army in the world would allow it’s enemy, who’s back is very much to the wall now and gasping for the last breath, a breather like this than going for the jugular. It shows once again that they care more about the innocent civilians than going for the final push with all guns firing. But I get confused when some international agencies and countries with other vested interests’ calls for a permanent cease fire to allow the trapped civilians to crossover to the other side, because they very well know that who is stopping innocent civilians doing so. Surely, it is not the Sri Lankan army. No innocent civilians in those areas make their job a much easier but for others having a human shield around them is the only lifeline.   It is be...

The letter below was published in three of the widely read newspapers in Sri Lanka , Sultanate of Oman and in United Arab Emirates in April 2002 and after watching the recent agitations going on in London and other countries by the acolytes of a banned terrorist organization prompted to republish it in my own blog. See how appropriate it is in today’s context too. Sorry guys, your days are numbered………….! Misconceived notion IT IS a common misconception that some ethnic Tamils in Sri Lanka took up arms against the government because of the discriminatory practices by the latter against the former. In truth, there are two types of Tamils in Sri Lanka. One is the Sri Lankan Tamils and the others the Indian Tamils. The latter were brought to the island by the British to work in tea plantations. They comprise 5.6 per cent of the population. On the other hand, the Sri Lankan Tamils, whom the LTTE terrorists claim that they are duty-bound to liberate and are calling for the Eelam, are ...

It is said that, "if there is a will, then there is a way" too. How appropriate, it is in the context of the present situation is Sri Lanka. The bloody war has been dragging on for almost three decades due to lack of (political) will to settle the matter, militarily once and for all. However, with the change of political scenario and the new found will to settle the issue of terrorism militarily, Sri Lanka has achieved great success recently.   The dawn of a new era and the total annihilation of hither to label as the most dedicated, ruthless and invincible (paper) tigers, is just a few days away. But, are we ready for “the Day after” is really a worrying issue for me. I strongly think that we all Sri Lankans have to be prepared, both physically and mentally for that day and we cannot be complacent and Squander this great opportunity now. So let us “Be together for all”.

This letter was published in the Week magazine, published in the sultanate of oman and i think the contents therein are applicable in sri lanka too. thus decided to put it up in my blog.  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR March 18, 2009 Shopping mall failing The norm today is to go green and use only renewable and reusable products. But be aware of the pitfalls and unwarranted troubles one invites by doing that. Recently someone gifted me a reusable jute bag. Since then I have been using it when I go for my weekly shopping to the nearest mall. The mall started selling the same jute bags, but they are only available at the checkouts and customers do not have access to their display location. If you need a bag then you have to request the person who is behind the checkout to give you one. Despite all these precautions, on every single occasion when I have approached the counter, I have been questioned as if I have committed a crime. The queue gets held up, security personnel converge on the scene an...