𝑾𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝑾𝒂𝒊𝒍 ( දුක් ගන්නා රාළ )

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...

Human Rights, Democracy, tolerance of other religious believes etc are some of the topics, often we hear when the West or the so-called developed world talk about another country. Some of the big institutes in the so-called developed world, such as The United Nation, Lending Organizations and the European parliament etc are happy to hurl such topics, when discussing an internal affair of another country, especially a poor one. Let us take the issues one by one and see who is right and who is wrong. First tackle the human rights issue. Even up to this moment, many people are being held against their wills in Military camps, without any credible charge being brought to justify their detention. Who indeed was instrumental in killing leaders like Major Thomas Sankara or Patrice Lumumba? The list is long and bloody too. The latest reported case is Binya Mohammed, who was released without being charged after holding and torturing for more than six years in a Military camp. If...