Hopes are being raised about the restoration of Colombo's control over the whole of Sri Lanka.
People are dying for peace. The common man has suffered enough.
People would hope for early resumption of rail services between Colombo and Kankesanthurai in Jaffna district. The donor community can help make this happen faster in case the demining of A9 is going to be a time-consuming exercise.
More details on http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2009/01/building-bridges-by-train-to-jaffna.html
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Political opportunity
Military victories offer political opportunity to restore life, says Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
The minister's remarks follow his talks with President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Colombo.
"I expressed our readiness to participate in the reconstruction of northern Sri Lanka so as to overcome the ravages of war," he said in a statement, according to Sri Lanka's Daily Mirror newspaper. (www.dailymirror.lk)
"We will be working together on a reconstruction plan for these areas which will involve infrastructure and other support," said Mr Mukherjee.
"We also reviewed the humanitarian situation as a result of the conflict.
"The Sri Lankan Government has reassured that they would respect the safe zones and minimize the effects of conflict on Tamil civilians," added the minister.
The minister's remarks follow his talks with President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Colombo.
"I expressed our readiness to participate in the reconstruction of northern Sri Lanka so as to overcome the ravages of war," he said in a statement, according to Sri Lanka's Daily Mirror newspaper. (www.dailymirror.lk)
"We will be working together on a reconstruction plan for these areas which will involve infrastructure and other support," said Mr Mukherjee.
"We also reviewed the humanitarian situation as a result of the conflict.
"The Sri Lankan Government has reassured that they would respect the safe zones and minimize the effects of conflict on Tamil civilians," added the minister.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
War refugees
UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, in a statement, has highlighted the plight of the displaced people in northern Sri Lanka.
He said the displaced in the Vanni had been ignored for so long, according to Sri Lanka's Sunday Times online.
"We repeat that the responsibility to protect all its citizens is, not only an issue of duty but also conscience. How the government addresses this critical challenge will determine the quality of a durable peace."
In his statement, the former premier also commended the government and the armed forces for the recent militory victories against the LTTE.
"We unhesitatingly and completely commend the courage, professional skill and commitment of our armed forces which have made this possible. The soveregnity of our nation has been protected and the country's territorial integrity restored," he said.
He said the UNP salutes the armed forces and also commended the services rendered by the Police and the Special Task Force in preventing acts of terrorism.
"We acknowledge that it was the President, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet of Ministers who were responsible for overseeing the conduct of these military operations," he said.
He said the displaced in the Vanni had been ignored for so long, according to Sri Lanka's Sunday Times online.
"We repeat that the responsibility to protect all its citizens is, not only an issue of duty but also conscience. How the government addresses this critical challenge will determine the quality of a durable peace."
In his statement, the former premier also commended the government and the armed forces for the recent militory victories against the LTTE.
"We unhesitatingly and completely commend the courage, professional skill and commitment of our armed forces which have made this possible. The soveregnity of our nation has been protected and the country's territorial integrity restored," he said.
He said the UNP salutes the armed forces and also commended the services rendered by the Police and the Special Task Force in preventing acts of terrorism.
"We acknowledge that it was the President, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet of Ministers who were responsible for overseeing the conduct of these military operations," he said.
Current situation
Read the following report in manorama online.com
New Delhi/Colombo: Hours before leaving for Sri Lanka, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said that India would never tolerate the Tamil Tigers but was worried about Tamil civilians caught in the war between the rebels and Colombo.
“We are for the fight against terrorists and all sorts of terrorism. Therefore we have no sympathy for any terrorist activity indulged by any organisation, and particularly the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) is a banned organisation in India,” Mukherjee said before his departure later in the day for Sri Lanka.
“But we are concerned about the plight of the civilians and we shall have to see how the civilians can be protected and do not become the hapless victims of the situation,” he told reporters here.
Mukherjee's comments came as Sri Lankan troops announced after capturing the LTTE garrison town of Mullaitivu that 95 percent of the dragging war against the Tamil Tigers was over.
New Delhi/Colombo: Hours before leaving for Sri Lanka, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said that India would never tolerate the Tamil Tigers but was worried about Tamil civilians caught in the war between the rebels and Colombo.
“We are for the fight against terrorists and all sorts of terrorism. Therefore we have no sympathy for any terrorist activity indulged by any organisation, and particularly the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) is a banned organisation in India,” Mukherjee said before his departure later in the day for Sri Lanka.
“But we are concerned about the plight of the civilians and we shall have to see how the civilians can be protected and do not become the hapless victims of the situation,” he told reporters here.
Mukherjee's comments came as Sri Lankan troops announced after capturing the LTTE garrison town of Mullaitivu that 95 percent of the dragging war against the Tamil Tigers was over.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Unity in Sri Lanka
It is generally believed that Sri Lanka will not progress in the right direction, even if the armed separatist fighters were defeated, if the prevalent system of governance is not overhauled top to bottom and right to left.
Also, according to an article I read today, it is felt that large sections of the Tamil population, though not in love with the LTTE and its malevolence, are gravely concerned their security as a people will be compromised in the absence of the LTTE as a strong entity.
Read the following interesting comment today on the Web:
"Sinhalese think that the entire country -- Sri Lanka -- belongs to all communities including them. But Tamils seem to think that the Northern and Eastern provinces belong only to them. So Tamils also should now think that entire Sri Lanka belongs to them.No community should enjoy any special previlages in any part of the country."
Also, according to an article I read today, it is felt that large sections of the Tamil population, though not in love with the LTTE and its malevolence, are gravely concerned their security as a people will be compromised in the absence of the LTTE as a strong entity.
Read the following interesting comment today on the Web:
"Sinhalese think that the entire country -- Sri Lanka -- belongs to all communities including them. But Tamils seem to think that the Northern and Eastern provinces belong only to them. So Tamils also should now think that entire Sri Lanka belongs to them.No community should enjoy any special previlages in any part of the country."
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Friends or foes?
This refers to As I See It column titled "Tug at the heart from home...' (Gulf Daily News, January 16).
Friendships forged back home can always survive the tests of hard times.
But in Gulf states such as Bahrain, friendship between expatriates may face many challenges because of the so-called 'rat race'.
Friends could become strangers overnight in the Gulf because of job insecurity.
But the positive point is the strong possibility of strangers becoming friends.
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=240799&Sn=LETT&IssueID=31308
Friendships forged back home can always survive the tests of hard times.
But in Gulf states such as Bahrain, friendship between expatriates may face many challenges because of the so-called 'rat race'.
Friends could become strangers overnight in the Gulf because of job insecurity.
But the positive point is the strong possibility of strangers becoming friends.
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=240799&Sn=LETT&IssueID=31308
Friday, January 16, 2009
Rule of law
"We must respond to terrorism by championing the rule of law, NOT subordinating it, for it is the cornerstone of the democratic system: British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, says in an opinion piece for the Guardian newspaper.
Hope this rings in the ears of all those states dealing with minority problems.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
இலங்கை
இலங்கை பிரைச்சினைக்கு தனிநாடு தீர்வாகாது.
எல்லா மக்களும் தீவின் எல்லா இடங்களிலும் சுதந்திரமாக, நிம்மதியாக வாழும் நிலை விரைவில் உருவாக வேண்டும்
திடீரென்று தனிநாடு வந்தால், தெற்கில் வாழும் தமிழரின் நிலைமை என்ன?
இது வரை நடந்தவை போகட்டும்.
இனி வரும் காலம் தமிழருக்கு நல்ல காலமாக வரட்டும்.
திடீரென்று தனிநாடு வந்தால், தெற்கில் வாழும் தமிழரின் நிலைமை என்ன?
இது வரை நடந்தவை போகட்டும்.
இனி வரும் காலம் தமிழருக்கு நல்ல காலமாக வரட்டும்.
உணவு, உடை, உறையுள் மனித வாழ்வுக்கு முக்கியம்.
மேற்கு நாடுகளில் வாழும் தமிழ் உறவுகள் தட்போதைய நிலைமை பற்றி நன்கு சிந்திக்க வேண்டும்.
இலங்கையில் வசிக்கும் தமிழரின் உடனடி பிரச்சினைகளுக்கு வழி சொல்ல வேண்டும்
வெறும் கோஷங்களுக்கு இது தருணம் அல்ல.
அபிவிருத்திக்கு முக்கியம் கொடுப்போம்
புனரமைப்புக்கு வழி செய்வோம்
யுத்தம் தீர்வு அல்ல
ஒற்றுமையாக விட்டு கொடுத்து வாழ முயற்சிப்போம்
மேற்கு நாடுகளில் வாழும் தமிழ் உறவுகள் தட்போதைய நிலைமை பற்றி நன்கு சிந்திக்க வேண்டும்.
இலங்கையில் வசிக்கும் தமிழரின் உடனடி பிரச்சினைகளுக்கு வழி சொல்ல வேண்டும்
வெறும் கோஷங்களுக்கு இது தருணம் அல்ல.
அபிவிருத்திக்கு முக்கியம் கொடுப்போம்
புனரமைப்புக்கு வழி செய்வோம்
யுத்தம் தீர்வு அல்ல
ஒற்றுமையாக விட்டு கொடுத்து வாழ முயற்சிப்போம்
யாழ்ப்பாணத்துக்கு விரைவில் ரயில் ஓட விட்டால் பொருளாதரம் வளரும். கல்வியும் வளரும்
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Expats' residency doubts
The following refers to reports that Arabian Gulf labour ministers plan to limit the stay of expats for 5 years.
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/1yr_arc_Articles.asp?Article=239951&Sn=LETT&IssueID=31298&date=1-12-2009
Five-year cap plan should be tested
This refers to 'Five-year cap doubts' (Gulf Daily News, December 26).
Since the letter writer is new to Bahrain, he may gradually realise that Eastern expatriates, especially white-collar executives, too need to brush up on professional integrity. I have seen and heard of many cases where Eastern expatriates engage in various unfair and unethical acts in offices here to protect their so-called senior positions or to keep their jobs.
Eastern expatriates should bear in mind that they are working in a foreign country. They should be kind, honest and polite towards their fellow expats, whatever the provocation.
Some lucky or brave-hearted Eastern white-collar expatriate office workers stay on in Bahrain beyond five years.
But a number of Eastern expatriates are driven out from Bahrain within five years due to ill-treatment and harassment in offices by South Asian supervisors, managers, seniors and colleagues.
The plan to restrict expats' stay to five years should be tested at least for a few years to see whether it brings about any positive change in the selfish attitudes of some senior Eastern expats.
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