Comments on: The murder of Lasantha Wickremetunge and Sri Lanka’s future

By: punitham

punitham — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 12:54:54 +0000

Anjalika and others
There are virtual humanists among Sri Lankan Buddhists, Christians, Hindus and Muslims. It's high time a Sri Lankan Humanist Association sprang up in the country.

By: Savithri Rodrigo

Savithri Rodrigo — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 08:43:10 +0000

We may not be able to do much – but do remember Chandra Jayaratne's very successful holding hands campaigns and subsequently lighting of a lamp outside homes – I don't think shouting slogans is going to do the trick becasue that also gives some people licenses to use violence all over again. But a peaceful demonstration of some sort or a deomonstration of solidarity would be a start. We need a leader however – maybe not one, but a group even who can take the initiative forward. I'm willing to give my resources, whatever they may be. Is there anyone who will join me?
this senseless killing in the name of 'peace' must stop – whether it's Lasantha who was considered a thorn in the side of many (many ruling governments prior to this too sit up and take note) , imprisoning journalists who are doing their job under a dubious PTA , abudction of people on the wrong side of the fence, conveniently getting rid of anyone who is considered an opposition or whether it's the faceless nameless people in the war torn areas of Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka is fast losing her good people – and I dread to think what we'll be left with!

By: punitham

punitham — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 07:00:32 +0000

Sorry, I didn't mean Suranimala. I meant Sonali.

By: Anjalika

Anjalika — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 11:40:20 +0000

Someone please speak up. We look like barbarians. With all the religious influence, temples in every street corner, Christians going to church, Hindus praying, Muslims praying 5 times a day invoking the semblance of God in what ever shape or form, God has looked the other way. We are beyond redemption unless people learn to live by principles. We must be a ritualistic population — religion is for a life to be lived by principles. Where is the correlation? Our people have the meanest minds, and the most cruel actions. Killing has become a way of life for any reason. What happened to the value of life?

By: Anjalika

Anjalika — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 11:38:57 +0000

This is the Sri Lankan way — anyone who is good at anything — honest and sincere and stands up for the truth is a thorn in the eye of those who thrive on manipulation and throat cutting. Lasantha was a high profile figure. But take even small scale activities among Sri Lankans, it is not about race or religion but traits. People are greedy for getting visible and power hungry no matter what whether it is professions, government, politics, or even simply among fellow Sri Lankans — never let a good person thrive. Only the phoney insincere, get ahead. This is our culture today. We are reduced to less than human values. Animals treat each other better.

Wish we could get into the minds of those who did this unspeakably brutal crime. What do they gain by it? If it is the Government — this is a stupid thing to do after we laid down so many lives to fight terrorism at a time when we were looking forward to be free of terror. If it is the opposition they are even more stupid. If there is a terror group trained to kill with impunity, who is their sponsor? We need a lot of answers.

By: Jayantha

Jayantha — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 10:10:01 +0000

Who says that true Buddhism is practised by the majority in Sri Lanka? We have been a nation of rituals and not followed the true essence of this great way of life. True Buddhism is all about reflection and watching your actions to ensure that one does not harm anyone even by thought. So let us not call ourselves a Buddhist nation. What happened to Lasantha is a great tragedy and an independent investigator should be appointed by the Govt to locate the culprit or culprits. If the Govt does not do this, all fingers will point at the rulers. This kind of thuggery must end. There has to be an end to this culture in Sri Lanka

By: punitham

punitham — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 09:37:12 +0000

Vishaka
Your comment about Tamils is hurting and untimely when the country is seething with anger and writhing in unspeakable pain.

By: punitham

punitham — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 08:40:22 +0000

Lasanthaaaaaaa……….
Shouldn't this be a turning point after 60 yrs????

By: punitham

punitham — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 08:04:09 +0000

Suranimala
We are thinking of you and your Lasantha.

By: Ethirveerasingam

Ethirveerasingam — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 06:02:29 +0000

Sri Lanka is a feudal system on which the British gently laid a well embroidered sleeky, silky veil of democracy. Since 1956 the silk started to tear. With each decade it tore more not being able to cope with the ever increasing grating of the drying cogs and wheels of the feudal clockwork. We no longer have the veil. We would not let experts from outside oil, maintain, adjust, fix it and put a new veil. Because, we are proud of the integrity of our casing -Made in Britain- and valued the sovereign gold of our jewels. We could not adjust, maintain, repair or improve our feudalism as we are part of the mechanism. This is our problem. We have become an antique. We have become the in vitro experiment of conflict resolutionist!

By: CheeLanka

CheeLanka — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 12:52:49 +0000

I fully agree with BananaTree. It's not (just) those robotic/demonic gunmen – who were braibwashed, programmed and sent to pull the trigger – that killed Lasantha. It is ALL of us.

We who elected this racist regime, we who cheer every time they kill and 'liberate' in our name, we who vote this ruling party over and over again in various elections…We are the ones who created and now keep feeding this monster as our saviour and guardian.

Killing Richard de Zoysa was the turning point for the brutal Premadasa regime. Would this senseless death of Lasantha finally, finally turns the tide against this regime, now clearly more brutal than Premadasa's? We have to wait and see. As Savithri Rodrigo says above, what does it take for a nation to act?

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." – Edmund Burke

By: JOSEPH

JOSEPH — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 11:37:42 +0000

Lasantha was my classmate at St Benedicts since we were 6 years oldand we both lived in a predominantly Tamil Colombo suburb of Kotahena. Being a tamil i had great admiration for his ability to bridge the ethnic divide and his background enabled him to do so.He was a great human being.This cess pit of a country does not deserve such men and I wish Lsantha had stayed back in the UK. .Anyhow we are destined to be ruled by a bunch of murderers for a long time to come and my Sinhala bretheren have to learn it the hard way.One consolation is that such rulers always end up in the dust bins of history and one day soon these tyrants will come for you as well!!

By: Samson

Samson — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 11:28:29 +0000

It is now time for us to ask why we are in this situation of crime, war, fear, threat, hate? In groups of twos, threes, fours…. we must ask why, why and why deeper and deeper into our souls and our friends' souls to find the answers that may have been in front of us but failed to see. We do not have a leader or leaders to pave the way for a better material or spiritual future. We have to collectively understand why we are in this situation. In this search Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and Burgers may find the same causes has brought us to this situation. Starting in small groups, collectively coming to an understanding may lead us towards change for better. Our leaders' souls are already hardned. Our souls are being hardned too!. We would not have the heart to be compassionate to each other even after the war against the LTTE is over. Therefore our simple step and a salutory step to those fallen inquirers like Lasantha is to ask why and making the search a collective one! Then we may be ready for creating a better future! lets start democracy!

By: Angelica

Angelica — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 09:30:02 +0000

People worldwide are protesting the war in Gaza, South Indian actors protested the "humanitarian war" in Sri Lanka and we (bless our souls) sit at home, watching and talking and theorizing. Looks like nothing has changed and nohing will change. Good going Sri Lanka!!!

By: BananaTree

BananaTree — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 07:52:53 +0000

I agree with you completely Savithri. But what is there to do? We need a plan. But who is there to provide leadership? The opposition is a joke. The religious community is a souless ghost. Popular support against such action is muted. Any ideas?

By: BananaTree

BananaTree — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 07:52:17 +0000

This is a very bold statement and I fear to make it. We, the people of Sri Lanka, by our apathy and self interest are the murders of Lasantha. By our consistent refusal to sacrifice our individual well-being in order to preserve good and truth we are the cause for the death of martyrs from Rajani Thiranagama to Lasantha Wickremetunge. We, the people, are enshrined with the task of keeping a governments accountable for their actions. We are a democracy where the people have failed. Yet, not merely bow our heads in respect for a fallen fighter but let us arise and reclaim our role-the guardians of democracy, our country and our people.

By: Sue

Sue — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 07:46:32 +0000

[Edited out]

Pray tell me sir, when there are so many check points where even we office workers cannot pass by foot without being checked, how, so many armed men with weapons and bombs could go thru with impunity ?

Do you mean to say that now even the LTTE could get into a white van loaded with masked men sporting high calibre weapons roam the high security zone without being checked, and 4 motor cycles (2 on each ) follow a car so far in broad light and fire at the driver at close range without being checked by the security forces?

Come on Mister, you think people are stupid?

[Edited out]

By: Sue

Sue — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 07:37:31 +0000

There they go again "the great Weerawansa" now washing Govt. dirty laundry talking about a "kumanthranaya" AGAINST the poor innocent Govt. Pray tell me sir, when there are so many check points where even we office workers cannot pass by foot without being checked, how, so many armed men with weapons and bombs could go thru with impunity ?
Do you mean to say that now even the LTTE could get into a white van loaded with masked men sporting high calibre weapons roam the high security zone without being checked, and 4 motor cycles (2 on each ) follow a car so far in broad light and fire at the driver at close range without being checked by the security forces? Come on Mister, you think people are stupid or something? Better keep your big mouth shut instead of sprouting garbage. We are wise to your idiotic utterances now.

By: Achala

Achala — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 06:12:42 +0000

There is a bottomless pit of greed where this has come from. The murderous brothers hunt anyone who come against their regime. I call this a regime because a good friend of mine, a firm slfp supporter calls the faker a my king. thats how uneducated and blinded by their glorification of war most people have become. its really a sad sad situation. And specially most of the young friends who could voice dissent have gone abraod due to educational and financial problems they face here.

We must stop them. make every body who will listen, listen to the truth. Tell them there is no more evil than war and destruction. That its all to benefit the few wealthy and the businessmen(mostly politicians) and international entities who arm the forces. Plz we must stop them

By: Damian

Damian — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 05:34:19 +0000

We are going through a darkened passage with a culture of intolerance, and impunity. Good Governance has flown out of the window and have replaced with a set of imbecile stooges of "Yes" men who are plundering public money. Written in the wall is if any one stand on their way will have a disastrous end like Gen. Janka Perera, Dr John Pulle, MTV station. Similarly Lasantha made a supreme sacrifice with life for publicly exposing the heinous crimes done by these vermins. Many more to come.
These talk about right way and wrong way of violence by DJ is bull shit. Gunshots, Bullets and arsons doesn't have a right way and wrong way.
Best thing for him is to not talk about these issues and avoid distracting public attention from core issues, but talk about Fidel Castro only and safeguard his ambassadorial status and position.