We are already illegitimate to those who need our help the most. The question is how do we make ourselves legitimate? This is a serious question and not a play of words.

My primary critique of this article is that overall the reader is left without a good sense of what you are trying to say. By this I mean the structure of the article is difficult to follow.

I won’t presume to say what you should have touched on. You are closer to the ground than I am and better placed to speak to the issues affecting the people (at least in theory ;).

In terms of the lack in precision of words, two that jump out are “human security” and “omissions and commissions”.

I’ve already discussed the subsection on the diaspora. To give one more example

on the topic of Leadership I believe you are trying to say the decision making process of the country needs to be reformed to include the opposition and other influential sections of society

but I’m not sure because of the way you write. Your writing style does not lend itself to be clearly understood.

Lastly, you touched on many themes in this general piece which is good but I’ve noticed when Rohan Edrisinha speaks on the topic of constitutional reform peoples ears perk up and and they give great weight to what he has to say because he is regarded as an expert on constitutional reform.

When you are asked to speak, even as a generalist on subjects where you are considered an expert, people will pay more attention –but you have to deliver.

Best Regards.

PS if during your meeting unanimous positions on reconciliation were reached please do share.

I want to thank you for the good work the CHA has done for people of the country.

The CHA is well known both inside and outside of Sri Lanka and I hope you leverage the goodwill you have earned into getting things done for those most affected by the ongoing ethnic conflict.

The article you’ve written here is good and touches on a number of important issues but given your position it should have be written with greater clarity and a sense of purpose.

Take the subsection on Diaspora for example. You start talking about the Diaspora is a general sort of way and in the same paragraph proceed to wander into a completely different topic. Throughout the article your words are imprecise and vague.

I went back and read your previous article “Settling conflicts after the war and doing what is right” and the same problems are there as well.

I write these comments b/c i believe you genuinely want to help the people.

Best Wishes

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11349494

It is true that Sri Lanka has rarely been a model of transparency. Still, what conceivable reason could there have been for preventing foreign media from covering public hearings of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission held earlier this month in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu?

If the long-suffering Tamils that gave evidence before the LLRC at these two venues are to be deprived of having their story heard by those who want to hear it, have any lessons been learnt at all?

President Rajapakse elected by the ethnic majority population of Sri Lanka, is the first leader to fully embrace the Sinhala, Buddhist ideology that the indigenous Tamils can co-habit the country under a majoritarian rule.

The current Sri Lankan administration saw an opportunity with the Bush’s doctrine of ‘war on global terror’ to subjugate an unprotected minority.

The geopolitical rivalry on the Indian Ocean between the emerging powers of China and India was advntageous to the Rajapakse regime to see an end to the 63- year old Tamil dissent and discrimination over education, jobs, language and land.

This vicious racist rule continues!

Without the rule of law ordinary citizens have been rendered helpless. President Rajapakse who is a lawyer ought to know better than anyone else.

How can there be reconciliation without resort to justice and the rule of law. Those who committed grave crimes against civilians regardless of race or religion ought to be held to account by an International UN legal body but justice is dead in Sri Lanka.

In this connection the Dublin Peace Tribunal’s findings are an eye opener.

The internal Lessons Learnt Commission is an exercise in futility. 🙁

If any lessons had been learnt from any of the previous Commissions Sri Lanka will not be in this predicament.

Rajapaksa said “A great deal has been said by those beyond our borders about our Tamil community.”

Yes, and that has been said by Tamils who have suffered a great deal under your regime or previous regimes
.

ONLY a Tamil would know what it is to be a Tamil in Sri Lanka.

Today, under MR’s regime, more so than under previous regimes, only overseas-based Tamils are free to speak the truth.

When you have four elected Tamil Members of Parliament murdered by MR regime’s hit teams during the first term, imagine an ordinary Tamil attempting to speak up, to tell the truth without risking the real possibility of disappearing forever.

Tamils in Sri Lanka will never be able to speak freely unless they toe the government line. This has to be recognized.

“Let me be clear, no nation on earth can wish Sri Lanka’s Tamil community more good fortune than Sri Lanka itself.”

Is that why your government slaughtered thousands of innocent Tamils, all in the name of defeating terrorism?

Is that why Tamils are still fleeing SL when they get a chance?

Rajapaksa‘s statement is about as true as stating that the Sun will rise from the west tomorrow.

We cannot afford the moral vacillation and confusion our tamil brothers and sisters went thru with the LTTE. Just as there was nothing to discuss with them there is really nothing to discuss with this Government.

Of course there are jobs to do and people to take care of – our usual 9-5 (or beyond) stuff. The business as usual. that has to continue no doubt.

That has to continue till we clearly read the writing on the wall. we are facing a moral issue that goes beyond politics and all other technical discussions. and to deal effectively with a moral issue we must re-arm morally. Once we do this we must confront this government – not just as a Govt but as a moral entity with moral obligations ….

morality and honesty are indispensable foundations …. no amount of discussions will rectify this fundamental flaw. we are lost and we need to admit this – lost as a nation. It was happening right along – now the writing is there bold and clear

we sri lankans as a nation have no values to which we can claim we owe collective allegiance. neither native values nor western values. all has gone. Now we have to put in place the lost values – start living them

this is a time for silence – and moral cultivation and growth – and to eschew all pretensions and illusions