Enlightening PP? No.

Dear Wijayapala,

Me: A Native will fight for his/her Country and her freedom.” (February 12)

You: Yes you’ve already said that. Did any of your ancestors fight for their country and freedom from the British in the Wellassa uprising? If not, does that mean that they were not Natives? (February 17)

The above by the way Wijayapala, is the first use of the word “ancestors” on this web page and YOU are that user. So please keep that in mind lest you forget the CONTEXT within which we should be debating.

Me: The Sinhalese are my ancestors as much as they are yours. And they fought the British. (February 18)

My rejoinder to you, makes an explicit reference to the two of us having common ancestors. Since you and I, are not members of the Same Family Tree (at least I hope we are not), my use of the word ancestor, CANNOT BE INTERPRETED as a reference to my family tree, by any sane person, versed in the English Language.

It could ONLY be a reference to the generations of Sinhalese that came before us. Unless you have proof, that there was a people referred to as Sinhalese, prior to Vijaya and his band, OUR oldest ancestors are Vijaya and his group and not anything else beyond that (within the frame of reference defined by the context).

You wrote “My dear OTC, if nobody here can understand your English, then perhaps it is your use of that language that requires improvement, not ours”

Well Wijayapala, you are very presumptuous and self opinionated.

Those who understand English, would hardly argue about something that they know is correct, would they?

Those who don’t, like yourself and your supporters, can hardly prove what they are arguing about with reference to any authoritative source of English usage such as a standard dictionary. Even when they are referred to such an authoritative source (ie Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary) they would still keep arguing, ignoring the authoritative source.

You, Gamarala and Sabbe Laban could not understand and the three of you are not everybody to claim that nobody understood. Was that subterfuge or erred logic?

Yapa and Pitasthara Puthraya understood. There are many more who read GV, other than those who write in. Hence at least two people who write in did understand (though you deceitfully ignored that fact) and many more who did not write in would have understood.

Your futile arguments prove that you need to improve your vocabulary, instead of making a fool of yourself by arguing that black is indeed white.

You: “You also said that THE Sinhalese fought the British….” (24 February)

Me: Yes I did. Does that FACT depend on the numbers? I don’t see how it does. (March 13)

You: “Yes it does. You cannot claim that THE Sinhalese fought the British when not even the majority of them did. You can only say that SOME Sinhalese fought the British”

Sorry Wijey, for you to claim that my reference to Sinhalese in the following statement is a falsehood (you gave no reasons, remember), you need to show that NO Sinhalese fought the British. But in this case a WHOLE SINHALESE REGION, FOUGHT THE BRITS.

The Sinhalese are my ancestors as much as they are yours. And they fought the British. (February 18).

Unfortunately, you failed to do that. Hence you made a FALSE claim about my statement.

You keep forgetting the CONTEXT Wijey.
Is it by Dishonest design or by forgetfulness?
What I said on Feb 18 was contextually connected to your question of February 17.

I wrote the following on February 13
Governor Brownrigg issued a Proclamation on 01.01.1818 that the following seventeen persons were engaged in promoting rebellion and war against His Majesty’s Forces, and that they were “Rebels, Outlaws and Enemies to the British.” Their lands and properties were to be confiscated by the Crown. They were: ………

Why are you repeating that on March 16 as some new information?

You then ask
“Why are all these leaders from just one part of the island? Why is the 1817-8 rebellion as a whole called the UVA-WELLASSA Rebellion and not the SINHALA Rebellion????”

These are infantile questions Wijey.
Answer to Question 1.
Because that part of the Island had the opportunity.
Answer to Question 2.
It is named after the region. The name does not diminish the fact that the region was populated by the Sinhalese.

You also asked on (Feb 14)
“What did Sinhala leaders do that contributed to Sri Lankan independence?”

The Uva Wellassa Rebelion is recognised as the FIRST serious attempt at gaining Independence from the Brits. Unless you can prove that Sinhala Leaders were not involved in that attempt, you are just resorting to Rhetoric.

You “I’m glad you consulted the finest in academic research”
Attempting to take the High Road when you are cornered Wijey?

Let’s examine our previous comments

Me: But the wiki contradicts you. It says quote Records state that the Uva Rebellion was the first struggle for gaining Independence from the British. Unquote (Feb 28)

You: Kindly show where the wiki explicitly identifies the Sinhalese or the Sinhala community writ large as the primary actor of that Rebellion. (March 4)

You did not find the standing of Wiki amongst academic research objectionable …. yet that is!

You: Secondly, there have been other instances when bows and arrows defeated 19th century firearms: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Little_Bighorn (Feb 27)

Revealing, Isn’t it?
And this is just on this single web page.
Why the Duplicity Wijey?

You have even used Wiki as a reference not withstanding your latest disparaging opinion about the Wiki

Glad or otherwise you have failed to break my arguments and in attempting to do so you have exposed your dishonesty.

Me: Wiki contradicts you. It says “Except for Molligoda and Ekneligoda, many Chiefs joined the rebels” The keyword is Except and not many or most. You are attempting to confuse the reader by subterfuge.

The exceptions mentioned are ONLY TWO.
And that means Molligoda and Ekneligoda did not participate, the others did.

Why are you this DISHONEST Wijey?

Don’t you have any shame?

You: Kandyans. If you bothered to read the book yourself, instead of relying on an excerpt from the internet, you would find that Mr Wickremesekera refers to the protagonists as “Kandyans” and not once as “Sinhalese.” Now why is that?

Since I cannot read the mind of Mr Wickremesekera, You should ask that question from Mr Wickremesekera. However, whether you like it or not “Kandyans” are Sinhlese.

BTW, I never claim to have read every reference that writers quote here on GV. You apparently claim to be well read, though you have yet to quote from the book itself. This is what you stated on March 4 in response ta a request from me.

Me: Since you have read Channa Wickremesekera’s Kandy at War, could you please reproduce the paragraphs that deal with how the Kandyans acquired firearms and ammunition.

You: You’ll have to wait, but basically he showed how the Kandyans produced their own firearms.

Me: Nevertheless, the reference is to the French who are the Ancestors of today’s French people.

You: The reference more specifically is to the armed forces of the country, in this case FRANCE, which fought Germany.

So the French Resistance is excluded from being French?

You: …… it is a fact that the Sinhala Buddhists were the least privileged community in the island save for the upcountry Tamils until relatively recently (Feb 18)

Though requested, you did not give any Citation for the above assertion. Neither did you provide to date the reasons by which you CLAIMED the above as a FACT.

Why are you afraid to state clearly the reasons behind your Emphatic Claims?

Afraid of being accused of having a Sinhala Buddhist Communal Mindset?

You: If you’re going to make silly statements that it was “the Sinhalese” who fought the British,

The silliness resides with you as foregoing amply proves

You: you might as well further generalise that it was “the Sri Lankans” who had fought the British, but given your communal mentality you are incapable of that

What stands in the way of Honest debate is your proven Dishonesty.

You may call me what you want, to HIDE your own dishonesty.

I did not hesitate to risk my life, the life of my wife, the lives of my children and our property to save my Tamil neighbours from certain death. Hence your face saving personal attacks to HIDE your own dishonesty has no affect on me.

But you are a very poor judge of what I am capable of.
Unlike you, I do not write for cheap popularity. I do not live in denial about the Tamil domination of the Administrative system of Lanka previous to independence and for more than a decade afterwards. I am not afraid to question those who allude to 63 years after independence and blame solely the Sinhalese for the mess we are in today. And most of all, I am not afraid to tackle vexed issues for fear of being called a communalist by people whose last resort is to make personal attacks when they fail to meet arguments.

“Does that FACT depend on the numbers?”

Yes it does. You cannot claim that THE Sinhalese fought the British when not even the majority of them did. You can only say that SOME Sinhalese fought the British.

“How can a FACT be a Falsehood?”

When it isn’t a FACT. Or when you lack the ability to distinguish between something absolute and something relative.

“Wiki contradicts you.”

I’m glad you consulted the finest in academic research.

“And that means Molligoda and Ekneligoda did not participate, the others did.”

Here is the list of rebel leaders whose properties the British declared to be confiscated in 1818:

(1) Keppetipola, the former Dissawe of Ouva; (2) Godagedara, former Adikaram of Uva; (3) Ketakala Mohottala of Uva; (4) Maha Betmerala of Kataragama in Uva; (5) Kuda Betmerala of Kataragama in Uva; (6) Palagolla Mohottala of Uva; (7) Passerewatte Vidane of Uva; (8) Kiwulegedera Mohottala of Walapane; (9) Yalagomme Mohotalla of Walapane; (10) Udamadure Mohottala of Walapane; (11) Kohukumbure Rate Rala of Wellassa; (12) Kohukumbura Walauwe Mohottala of Wellassa; (13) Bootawe Rate Rala of Wellassa; (14) Kohukumbura Gahawela Rate Rala of Wellassa (15) Maha Badullegammene Rate Rala of Wellassa (16) Bulupitiye Mohottala of Wellassa; (17) Palle Malheyae Gametirale of Wellassa.

Why are all these leaders from just one part of the island? Why is the 1817-8 rebellion as a whole called the UVA-WELLASSA Rebellion and not the SINHALA Rebellion????

“Uva – Wellasa was populated by the Sinhalese.”

But not all or even most Sinhalese in existence lived in that single area. Therefore again, to say that THE Sinhalese rebelled instead of SOME Sinhalese is false.

“The Title of the book you introduced is “Kandy at War”.
Who populated these areas which were at war between 1594 and 1818 that the book refers to?”

Kandyans. If you bothered to read the book yourself, instead of relying on an excerpt from the internet, you would find that Mr Wickremesekera refers to the protagonists as “Kandyans” and not once as “Sinhalese.” Now why is that?

“Nevertheless, the reference is to the French who are the Ancestors of today’s French people.”

The reference more specifically is to the armed forces of the country, in this case FRANCE, which fought Germany. Just as it was the kingdom of KANDY, not SINHALA, which had fought the British. If you’re going to make silly statements that it was “the Sinhalese” who fought the British, you might as well further generalise that it was “the Sri Lankans” who had fought the British, but given your communal mentality you are incapable of that.

“Wijayapala makes the same mistake.
Gamarala makes the same mistake.
Am I responsible for your collective confusion with English usage?”

My dear OTC, if nobody here can understand your English, then perhaps it is your use of that language that requires improvement, not ours.

Sabbe laban,

I was writing about the river.
Unfortunately you veered off course and got lost.

Off the Cuff

I see no further reason to counter your point as much as it’s not correct to say that one of the tributaries of a river represents the “true” river!

We are arguing about the lost art of democratic debate.

http://www.ted.com/talks/michael_sandel_the_lost_art_of_democratic_debate.html

Dear Gamarala;

I am saturated with the soup for being there for a long time(you know as what!, ha! ha!!).

I have no objection for your tasting it a bit, but be careful not to go beyond the prescribed dose, it is allergic to so many people. You know allergies are sometimes fatal.

Ha! Ha!!

Thanks!

Glad to be a source of mirth, dear Yapa.

And I’m glad to see you returning that favour by refusing to taste the soup (which flew harmlessly over your head, thank goodness)once again.

sabbe laban,

I have responded to your rejoinder and you will find it under your post.

Thanks