Time to take a stand against UNP and SLFP

It was my firm belief that if Sri Lanka is to progress in an unprecedented way it would be led by either one of the two main political parties of Sri Lanka, UNP or SLFP. A visionary leader taking hold of one of the parties, reforming it and leading a social and economical revolution. Among those two UNP was my best bet because of its pro market economic policies and more liberal outlook.

The dream was this in spite of both UNP and SLFP been unsuccessful for 60 years of independence, been extremely corrupt and undemocratic for more than 40 years, taking turns in screwing us and most importantly with no visible visionary leader for some time to come.

The government was extremely popular for the only reason of successful military campaign against the rebel tigers. Mahinda looked like he would be reelected with a landslide. Mahinda went for the presidential elections 2 years earlier because he was much less confident of his ability to take post war Sri Lanka forward than his stringent of supporters.

Then came Sarath Fonseka as the common presidential candidate. The man who had the guts to oppose moves to take down army camps in Ranil's peace initiatives even when the Army commander at that time kept silent had the guts to challenge the ever so popular president. For some one like me who was looking for any viable opposition candidate to cast a protest vote for the bad governance, who is not afraid to be politically incorrect, delighted to see the patriot-traitor divide been diluted Fonseka looked like a gift. Not for the hope of defeating Rajapakshe but to pressurize him who was on a popular wave because of inability of the opposition than his abilities. To prevent him winning with a landslide and taking hold of the country more.

But things came to change. I think Rajapakshe is still leading Fonseka but not by much. But a wind of change is blowing. Rajapakshe's popularity is decreasing by every passing day.Landslide victory is out of the equation already. Fonseka supporters are speaking out louder than their rivals. Rajapakshe campaign is reduced to using government media in Goebbels style and the corrupt artists(why these artists are labeled as corrupt would be another post). Fonseka rallies are attended by crowds seen never before in recent times while Rajapakshe campaign is reduced to transporting their supporters from all around the island through cheaply hired CTB buses(One more case for bad governance). If the inevitable dirty tricks and conspiracy theories of the government doesn't hold in the few days to come Fonseka has a real good chance of coming up with the surprise win of Sri Lankas election history.

This situation has presented us, the public of Sri Lanka with once in a life time chance. The first real, not only non main stream but also non partisan candidate is having a real chance of winning a presidential election. We have the ability to sent the message to both main political parties that we have been fooled for too long now, that we would not go on silenty about the 60 years of unsuccessful rule and that our dreams and hopes are high as Namal Rajpakshes and all their children.

Obviously the first step in that movement should be to defeat president Rajapakshe on 26th. If Rajapakshe gets defeated SLFP would crumble in general election due in 2010. With SLFP been delivered the knockout punch next in line is UNP. Like some government supporters I too believe that UNP doesn't deserve power right now. Ranil is clinging to leadership undemocratically, their attitude on the military campaign was discouraging and how they reacted to bad governance and corruption was not that satisfactory. The punch in the face for the UNP could be delivered in the general election. If Fonseka wins, it looks like UNP and JVP would go alone in the general election. If we can vote about atleast 30 JVP'ers into the parliament and with Fonseka in presidency, UNP would find themselves in a helpless situation with no real power to abuse where they would have to work hard to stop their votes been eroded to JVP. I see no other real chance of doing this. If not this time it will always be either SLFP or UNP screwing us turn by turn.

So if there is anyone still undecided about whom to vote on the 26th I would like to kindly request you to consider voting for Fonseka. Each and everyone of us is not a Fonseka and Fonsekas probably come once in the history of a country.

Fonseka, Mahinda and Corruption

Sri Lanka is a really interesting subject when it comes to politics. Scandals don't come into light until those who are accused cross away from the side where power resides. Then those who are militantly protected labeled as true patriots become traitors overnight. The latest drama is the so called scandal of Hycorp international which is supposed to be managed by the son in law of Sri Lankas only serving four star General, Rajapakshe families only threat, presidential candidate Rtd General Sarath Fonseka.

I think some scandal must have happened here. I had great respect for this man but I was not one who religiously believed him to be a saint like those from the patriotic camp (interesting these are the same people who are attacking fonseka most now). I was not blinded by patrionism to see the arrogant nature of Fonseka and I didn't claim Fonseka to be the Worlds best army commander, well because it was so naive of our citizens. But I still give him the credit he deserves. He is a disclipined man, there are more than enough facts to believe he is much much less corrupt than the Rajapakshe trio.

I think Fonseka needs at least try to clean himself here. I think someone from Fonseka camp should come to a debate with the government about the alleged frauds in arms deals. But so should Mahinda. Mahinda should at least try to clean himself from Helping Hambantota scandal. Mahinda should explain what right he has to spend public money for his election campaign through various 'dansalas'( those who attend these dansalas should be ashamed of themselves than Mahinda). Mahinda should explain how cross overs in Sri Lanka cost way too much than international standards and I think I could keep continuing these things.

Once the election is over Goatabaya also should try to clean himself. I personally need the Lanka Logistics to go through a proper investigation( even though I know the result of the investigation if Mahinda wins) and the CID needs to investigate about a certain security firm that is getting most of the security contracts of government institutions.

This puzzles me why only Fonseka needs to clean himself when it is apparent who has most of corruption allegations against in this presidencial elections.

Religiousness and intelligence

There was an interesting post on http://religurd.wordpress.com/ on the religious importance of countries. The most religious countries were likely to be less developed (Sri Lanka was among the top 10 most religious countries).

Now I found this article on average IQ of countries vs religious importance of the country. Countries that are more religious were more likely to have lesser IQ's while countrie that are less religious tend to have higher IQ's and be more developed as well.

I hope that no one will take this as an insult towards religions or an attempt to paint religious people as less intelligent. I don't say religions are nonsense but all the same I don't want to hide my jubilation after this find either because this is something I had observed and suspected all along.

The article is very interesting please have a look.

Amila thero arrested

First I need to state the fact that I don't like Amila thero much. First I don't like it when Buddhist monks use the irrational blind faith that Sri Lankans hold towards Buddhism to achieve political objectives. I don't like Buddhists like amila thero who tries to combine government and religion into one. I don't like monks who think they own this country over the unsuspecting common man. I don't like rowdy monks like this thero who give a bad image to Buddhism which is infact an interesting philosophy. But whether I don't like it or not anyone in this country has the right to engage in politics. The government should understand this or at least the public should.

Amila thero has been arrested by the CID and the move looks highly suspicious. It is a well known fact that National Bikkhu Front which is led by amila thero took sides with the JVP after Wimals defection and is supporting the candidature of Fonseka. The thero had been an outspoken critic of the government for sometime now. It is stated that the thero had recently attended a rally of Fonseka and made some powerful speeches.

The allegation against the thero is taking money to send people abroad through illegal channels. Given the fact that the police and the CID shamelessly politicized under this government this is most like a false allegation. Or else if the allegations are true why had the CID have to wait this long? Does that mean you can engage in corruption as long as you support the government? Either way the actions of the CID and the government is undemocratic. What is most dangerous is not this undemocratic behavior of the government but general public tolerating these things over various excuses. Looks like our society has come to a point where those in power could do anything and get away.

To some LTTE was

To some hate mongers among LTTE was,
A product of west, when they wanted to hate west,
A product of India, when they wanted to hate India,
some catholics, when they wanted to hate catholics,
some tamils, when they wanted to hate tamils.

Interesting thing was for them the definition LTTE changed routinely accordingly to whom they wanted to hate. Now that the LTTE is gone would they come with new enemies?

Final hours of Prabha

The official story, that Prabhakaran was shot somehow and then soldiers finding his body in a lagoon while media been able cover that exact moment live sound like a fairy to me. Army chief keep insisting that Prabhakaran was killed even before his body was found was also suspicious. I think Prabhakran was captured through a surprise commando type attack or a gas attack and then executed. Is the body of Pottu Amman found? If not it would also surface from some lagoon after some time I guess.

Will tamil militancy rise again?

IMHO I don't think so for the following reasons.

1) Almost all the top leadership of LTTE is gone.
2) Tamil people who supported tamil militancy back in 1980's had not experienced any war, but now they have. I don't think those people would want any more war.
3) Even guarilla style attacks by any remaining LTTE cadres would not be possible. Our Special Forces have become very lethal over the years and Sri Lanka is a small island with no crossable borders.
4) TamilNadu does not look like much enthusiastic about a Tamil Ealam.

So in my opinion any power devolution to address the tamil militancy problem is not required anymore. Devolution of power away from the western province should take place, but any devolution should be equal across the whole country, North and East should not be treated in any special way just because there was an uprising.

Let's hoist the national flag minus the buddhist flag

The conventional military force of LTTE is made to rest, with almost all the top leadership killed. People are celebrating all over the place, and rightly so. Let's hoist the national flag everywhere possible and feel proud. But While doing that let's remove the Buddhist flags that could be seen along with the national flag on some places. Don't bring Buddhism into this.

Where is the old Beyond Frame

I found some rare free time after so much time, hence finding myself writing more, and yes some could be spam posts.

Beyond Frame Was my previous favorite sinhala blogger, until taboo subject came along and BF decided to make his blog ridicule dedicated. BF if you are reading this I just wanted to tell that you are good at ridiculing the ridiculous but you were better when you wrote about real issues.

Another thing I noticed is BF never comes to the list of top blog posts, yet his blogs hits are a mammoth 30,000. So he must have made a dedicated reader set. One of those who started through kottu but has moved ahead. Congrats BF!

Ban request on chilichoclate

NB did an ass stunt on RD and got banned from kottu. It was said that there was a policy on kottu against exposing private details of other bloggers. Fair enough.

Now I see Chilichoclate or whatever has done a NB on NB himself by posting not only his photos but his family's as well. By going by the policies of kottu it is my belief that this blog should also be banned.