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Colour of terrorism

After a recent trip to Sri Lanka, and watching BBC and Sky News 24-7, I wish to draw attention to some recent developments vis-a-vis the fight against so called global terrorism.

I appeal to all Sri Lankan policy makers, security officials, both responsible intelligent Governmental and opposition politicians to closely follow the events in Britain after insurgents aka rebels exploded bombs in London.

All of a sudden, for Blair, the horrible attacks in London were attacks against our core beliefs, our civilization and our way of life. He repeats this ad-nauseum, failing to realise his policies in Iraq and the thousands of civilian casualties caused by the invasion perhaps made them a target for homegrown British born terrorist evil doers.

Evidence shows all the attackers were 100 per cent British.

Watch carefully how the British authorities have moved swiftly to impose draconian anti-terrorism laws; they are now holding suspects without trial. (Apparently Tigers operating from Britain wreaking mayhem and killing thousands of civilians in Sri Lanka is a different situation that called for negotiation and appeasement.)

Watch how quickly their preachy concern for human rights of terror suspects dissipated when attacked. Watch carefully how they are arresting foreign nationals deemed to be a threat to national security.

Watch carefully how they now want to deport people.

Watch how some Government officials in Britain now want to put race labels on ID cards to differentiate British citizens based on their ethnicity or skin colour. The last time, anyone subjected its own native born citizenry to such labels was a nice young man by the name of Adolf Hitler. Is this how they want to react now with only five bombs in one month? How is Sri Lanka to react then after hundreds of bombs in 20 years?

Watch and listen carefully to how they seem to differentiate between threats to them emanating from all corners of the world, versus threats to Sri Lanka, India and other nations from terrorist groups operating from Britain.

Then act like how they act to curb terrorism.

This is not a UNP, PA or JVP matter. It is a matter of national security. Do as the British do now and not do as they preach. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

One nation one country - and U.N.P?

Sin has many tools, but a lie is the handle that fits them all, is an appropriate saying of Wendell Holmes which aptly suits Ranil Wickremesinghe's present day doings and utterances.

Sin and farce he committed as a Minister of State and Youth Affairs surpasses the misdeeds of all his buddies. Eventually as the happy go lucky leader of the party, he can be proud of counting the numerous pit holes he cut to drown the party seniors who were unwilling to be his henchmen.

When the entire country is in a turmoil he craves to be the cock of the walk forgetting his past obnoxious behaviour flushed with least respect to good advice of more experienced party seniors. Ranil Wickremesinghe without an iota of common sense encourages his blandishing supporters who possess ill-gotten money to promote him as the President of the country without considering the damage done by the tsunami to the whole country minus any consideration of helping the victims and rebuilding the devastated areas.

Voting out a ruling party is only a desperate gamble for the voters. It is only an expression of anger and not of support to belligerent leaders who mislead the country by exploiting their own foolish actions in the yesteryear. The enlightened citizenry and vibrant social and economic organisations contribute in a very big way to enhance democracy in the country.

Leaders like Wickremesinghe pay only lip service to democracy while negating all democratic norms and encouraging nepotisms in his own party which was a Bastian of democracy prior to 1977 general elections. The findings of a commission headed by a veteran and dedicated party stalwart like N. G. P. Panditharathne one time chairman and chief organiser of the party.

The Panditharathne commission clearly shows that how the present leadership is indifferent to the U.N.P. membership and long cherished party principles and traditions. The commission which was appointed by the U.N.P. working committee expresses disbelief that 29.9% Provincial Council and Pradesiya Sabha members, Party organisations and some organisers echoed the views of the ordinary members. About 30.7% had said that their representatives were arrogant and unreachable, 26.7% of the same group and 40.1% of the professionals say their representatives are corrupt and indisciplined. "Ordinary U.N.Pers had been dismayed and angry over their representatives being surrounded by thugs and criminals".

The report indirectly says that the blue eyed boys of the party leader should not be given nomination depriving genuine party workers without an un-prejudice assessment.

The Commission had ridiculed the leadership's opinion that the party did not have judicial powers to implement a code of conduct for all party Officers-MPS-PC members and members of Local Government bodies. The commission had rejected this idea as a mere excuse to condone and support corrupt practices and thus encouraging indiscipline in the party.

Hats off to Mr. Panditharathne and genuine knowledgeable, sincere party stalwarts in the committee who have expressed their candid opinion about U.N.P. under Ranil.

May the U.N.P. return to founder honourable D. S. Senanayake's thinking "One Nation One Country".

Hail Sri Lanka.

How to minimise road accidents

Road accidents in our country are increasing rapidly and our daily press bears testimony. Accidents at the Pedestrian Crossing must be minimized at any cost. My proposal is to make the vehicles stop 12-15 mt ahead of the Pedestrian Crossing by adjusting the yellow-line accordingly.

This space-buffer will enable the potential victim trying to cross the road to be aware of the impending danger from a motorist who will now be able to distance himself to some extent. This mutual understanding between the motorist and the pedestrian is all important.

Try this method at a place where road accidents are galore. The New Baseline Road is a good choice. If we cannot eliminate road accidents, let us at least minimize them.

Royal Park murder

When I first heard about the gruesome and savage killing at the Royal Park Condominium Apartments, I was shell shocked, and could not come to terms with myself, that our motherland could have such a brutal killing and that too to a young human being, especially a young girl in her teens. Ever since that time, I have been following closely, in the print and electronic media, the court proceedings that have been taking place.

The girl's father, has mentioned to his criminal lawyer, and in turn, it came in the print media, that the only thing he wants is justice, and no interference from outside.

It is my earnest hope and prayer, with no axe to grind, that the Judiciary, be given a free hand to carry out their official duties, in this murder case, without any interference, by which decisions are swayed and justice finally not met.

It may take years, as it is normal in murder cases, but it will be a monumental and landmark case in the history of criminal cases, recorded in the annals of our motherland's history, if truth and justice prevails.

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