TIME, July 14
    
Sri Lanka's 26-year civil war between the government and the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) came to a dramatic end in May with a decisive military victory and the killing of Velupillai Prabhakaran, the Tigers' fearsome leader. President Mahinda Rajapaksa is the man who tamed the Tigers. Now his task is to heal a nation still divided by tensions between the majority Sinhalese and the minority Tamils. In a rare, wide-ranging interview, Rajapaksa, 63, talked with TIME's Jyoti Thottam at the President's official compound in Colombo on July 10.

Full Story


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- The Academic

I usually don't agree with all MR has to say, this was a good interview.

My favorite line:

Q:

Quote:

Sometimes a wound needs airing to heal.

A:

Quote:

That is where the West is different from the East.

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"What is left when honor is lost?"

Quote:

Q: There is a sense of relief in the country now that the war is over, but there is also some anxiety among Tamils over what happens next.
A: If you ask the IDPs, they'll say, We want to go back to our villages. If you ask politicians, they'll say, We want this and that. But yes, we need to give a political solution.

Q: Do you believe in some kind of self-governance for the Tamils?
A: Don't say Tamils. In this country, you can't give separate areas on an ethnic basis, you can't have this. With the provinces, certainly there must be powers, where local matters can be handled by them.

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I am proud that I gave back to SL, the most productive 20 years of my working life.

kkk, I knew you would come back with that one - the political solution.
Talk is cheap and let there be more of them.


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"What is left when honor is lost?"

perl says:

Quote:

kkk, I knew you would come back with that one - the political solution.

Is that why you said that you "usually don't agree with all MR has to say"?

Anyway, I am glad that I have been able to prick your conscience. Be assured, it won't go away until you find the truth yourself. If you make it a point to meditate over the term a few times .....

By the way perl, you need to meditate on your tactics too. For instance, you have got into the bad habit of invoking Brian Seneviratne's name every time you can't make a valid point against me.

http://www.theacademic.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=93931&highlight=brian#93931
http://www.theacademic.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=93387&highlight=brian#93387
http://www.theacademic.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=93211&highlight=brian#93211

I looked up BS's history on this forum. These are the first ever posts hardx and kkk123 have made about BS:

hardX on 25 Jul 2005:

Quote:

Dr. Brian Senewiratne is a very old guy who has no idea what he is talking about.  He is trying to settle his old scores with CBK.  He appeared on one of the forum and when he was challenged, he left.  It is possible he is an LTTE agent.

kkk123 on 29 Sep 2006:

Quote:

Brian Senewiratne is a person who, in public, praised the use of child soldiers by the LTTE. He says that instead of denying the practice, the LTTE should be proud to proclaim to the world that even small children are fighting in the great liberation struggle. Do you think there is any good that can come from a sick mind like this?

You see perl, you have to be really desperate to call me a Brian S; I have never praised him or defended his beloved LTTE. I protested a number of times at your behaviour, even resorting to personal abuse, risking a ban from this forum. I even sent you PMs. One time you promised not to do it again, but quickly went back on your word.

Do you see my point when I say that you need meditation?


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I am proud that I gave back to SL, the most productive 20 years of my working life.

kkk, over 95% of the last post is not relevant to the topic and that only interest you and no one else.  
You just wasted time researching something that has nothing to do with the topic.  That is great credentials
to run a public office in Sri Lanka by the way.

If you are hoping a 'Political Solution' to your hypothetical 'Ethnic Problem' by MR, you will get one on paper.


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"What is left when honor is lost?"

Running away from the truth, perl? Your conscience will keep pricking whichever way your face is turned.


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I am proud that I gave back to SL, the most productive 20 years of my working life.

kkk, no point of sending PM.  I am fully capable of discussing issues directly whenever I want and in public.


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"What is left when honor is lost?"