mr.fonseka was one of many who led the war against the ltte.v.muralitharan was also very helpfull.the political leadership was the main factor.i supported h.e. m.r. in 2010,because i did not want fonseka,in my opinion a sinhale chauvenist,supported by the national socialist idiots,the jvp ,to become the president.i have not forgotten the atrocities of the jvp. democracy may still look frail,but did we have democracy during the time of j.r. or premadasa.i wish fonseka would be sent to jail for life. ranjit de mel berlin/colombo

*** They returned in the six months to January this year, only to find themselves victims of post-war development plans.***

LOL! How can one be a VICTIM of DEVELOPMENT? If there were NO DEVELOPMENT would he be better off????

When there was NO DEVELOPMENT and we were stuck in the MANACLES of WAR, the only people CELEBRATING were the TAMIL EELAMISTS who were ROOTING for OUR DESTRTUCTION. The TAMIL SUFFERING was blamed on the SINHALESE and the Sinhalese and Muslims who suffered was unimportant and ignored. I have little doubt in my mind that this so-called Local Organizer Kumaraswamy Nageswaran fellow was one of them prior to the ANNIHILATION of the LTTE from our SOIL. He and the others like him can only be upset about MASS DEVELOPMENT and GROWTH because he has found himself marginalized to the status of a VILLAGE IDIOT. He reminds me of a COFFIN MAKER or HEAD STONE BUILDER.... one who's profession booms when everyone else's does not.

Sri Lanka has many painful Birth Pangs to go through. Development will change industries, Demographics, and even Social Attitudes... All of Which are UNQUESTIONABLY a GOOD THING for the vast majority of our people. For those who

Only the EELAM SLANTING Economist Magazine (which pictured a NON-EXISTENT FANTASY LAND on its FRONT COVER)

is quick to sow the seeds of doubt and despair after our country attains LIBERATION. Who knows what kind of TAMIL EELAMIST with influence works there...?

Actually no one can really rest easy as the issues leading to and arising post-conflict have not been satisfactorily resolved. Sri Lanka is a small country with no borders to defend and now no terrorsit threat within. It could easily be the success story of the 21st century.
The discomfort is mainly due to the actions of the regime and our politicians who do not seem to have any vision to unite and develop the country. Corruption, mis-management, wastage, high defence expenditure all plague our economy. Lack of respect for Human Rights, Rule of Law and Good Governance are the other reasons for our backwardness.

1. There are ethnic conflicts around the world(including Sri Lanka) that are exacerbated by development along ethnic lines.

2.
a. http://transcurrents.com/tc/2010/08/post_563.html

Collective trauma in the Vanni- a qualitative inquiry into the mental health of the internally displaced due to the civil war in Sri Lanka, Daya Somasundaram, 28 uly 2010: ''The psychosocial and mental health consequences of massive trauma to individuals, families and communities can be profound. The interventions for recovery and regeneration should be holistic, integrated and multisectorial (Table 1). However, the underlying political context and struggle for control, power, discourse and obedience complicates what is allowed and can be done.''

b. http://transcurrents.com/tc/2010/06/vanni_northern_sri_lanka_where.html

Vanni, northern Sri Lanka, where war has never ended, 1 June 2010: ''.... One head of an NGO based in Mannar told me “permission has been granted only to build houses and infrastructure and start income generating activities. Permission has been rejected for counselling, capacity building and empowerment activities. So we are restricted in what we can do”.

Development for whom?

http://transcurrents.com/tc/2010/03/no_funds_to_meet_needs_of_near.html/
No funds to meet needs of nearly 200,000 Northern IDPs due to govt refusal to endorse 2010 action plan, 13 March 2010: ''The funding crisis follows the government’s refusal to endorse the 2010 Common Humanitarian Action Plan (CHAP), authoritative sources said. Produced annually through a collaboration of all major humanitarian assistance groups in the country (including UN agencies), the CHAP is a document listing out priority areas for donor funding along with estimates.''

http://transcurrents.com/tc/2010/06/vanni_northern_sri_lanka_where.html#more
Vanni, northern Sri Lanka, where war has never ended, Melanie Manel Perera,1 June 2010:
''The area is still actually in the hands of the military, which allowed the return of the population but force them to live in absolute poverty. The military blocks any attempts to improve their lives, but does not stop abuse and violence.''

http://blog.srilankacampaign.org/2010/07/why-most-journalists-visiting-sri-lanka.html
Why most journalists visiting Sri Lanka don't see what is really happening.....and a report from one who did, 20 July 2010:
''I did enquire about the reason behind such a procedure and called the ministry of defence. I wanted to see if I could do this playing by the rules. But I was told by a ministry official that the procedure was aimed at stopping people from “reporting bad things”. ''

http://www.unitingworld.org.au/2010/07/tamils-in-sri-lanka-seek-asylum-a-need-no-more/
Tamils in Sri Lanka seeking asylum: A need no more? Rev John Barr, 22 July 2010:

''....My recent journey to the north of the island gave a chilling insight into the issues that thousands of Tamils continue to face. …My experience left me questioning whether Tamils are truly safe from harm today. ...''

Thanks to people like Devinda Fernando we Sri Lankans are portrayed as racist communalists

With people like Devinda Fernando who needs enemies !

Is this what the Economist has been held up by the customs about ?

If so another gross overreaction...what it says is nothing compared to some of the realities.

Thanks to these columns we were able to read this piece. Back at home where apologists shout hoarsely all is normal and democracy is as alive as anywhere else, the Economist issue is once again banned because it carried this somewhat innocuous article. Even those subscribers who pay in advance for their copies were denied their reading. It must be tough for our UK HC to walk with a straight face there. Stephen Sachur will doubtless take note. Shame.

ISS

Prejudiced minds of creatures like Devinda Fernando cannot, with their jaundiced eyes, see what the impartial Economist representative has. In the guise of development these IDPs found, on their return from enforced incarceration, their ancestral homes and lands are gone. As the Economist reports Govt's favoured henchmen will get their land for "development"
But in the case of the Veddah Chief in the Amparai area who complains the cemetery of his people has been expropriated for a Tourist venture, it is more than likely there could well be speedier and more realistic justice to them. What the Tamils will get, going by other examples, is exactly what Mr Nageswaran laments here "the land is dry, soil poor and lacking in water
for cultivation" Said the Bard more than half a millenium ago "even the smallest worm will turn - being trod on"

ISS

Thanks to Economist to expose what is happening in SriLanka and Tamil week for making it available to the public.This is only part of the story.  This is why the government wants the emergency, increase the army to intimidate the poor citizens who are protesting against corruption etc.Raj

The truth is unchangeable. It is not relative. "people desire dignity first and development later", is an established and undisputed truth.

Liberty and justice preserve the dignity of men, a precursor for initiation and innovation in economic development; well proven and exemplified in the economies of the USA and South Africa(SA).

Like any other intelligent human beings with vision, the people who mandated Tamil Eelam(TE) in 1976 and 1977, rightly sought "Political dignity" first, before, economic development.

They were absolutely right. The entire economic infrastructure was devastated by shells and bombs because of lack of "Political dignity".

Without political self determination, independence and empowerment for self planning, any "economic development" of TE is hypocritical, especially, when it is sponsored by a colonial, anti-Tamil, represssive, genocidal and war criminal government that militarily occupies TE. It is "lollies" to babies.

The hidden agenda behind the "economic development" of the present government of Sri Lanka(GOSL), that refuses to bring to justice the soldiers who brutally killed 40,000 Tamil civilians, and an ongoing UN inquiry for war crimes in SL is obvious. It is deception and "economic colonialism".

Democracy is designed for accountability but not for Tamil lives in SL.

What is appropriately required is disinvestment in and economic embargo against SL, to avoid Tamils being made slaves by the GOSL to lie in a corner and suck their thumbs.

It worked for apartheid SA. It should work for SL.

Disinvestment and tough economic embargo brought the apartheid regime of SA to its senses and knees. If that was not done to SA in 1960's, that country would not have abandoned apartheid in 1990's.

Prodigals are destined to eat "swine food" before they come to their senses !

SL should have been similarly disciplined by the UN and the International Community in 1983. Though it is 27 years late, it has to be done, at least now, to bring the GOSL to its senses.

It is an opportunityand a challenge for the diaspora now to build the economies of the North and the East, with the sums in the hands of some of its orgnizations needs are not difficult tomeet.

With the prevailing conditions, availability of fresh water conbined with the diverse work force, Tamils as well as the Muslims and the Sinhales who were nota a vibrant partsin the last century, North and the East is ideal for all sorts of farming. I saw many examples atradyin th Trincomalee. The rainfall is seasonal, but is retained in limestone soil of Jaffna peninsula, and local farmers had perfected the system with Suriyakola fertilizer and Aandi ling - speciality introduced by Andra Pradesh immigrants. TOtal annual rainfall exceeding 70 inches is three times that of many a land in temperate zones.

We see above that propaganda machines of some junkets still are war hungry but these are the folks with limos and even the lowest strata in Canada are beneficiaries of generous welfare given to refugees bogus or genuine. If these characters have their way North and East will go back to war for another generation.

Forget clearing the mines.,
Forget providing electricity, roads, water
Just let the IDP's out - let them go back to their homes and dig out the mines with their bare hands if the want to live or farm there. Let them dig their own wells. Let them find fuel to light their own lamps. Let them find the materials and labor to build their own homes (that way , there would be no need for the Indian workers either !!)

if they want money, let them find it any way they can - Doubtless the ever-critical diaspora will be happy to contribute !

For, whatever the GOSL does, it's certainly not going to be met with any approval

So why bother ? Theres lots more work in other parts of the country that needs to be done. Why waste it on these ne'er do wells ?

At least this way, the diaspora will feel vindicated and be very happy.