I pity the supporters of the opposition parties, why must anyone be subjected to propaganda at all? Thing is some people don’t like to vote, and I’m sure those people would love to live their lives free of political propaganda at least when there is no election around the corner? Come on man, you’ve got your second term.

The above graph is something I borrowed from Wikipedia, it tries to demonstrate that advertising needlessly above the Saturation Threshold is nothing but fruitless in the long run. As you see as you increase the amount of advertising (raw GRPs; Gross Rating Points= the size of an audience reached by a specific media vehicle) the level of sales (votes) increase only at a slower rate after the saturation point is passed. Based on this simple inference, I feel that the SLFP spin doctors either enjoy unlimited budgets or view wasting money as an important part of their strategy!

Having said all of that, I quite liked the design of the commemorative LKR Rs1000 note! I suppose those spin doctors aren’t as dumb because the bank notes issued by the central bank don’t fall under their domain nor their budget.

Nevertheless allow me to make a case for why that gaudy design is not such a bad idea after all. S.W.R.D Bandaranaike who planted the seeds of ethnic strife had the chance to appear in his LKR note, so its only fair to say that MR has rightfully earned the honour to appear in an LKR note for ending that cancerous conflict!  (SWRD<MR, simple logic)

There is a gulf between credit that is given to someone, and credit that is taken by someone.

People may not remember MR for his magnanimity in victory.

The “free ga za” activists present in the batteered flottila were of varying political persuations and nationalities, and this makes it rather more damaging in the international stage. But Isreal is used to ignoring critisism from the human rights council of the UN thus the apparent support by Israel for an independant inquiry into the end of

war in sri lanka showers irony on Israel’s stance on human rights. I find it resonable to be suspicious about the very motives why Israel pushed for the type inquiry on feeble Sri Lanka, which it is now desperately trying to repell. Was it simply to divert attention from accusations on itself regurding the use of white phosphorous explosives on civillian areas of ga za

When you consider the figures, 10 000 tonns of aid that were headed toward the Ga za region was less than what Isreal would normally allow in through other channels. In all fairness to israel I fully understand why they feel that they need to stop items such as construction materials, fuel etc from reaching gaza.

After all an economic blockade of the regions of Sri Lanka occupied by LTTE was a key part of the successful stratergy adapted by the Government of Sri Lanka in order to win the long running civil war. But Sri Lanka’s streatergy always included the provission of health care in terms of trained doctors and medicines (even though it was widely known that some of the healthcare provission had to be used to treat injured rebels if the doctors wanted to have the slightest chance of treating civillians) as well as the transfer of patients out to more specialised units. Sri Lanka’s stratergy also included the provission of free education and I am certain that kids from occupied areas entered universities in the south- paid for by southern taxpayers (with a surprising lack of bitterness I must add).

An Economic blockade can never stop a terrorist group from launching attacks on their enemys. Like Hamas the LTTE too found ingenious ways to smuggle in what they require, but with much difficulty.

The blockade in sri lanka didn’t stop the LTTE from building lavish underground bunkers for its elite, however it DID severely restrict the speed and eventual number of such fortification being built due to the obvious scarcity of building materials, construction equipment and fuel. And that is a Stratergic advantage GoSL may have not had without an economic blockade. GoSL also gained a certain amount of good will from the people of the north and east for the healthcare and education it provided unsipricsingly Israel seems to be failing on the hearts and minds opperation! But I do understand that people of palastine are not technically israel’s responsibility.. But it certainly could be more generous in the amount of healthcare supplies it allows into gaza.

Still Israel did score an own goal by blindly walking into a PR dissaster trap, and that is a bit foolish on their part. I imagine delivering the humanitarian aid was never the biggest priority for the organisers but the careless way Israel handled this situation more than helped their aim to raise awareness

It’s hard to believe pro LTTE diASSpora didn’t pull this trick off successfully. I guess it’s too late

So to bring all you Sri’s back home upto speed  Outnumbered is a British Comedy Award winner and BAFTA nominated British sitcom that has aired on BBC One since 2007. It is said to have attracted about 5 million viewers on its opening night and it fairs much better than some of the crap BBC’s for TV channels comeup with forgetting that they are wasting hard earned money paid in as the licence fees!

Bloated Government in my opinion has held Sri Lanka back from realising its true potential, and too much collectivism has robbed Sri Lankans from the enterprenerial spirit out of which prosperous nations emerge. Sri Lankan needs reform in so many areas of government- but nothing more so than the tax system!

Its like this (according to Mrs Thacher), “A man may climb Everest for himself, but at the summit he plants his country’s flag.!” Higher taxes in order to fund the betterment of “society” has made climbing the mountain of wealth harder than it already is! Disincentive effects of a convoluted and incoherant tax system acts like a glass cieling, through which the mostly sinhalese middle class find it unnecceriy (and sometimes imposibly) hard to break-through.

Why should the middle class end up paying ridiculously high tax rates (eg 300%) for the humble (or one might even condemn them as crappy old shits) Japanese motors they buy? Isnt that extra 3x of the cost better injected into the economy, rather than into the government? And not to mention the amount of debt ordinary middle class people are accumilating?

Unnecessarily high taxation kills the motivation to work hard, take risks and make a better quality of life for themselves and their families. Why should anyone bother going into all the effort of getting richer if they can clearly see that the government is eyeing for their money, even before they have made any? I accept that money doesnt buy happiness; but I’d rathet cry in a ferrari than in a worn out reconditioned Nissan.

If politicians of today (and tomorrow) fail to build a common political concensus required to simplify and reduce the burden of taxes on the middle class as well as corperations; it will be those very same (political) promises of a better Sri Lanka that will fail to see the light of reality.

I guess its time to bury the “selfish gene” whithin me… Good Bye for now.

I still vaguely remember her telling me that she will take care of me like a mother. Honestly, I can’t say that I understood what she meant. But I was as confused as the 40 or so tough-guys crying in the background. I didn’t cry; I kept smiling at my mom who was outside of the classroom watching the proceedings of the first day of her son’s career at Royal.

Even during the dark days of the 90’s when Sri Lanka was burning, we lived like brothers. Everyone subconsciously knew that the atmosphere inside the gates of Rajakeeya Mawatha was one full of mutual tolerance and loving-kindness. We always left divisions of race, class etc outside the school gate- no one told us to do that; everyone felt best if we did so!

It wasn’t a secular society by any means, there were Buddhist symbols everywhere… but they were put in there in order give the feeling of peace and never to intimidate or as a way of showing force! Sill was observed during Vesak week, April New Year was always cheerful, and everyone looked forward to sharing the massive bowl of “watalappan” which many Muslims brought into school at the end of Ramadan. It certainly was a tolerant society in which everyone was tolerated for what they were.

I sometimes felt to be Sri Lankan or to be Sinhala or Tamil or whatever always came second to being a “Royalist”. Those divisions had their flaws thus created conflicts; therefore being a royalist was not entirely an identity by itself but means to avoid conflicts.

Eton produces upper class dick heads… I’ll just leave it at there.

For all its flaws- for me Eton can never be as good as Royal College.

I love you Royal; I really do… you have been a mother to me.

1. A cash sum that is expected to be paid back to the source must be one that was received by the political party under the category of a loan. The category under which the party received the cash sum may only remain under the same category as it was when it was received. (I.e. a donation can’t be changed late into a loan and paid back.. I’m not sure if I have worded it clearly enough)
2. A recognised political party of Sri Lanka shall only receive donations from a Sri Lankan national.
3. A recognised political party of Sri Lanka shall only obtain a loan through either a bank which is authorized to do business in Sri Lanka, a privately owned company incorporated in Sri Lanka which has been doing business for at least 10 years under the current owner.
4. A recognised political party of Sri Lanka may not own any income generating assets, unordered to ensure that its policy decisions are not biased.
5. A recognised political party of Sri Lanka shall only receive a loan or a donation from a named source
6. A recognised political party of Sri Lanka shall only receive a cash sum from a source that is not directly connected to its elected members’ immediate family.
7. A recognised political party of Sri Lanka shall submit make all of its accounts to the public domain.
8. A recognised political party of Sri Lanka shall not accept any covert conditions attached to a loan or a donation. (this in practise will be easy to get around haha check this out http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/937232.stm )
9. A recognised political party of Sri Lanka shall document all accounts without exception.
10. A recognised political party of Sri Lanka shall not be entitled to have other entities people to accept or carryout transactions/expenditure on their behalf. (for example the TNA won’t be allowed to have a  3rd party legal entity accept money from LTTE front organisations and have it spend on behalf of them… )
11. A donation is defined as a cash sum received by a recognised political party of Sri Lanka, with no formal conditions attached.
12. A loan is defined as a cash sum received by a recognised political party of Sri Lanka, with formal conditions attached regarding interest and payback time.
13. A recognised political party of Sri Lanka may not accept any cash sums from any of the following lists
    

    I wonder how he will make ends meet?

• An NGO neither foreign nor local
• A religious organisation
• A foreign national
• A foreign commercial entity
• A foreign government
• A department of the democratic socialist if Sri Lanka
• A cooperation owned by the state either fully or partially.
• An entity listed as a terrorist group. Or a Tamil tiger front organisation.
• Any foreign state.
• An individual who has had past links with any banned terrorist group.

My intentions are not to bring total anachy accross the sri lankan political system.; therefore if these proposals are ever implimented it would certainly be a good idea it is done gradually.

If our priority is to make our political system more equitable and more representative of local interests then I would argue that my proposals can be of use.

Another alternative to stopping dodgey party funding is for the govt to directly fund political parties; but the cost would be ginormous considering the “ridiculous” number of political parties in sri lanka

Ok let me make my intentions of this  post very clear… I wish to make a case for a Parliamentary TV Channel in Sri Lanka.

I for many years have been frustrated with the fact that I have no way of seeing what happens inside the parliament. An ordinary citizen who is supposed to be represented during the workings of the parliament has no easy way of judging if they are truly and sufficiently represented. We simply have a very limited idea if they [politicians] talk gossip inside the parliament or if they adhere to the constitution and to pass laws. Lack of accountability starts when the spread of information fails, if people do not see what happens inside their parliament (or do not have an easy way of seeing), politicians are not under the same pressures to actually account for their actions.

This is not a problem that exists exclusively within the political system of Sri Lanka, but it is a problem that Sri Lanka can and most certainly will benefit by solving it. It’s so called benefits will not be felt overnight in terms of great reductions in corruption and do not be naive enough to expect Mervin Silva to stop swearing when he disagrees too soon. But it will highlight the disgrace of voting for incompetent politicians like Mervin Silva. It will really expose to our Maha Sangha and out people that Mervin Silva is nothing but an opportunist thug turned orator who claims to be an reincarnation of warrior; then they can make up their minds. We must not forget that- “Seeing is believing”.

A parliamentary TV channel in my opinion would force politicians to observe a certain degree of mutual respect for each other and level of sanity even a group of primary school kids can be exposed to. They will know that journalists, bloggers, pundits, political gurus, and citizens of varying influence will have access to visual content of debates and proceedings of parliament. No longer shall the politically keen people of Sri Lanka have to rely on short sound bites of parliamentary proceedings fed to them drop by drop though 8 o’clock express news reels. Instead they have a unedited source of information, broadcasted live.

Maybe the viewers would be quite keen on seeing what different MPs thought of the important issues surrounding the debate about a Sri Lankan homeland security strategy. After watching this debate on the “Sri Lanka Parliamentary Channel”(that’s very unimaginative, I must admit) they can reconsider if they wanted to vote for a particular MP, who’s views they didn’t fancy becoming law.

Watching live debates is admittedly one of the most boring things you can do especially if it’s on tax rates for farm equipments! And without a doubt it is one of those niche channels which most “cool” kids hate, and it probably comes quite close to the bottom spot in ratings after Euotrash dating channels. But when the BBC parliament broadcasted the full proceedings of the select committee inquiry on the “legality of the Iraq war”; Tony Blair being grilled for 6 hours, a very channel that seemed lifeless to many spouted into life…

I have listed down several problems that are likely to be encountered in the journey to start a parliamentary TV channel of Sri Lanka. And for some of those I have tryied to come up

1. Political unwillingness: no solution.
   
2. TV spectrum issues: adopting a live telecast through the parliament.lk website is a simple solution, or free to air satellite will be a better alternative
   
3. Finance: It can be either funded through a consortium of private and state media channels.Or you can have a state funded one, and a private channel(maybe funded by a consortium again..) as the end of the day the state funded one and the private one both will resort to feeding their own viewpoints to us.. Even though this is a wasteful option; I like it…

Here are some links for you to check out.. do be aware the live streaming content may not be available outside eg. NZ, uk etc

http://www.europarltv.europa.eu/

http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Home.aspx

http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/bbc_parliament/default.stm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/playlive/bbc_parliament/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Parliament

http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/AboutParl/SeeHear/PTV/

Change vs. picking sides

Hope is a word that means “bullshit” in the developing world. It has been overkilled by politicians whom we elected  for all the wrong reasons.  Hope, for me, is desire without a plan! I don’t actually believe that Gen. Sarath Fonseka is “believerble”? Or indeed he has the calibre to “change” anything at all in civilian politics? He was just the army commander at the right time with the right political climate and the right leadership. And if that confers a presidential characteristic; then logic must be seriously skewed!

As we all know, for us Sri Lankan’s, An Obama never descended from the heavens. He must be stuck somewhere in the making. We have had to make do with men and women who can shout populist rubbish the loudest. Therefore the claim that SF can be “believed” despite his un-Obama-like aura and very-un-0bama-like personal integrity[according newspapers/tv] is bound to raise some eyebrows…

So pick a side and be sure to pick the safest side. Pick the side that ended a war deemed unwinnable, pick the side that has its priorities right, pick the side that passionately believes in conservation of natural resources and culteral artifact, pick the side that believes in fairness, pick the side that won’t (hasn’t so far) let you down. Vote for Mahinda Rajapakse- to fight the good fight against poverty, hunger and dispair in the former warzone.

Change has been reaping its fruits for sometime now… But dont expect everything to change into something alien; because ‘this is Sri Lanka’ and it will always be.

Let me leave you with a quote from the amazing film blood diamond…
“TIA init Danny, yeah TIA (this is Africa)”

THIS IS SRI LANKA (TI-SL)
(Cheesy yeah ha-ha)

(Based on fiction on Jan 24, 2010 @ 10:18GMT)People are in premature jubilation. As they look to the horizon with their eyes lit with the prospect of “believable” change, it is not the firecrackers deafen their ears; but bullets. Bullets being sprayed at innocents resisting the orders to keep calm! But how can they?

The day just got younger, more and more people rushed to the shops to grab all the food and gas they can afford. The thich black fog slowly took Colombo as its hostage, the smell of burning rubber infuriated everyone… So Rupavahini for playing the song “maha-rajaneni” (great king) on the loop ignoring the poll results; just like the soldiers who are marching at pace.

Sirasa reports that Dayananda Dissanayake, the election commissioner has been placed under house arrest, however the BBC reports its worse- but no one really knows… Surely one thing is for sure; parents won’t send their kids to school tomorrow. Storms are also brewing out of the island too… Expats trying to Skype their relatives are realising that the internet has been blacked out!

Defence.lk website times out, however many time you try to refresh the page, so Google-news remains the only place to find news. Obama, Gordon Brown, Nicolas Sarkozy have all condemned the breakdown of democracy in Sri Lanka. But all hope is not lost; India has Deployed 12 battle ships to Colombo. And threatens to advance inland if retaliated or if the results are not released within the next 6 hours. However, China said it couldn’t really care; isn’t it funny no one is surprised?

Yet I sit here a million miles away munching on a packet of digestive biscuits, thinking of home, and the people I used to know. Drenched in sorrow for the decline of a system which I held so dear to me. Democracy, you will be dearly missed. But hope lives on… My mind is tired of trying to visualise the chaos back home, I can’t take this anymore. I am off to the pub to get my life drastically shortened.

(This is purely fictional and I hope this won’t be a prediction that comes true… no matter who wins i hope this never happens..)