The United States is going gaga over Sri Lanka

[Pomegranate]

US is interfering in all the countries very soon all the countries would make alliance against them

 

[syedali73]

Apology because samv is making a fool out of himself on this forum and giving an impression that Sri Lanka is a typical conspiracy theory zoo.

I don't see him making fool out of himself rather being cautious as any patriot should be. I have seen my country getting destroyed in the romance of West and US hence I find myself a bit inclined towards being cautious. Thats all.

 

[samv]

Apology because samv is making a fool out of himself on this forum and giving an impression that Sri Lanka is a typical conspiracy theory zoo.

I don't think I'm making a fool of myself at all. Your anger and frustration betrays the fact that you are uncomfortable with the truths that I am exposing for wider view.

There are two major camps in Sri Lanka when it comes to foreign policy, capitalist and socialist. Capitalists would prefer US/West and socialists prefer China/East and yet you don't see this level of immaturity by anyone when discussing politics. The majority of ordinary Sri Lankans would prefer healthy relations with both.

Wrong. There is no such thing called "capitalist" and "socialist" camps when it comes to foreign policy. Basically the English educated, Colombo elite are pro-west. People like Ranil Wickremasinghe can't even speak proper Sinhala which is the native language of the people alongside Tamil. He has no appeal among the people, which is why he only comes to power through the back door, and not by standing for elections.

Even MR's brothers are US citizens and when he lost the election his brothers went back to US. MR in his second term was not successful at maintaining foreign policy. He was indulging in nepotism and corruption.

Can you please enlighten everyone in this forum on how pro-US the previous Sri Lankan administration was? And how the USA was such a fan? They were such big fans that they couldn't even tolerate Sri Lanka defeating the LTTE.

There are few Sri Lankan members who are belonged to the socialist camp on this forum and they discuss matters logically. As I said, if he has issues over new Sri Lankan government he can simply post in the thread that is dedicated for it but he has nothing good to contribute. You can take a look at that thread if you like or you can ask fellow Sri Lankan members - @Saradiel @Gibbs @HeinzG

Keep on with your delusions. Bascially you don't want the truth to be exposed, or the hypocrisy of people like Ranil, Chandrika to be exposed. A typical boot licker does the same thing. I will post articles and interesting posts where I wish - not in some thread that you've decided to make and then accuse anyone else who doesn't post in there of "having nothing good to contribute." What a laugh.

I don't see him making fool out of himself rather being cautious as any patriot should be. I have seen my country getting destroyed in the romance of West and US hence I find myself a bit inclined towards being cautious. Thats all.

People like Azizam would never understand.

 

[Azizam]

I don't see him making fool out of himself rather being cautious as any patriot should be. I have seen my country getting destroyed in the romance of West and US hence I find myself a bit inclined towards being cautious. Thats all.

He's not being cautious. He just can get over the fact that his favourite politically party lost the election and now he's throwing mud at the current government at the cost of country. He could care less about Sri Lanka. All he wants is to prove his point even if the entire country is destroyed. Ties with China will improve under the new government and they would attempt at creating a dynamic foreign policy instead of depending on one side as MR did. Also Sri Lankan and Pakistani situations are very different and every developed country in Asia-pacific is pro-US so this theory of US being the evil boogeyman is simply wrong. Sri Lanka is small country that is business-oriented, much like Singapore. It's priority is to have a healthy economy, not playing geopolitical games.

I don't think I'm making a fool of myself at all. Your anger and frustration betrays the fact that you are uncomfortable with the truths that I am exposing for wider view.




Wrong. There is no such thing called "capitalist" and "socialist" camps when it comes to foreign policy. Basically the English educated, Colombo elite are pro-west. People like Ranil Wickremasinghe can't even speak proper Sinhala which is the native language of the people alongside Tamil. He has no appeal among the people, which is why he only comes to power through the back door, and not by standing for elections.




Can you please enlighten everyone in this forum on how pro-US the previous Sri Lankan administration was? And how the USA was such a fan? They were such big fans that they couldn't even tolerate Sri Lanka defeating the LTTE.




Keep on with your delusions. Bascially you don't want the truth to be exposed, or the hypocrisy of people like Ranil, Chandrika to be exposed. A typical boot licker does the same thing. I will post articles and interesting posts where I wish - not in some thread that you've decided to make and then accuse anyone else who doesn't post in there of "having nothing good to contribute." What a laugh.




People like Azizam would never understand.

I don't even bother to read your posts. If you want to have a healthy discussion drop the mudslinging and conspriacy theories and join the other thread instead of making threads with silly titles. SL is a tiny country and saying US going gaga over it is hilarious. Also writing in a bold font doesn't make your posts any more valuable. You are one of those people who think that the entire universe revolve around his country, aren't you?

 

[syedali73]

He's not being cautious. He just can get over the fact that his favourite politically party lost the election and now he's throwing mud at the current government at the cost of country. He could care less about Sri Lanka. All he wants is to prove his point even if the entire country is destroyed. The ties with China will improve under the new government and they would attempt at creating a dynamic foreign policy instead of depending on one side as MR did. Also Sri Lankan and Pakistani situations are very different and every developed country in Asia-pacific is pro-US so this theory of US being the evil boogeyman is simply wrong. Sri Lanka is small country that is business-oriented, much like Singapore. It's priority is to have a healthy economy, not playing geopolitical games.

I can feel lots of emotion in your writing and emotions blur the observation and interefer with analysis. Yes, SriLanka is not Pakistan but she is oblivious of the geopolitical realities and their effect on her survival is rather difficult for me to believe. Not long ago SriLAnka has fought a bloody war of survival that was nothing but the result of geopolitical misadventures of certain countries in the region. At any rate, it is your country and you know better what to do with it.

 

[samv]

He's not being cautious. He just can get over the fact that his favourite politically party lost the election and now he's throwing mud at the current government at the cost of country. He could care less about Sri Lanka.

LOL. Delusions galore from Sri Lankan weasel Azizam. Can't hack having the truth exposed on this forum, and can't hack someone holding a different opinion to him. Not much different from Ranil Wickremasinghe who does not brook any opposing views and will go to great lengths to silence people who oppose his "leadership." Apparently discussing the hypocrisy of Sri Lanka's PM - who has never won an election on his own - is "at the cost of the county." What an intelligent argument that is. Azizam you should go and have a lie down, because that is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard.

All he wants is to prove his point even if the entire country is destroyed.

LMAO. The country is being destroyed by people like Ranil, Mangala and Chandrika. Idiot Ranil is even planning to release the trawlers of Indian fishermen that have been impounded --> so they can rape Sri Lankan resources again. And yet, you have a problem with someone like me posting on an online website. Do you suffer from congenital idiocy?

The ties with China will improve under the new government and they would attempt at creating a dynamic foreign policy instead of depending on one side as MR did. Also Sri Lankan and Pakistani situations are very different and every developed country in Asia-pacific is pro-US so this theory of US being the evil boogeyman is simply wrong. Sri Lanka is small country that is business-oriented, much like Singapore. It's priority is to have a healthy economy, not playing geopolitical games.

How can ties with China "improve" when the current government under Ranil has been screaming at China and Chinese investments? The finance minister even stated that the Chinese presence must be reduced to eliminate corruption! (Racism much?)Then we have a foreign minister Mangala making snide remarks about China and Chinese investments in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka is business oriented? Since when?

Of you mean the budget with all those subsidies, and the taxes on big companies? Yeah right!

 

[Azizam]

I can feel lots of emotion in your writing and emotions blur the observation and interefer with analysis. Yes, SriLanka is not Pakistan but she is oblivious of the geopolitical realities and their effect on her survival is rather difficult for me to believe. Not long ago SriLAnka has fought a bloody war of survival that was nothing but the result of geopolitical misadventures of certain countries in the region. At any rate, it is your country and you know better what to do with it.

I am not being emotional at all. I think I should leave @Saradiel to explain the cause of war and the position of Sri Lanka in geopolitics.

 

[samv]

I don't even bother to read your posts. If you want to have a healthy discussion drop the mudslinging and conspriacy theories and join the other thread instead of making threads with silly titles. SL is a tiny country and saying US going gaga over it is hilarious. Also writing in a bold font doesn't make your posts any more valuable. You are one of those people who think that the entire universe revolve around his country, aren't you?

If you don't even bother to read my posts, then what are you doing posting in threads that I've started? Doesn't really make much sense. Clearly you do bother to read them, and then you get all red faced and angry and then start raging. Now why exactly should I post in your thread? You really do need to get over your massive obsession that everyone else has to post in your thread and that anyone who doesn't has "nothing good to contribute." Stop whining like a little baby and try and act like a man for a change.

I am not being emotional at all. I think I should leave @Saradiel to explain the cause of war and the position of Sri Lanka in geopolitics.

You are very emotional. Just look at your comments on this thread. 'Emotionally brittle' would be an apt descriptor of your personality exposed thus far.

 

[nvKyleBrown]

We're going gaga over someone? first i've heard of it... US has a lot of allies, relationships with almost every country, so i'm not seeing anything unusual here.

 

[samv]

We're going gaga over someone? first i've heard of it... US has a lot of allies, relationships with almost every country, so i'm not seeing anything unusual here.

Yup. In comparion to how it was previously, the USA is throwing a party and making Sri Lanka the prom queen (with a surprise visit from professional strippers).

 

[DrawingDead]

@samv

Wow! All this over a letter probably written by a junior staff member who most likely looked up Wikipedia figure out what to say about Sri Lanka. Don't you think you're over-reacting a bit here? Don't worry we'll ask our govt not to say anything on your next Independence Day. We'll just pretend we forgot what day it was

 

[ganesh177]

Are we surprised? This is part of the American policy of confining and encircling China. SriLanka should make good use of this opportunity but must avoid from taking sides.

Learn from Pakistan how she got herself destroyed by aligning with US and becoming her puppet. Destruction of Pakistan must be taught as a course to the foreign service people in free countries.

Its funny how everytime there is discussion of any country being a friend of US, there comes the example of "hey look at pakistan, what happened to them".

What happened to pakistan is not US's fault, its complete responsibility of pakistan being in its current situation. Using terrorism as a tool in military, social and political aspects have alienated pakistan from the rest of the world. Other wise i dont see why foreign investment wont flow into pakistan as well, sporting events held and hosted in pakistan, good movies being made in pakistan.

Pakistan was not the only ally of US in last century. Look at japan, south korea, france, germany, UK, nato countries, turkey, israel, list is endless. What these countries did to their country and how they used being ally to US for their own good is completely upon themselves. While the countries like south korea are always hungry for investments and technology from US, at the same time pakistan was hungry for free US dollars, predator drones, and f-16's.

Its give and take, US will expect something from any of its ally and you should also have a backbone to demand what you need from US in return. What you make of this partnership is upon you.

 

[syedali73]

Its funny how everytime there is discussion of any country being a friend of US, there comes the example of "hey look at pakistan, what happened to them".

What happened to pakistan is not US's fault, its complete responsibility of pakistan being in its current situation. Using terrorism as a tool in military, social and political aspects have alienated pakistan from the rest of the world. Other wise i dont see why foreign investment wont flow into pakistan as well, sporting events held and hosted in pakistan, good movies being made in pakistan.

Pakistan was not the only ally of US in last century. Look at japan, south korea, france, germany, UK, nato countries, turkey, israel, list is endless. What these countries did to their country and how they used being ally to US for their own good is completely upon themselves. While the countries like south korea are always hungry for investments and technology from US, at the same time pakistan was hungry for free US dollars, predator drones, and f-16's.

Its give and take, US will expect something from any of its ally and you should also have a backbone to demand what you need from US in return. What you make of this partnership is upon you.

Ignoring the hysterical tone that is pretty standard for Indian when they comment on Pakistan; yes, primarily though not exclusively it was/is the fault of Pakistan.

 

[Gibbs]

Apology because samv is making a fool out of himself on this forum and giving an impression that Sri Lanka is a typical conspiracy theory zoo.

There are two major camps in Sri Lanka when it comes to foreign policy, capitalist and socialist. Capitalists would prefer US/West and socialists prefer China/East and yet you don't see this level of immaturity by anyone when discussing politics. The majority of ordinary Sri Lankans would prefer healthy relations with both.

Even MR's brothers are US citizens and when he lost the election his brothers went back to US. MR in his second term was not successful at maintaining foreign policy. He was indulging in nepotism and corruption.

There are few Sri Lankan members who are belonged to the socialist camp on this forum and they discuss matters logically. As I said, if he has issues over new Sri Lankan government he can simply post in the thread that is dedicated for it but he has nothing good to contribute. You can take a look at that thread if you like or you can ask fellow Sri Lankan members - @Saradiel @Gibbs @HeinzG

I would'nt take him seriously nor directly reply to him till he acts like a adult and post like normal people without shouting, I'm just replying to your tag of me.. Looks like he has a massive attention deficiency syndrome.. Basically pleading for attention much like this joker.. The similarity in rhetoric is just uncanny..

Getting back to the subject.. It's seems like some of these people like the OP has Mahinda Rajapaksa's testicles so deep down thier throats to realize how much of national wealth thier masters wasted trying to suck up to the Americans through lobby firms in DC arbitrarily .. It's pathetic, Half of the Rajapksa's are US citizens anyway as you have rightly mentioned.. And here morons are screaming about US going gaga over Sri Lanka.. I think it's marvelous that Lanka is able to get the US to go gaga over it without even spending a cent and not sucking up to them like the Rajapaksa's did.. The roles seem to have reversed

Bypassing Cabinet, Rajapaksa paid Rs. 1.39b to US firms and middleman | The Sunday Times Sri Lanka

The Presidential Secretariat, under the previous UPFA Government, paid a staggering Rs. 1.39 billion to a middleman and two public relations agencies in the United States to promote Sri Lanka and lobby on behalf of the former Government. Though the Cabinet of Ministers did not approve the payment, the Presidential Secretariat had directed in writing that the amount be approved by the Central Bank’s Monetary Board and remitted directly to those concerned, according to revelations that have surfaced so far into investigations carried out by the Ministry of Finance.

More startling revelations are unfolding as the investigation continues. About US$ 4.5 million (or Rs. 587,120,850) has been paid to Imad Zuberi, the middleman who helped arrange a string of US public relations companies to promote Sri Lanka. Mr. Zuberi, who has touted his close connections to US President Barack Obama having served in the fund raising committee for his election, was introduced to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa by Salim Mandaviwala, a former Pakistani Finance Minister.

Since then, Sajin de Vass Gunawardena, the former Monitoring MP of the External Affairs Ministry, dealt with Mr. Zuberi. With Mr. Zuberi’s help, Mr. Vass Gunawardena signed up another set of US public relations firms. Payments to these firms, too, have been made through the Central Bank without recourse to approval by ministers. A Finance Ministry official said this aspect was also now under investigation.

The two firms for which the former Government’s Presidential Secretariat wanted payments made are: WR Group – US$ 2 million (or Rs. 260,389,200) and Nelson Mullins Riley and Scarborough LLP — US$ 4.15 million (or Rs. 543,253,100).

Proof is in the pudding..

Rajapaksa’s Anti-Western Rhetoric Proves To Be Plain Hypocrisy Once More | Colombo Telegraph

In an exposé of the Rajapaksa-regime’s blatant hypocrisy, the political column of the weekly English newspaper Sunday Times has revealed the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), in a blatant violation of protocol has hired another US agency to white-wash the regime before the Obama administration.

This week’s column titled ‘Central Bank Ursurps Cabinet Powers in Bid to change US Policy’ has disclosed the CBSL has hired the Florida-based US firm – Liberty International Group LLC on which a whopping Rs. 99 million of state funds (a cost higher than running the Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington DC) will be spent annually according to a contract that came into effect as of August 1 and continues until July 31, 2015.

According to ST, the contract has been signed by CBSL Deputy Governor Dr. P. Nandalal on behalf of the Monetary Board and by Connie Mack – the President of Liberty International Group who had also been a former member of the House of Representatives and an ex-member of the sub-committee on South Asia in the Foreign Relations Committee.

The six-page contract between the Monetary Board of the CBSL and the Liberty International Group LLC that had been obtained by ST has listed out the following three reasons (namely ‘statutory stability objectives’) for hiring the US firm:

1. A political environment in the United States of America (US) that is more conducive to enhancing Sri Lanka’s long-term political and economic aspirations;

2. A comprehensive information platform where decision-makers in the US receive clear and accurate information about Sri Lanka’s current achievements and future plans; and

3. A higher volume of private sector investment in Sri Lanka from the US.

It has further noted that the above three objectives are to be achieved for the following reasons:

1. Sri Lanka has suffered a long and brutal war.

2. The current international media focus on Sri Lanka is unbalanced, which the Monetary Board considers as being unfair, unwarranted, and overshadows the impressive post-war socio-economic achievements of Sri Lanka and also could undermine the long term US political geo-strategic and economic interests;

3. Sri Lanka has made an earnest and genuine effort to improve the living standards of people in the conflict-affected areas in the process of post conflict rebuilding and reconciliation.

4. The process of post-conflict rebuilding and reconciliation is a long-term process and cannot be imposed from the outside and therefore, Sri Lanka needs reasonable time and space to undertake the task;

5. There are growing opportunities in Sri Lanka for additional direct US investment and businesses, as a gateway to the fast-growing South Asian region; and

6. It is necessary to have a re-calibration of US policy, based on a wider and fairer information base, leading to multi-dimensional and more balanced engagement with Sri Lanka.

The ST political columnist has pointed out that this particular deal struck by the CBSL has raised several issues of which the most burning is the usurping of cabinet powers by the CBSL.

“Since independence in 1948, it has been the responsibility of the External Affairs MInistry to create a conducive environment in any country for Sri Lanka’s long term political and economic aspirations executed through the country’s diplomatic missions,” the column states emphasizing in this particular instance, the CBSL transactions with the Liberty group has not even sought to obtain approval of the cabinet ministers.

The writer further commenting on the CBSL’s assertion that current international media focus on Sri Lanka is ‘unbalanced’, has stated that if that were true, the issue should have been raised with the Ministry of Mass Media and Information as it is that Ministry’s responsibility to formulate strategies and obtain approval from the Cabinet.

It has been revealed furthermore that the selection of the Liberty Group has been carried out in violation of usual terms – without any call for tenders or a proper transparent selection process. Adding insult to injury, in picking the US firm, the CBSL has also completely disregarded the role of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington. It adds that the CBSL deal with the Liberty Group is similar to the manner in which the Monitoring MP for the External Affairs Ministry, Sajin Vaas Gunawardena has hired several other new PR agencies.

It has also shed light on the earlier PR agency that serviced CBSL – the Thompson Advisory Group (TAG) to which US$ 683,635 had been paid in 2013, in which a segment of the finances had gone to a Sri Lankan limousine driver for his ‘expertise’ as a consultant.

“This action of the CBSL has opened the door for any state agency to unilaterally enter into its own agreements with foreign concerns with no resource approval by Cabinet and PR agencies are made arms of the government – at least in the US,” the ST notes.

It has also been highlighted that although the Rajapaksa-regime continues to carry out a strong campaign against the US locally, it is desperately attempting to get back into the good books of the US with the impending investigation on war crimes in Sri Lanka led by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The ST Political column further states that despite the exorbitant finances spent by the regime, the move to hire PR agencies has been heavily criticised by retired diplomats and US officials who have pointed out that hiring agencies and retired legislators to bring about a foreign policy change from the Obama administration is a ‘futile and costly exercise with commensurate returns.’

 

[samv]