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29 March 2012 02:35 am - 65 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
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Sri Lanka could learn from Myanmar which has radically changed bringing democratic reforms in the country says Sri Lanka Ambassador to France, Dr.Dayan Jathilleka.
He told Sandeshaya that in 2009, Myanmar came under vigorous international pressure over its human rights record and Myanmar was defeated in a vote brought in the UN Human Right Council.
Changing Myanmar
“A few weeks after Sri Lanka won our battle in Geneva in May 2009, Myanmar lost in the same forum. It had the votes of India, Russia and China,” said Dr.Jayathilleka.
But, he said, today there is nothing levelled against that country because it is changing.
With defeat in UN Human Rights Council, Myanmar rallied round its neighbours particularly Association of Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN) and worked towards improving its human rights record.
Since then, he said, Myanmar has been achieving tremendous and incredible progress towards establishing democratic reforms.
"It became a more liberal country and even took steps to release the Burmese opposition politician and the leader of the National League for Democracy, Aung San Suuki", he said.
Dr.Jayathilleka said that it was how Myanmar had wisely got out of the trap of the powerful countries.
“Its success has even led Myanmar to become the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Countries ( ASEAN) next year”, he said.
Serious thoughts
Ambassador Jayathillka said that Sri Lanka should take the resolution passed by UNHCR seriously because that would not be the end and those countries which brought it may push it through in the future.
He said it would have long term effects on Sri Lanka as those powerful countries and organisations will use it as a tool and act accordingly. (BBC)
Hafiz Thursday, 29 March 2012 10:19 AM
Well done Dr. DJ but regret you will be asked to get back soon.
deva Thursday, 29 March 2012 11:47 AM
he will be called back to the country soon.
Anu Thursday, 29 March 2012 11:02 AM
He wants a change. Good for him. Coming colors no good.
Abde Thursday, 29 March 2012 11:14 AM
It was good saying,Mr.Jayatilleka has to forward and make the Government understand how important GENEVA is to Sri Lanka/.
Ajantha Diddanayake Thursday, 29 March 2012 10:49 AM
What you said is absolutely correct. Since Sri Lanka is a member of UN we should respect the resolution adopted by UNHRC whether you like it or not. After all, protecting the human rights is not at all a bad thing whether it is for Tamils, Sinhalese or any other race.
If we continue to be adamant we all will soon have to pay the price for it. Dr. Dayan’s opinion is a wise, far sided and typical of a career diplomatic approach. Good to see still we have diplomats who have a great deal of nerve to tell what he believe is true.
Leel Thursday, 29 March 2012 10:30 AM
Well said.Will the rulers take this seriously?
Lankan Man Thursday, 29 March 2012 10:45 AM
Yes we can learn from Israel how to deal with UNHRC.
kumar Thursday, 29 March 2012 10:20 AM
I salute u for your opinion sir! .. I also think u dont really like your livivng in Franz and that ur finding ur way to quit and get back to Sri Lanka...
Ronny Thursday, 29 March 2012 10:15 AM
Hats off to this highly respected Ambassador of Sri Lanka who is also not so popular amongst the Chinthanaya supporters of France. He is really an Ambassador of the Sri Lankan communities living anywhere in the world. Very few can understand him. All what he has stated is very true and correct to have lasting PEACE AND HARMONY in Sri Lanka.
RajasH Thursday, 29 March 2012 01:07 PM
not the people but the way they are governed
sdherat Thursday, 29 March 2012 09:59 AM
we know who you are , what you did and why you are saying this as well
good luck in future postings!!
Ben Hurling Thursday, 29 March 2012 09:45 AM
I salute DJ!
TMA Thursday, 29 March 2012 09:23 AM
I'll vote him if he contests
Fusion Thursday, 29 March 2012 09:02 AM
If Myanmar can change, if Cuba is showing signs of change, why can't we? I mean at least have a fully independent Elections & Police Commissions, Independent Judiciary, less executive power (Get rid of that 18th amendment). Not some eyewash, not some paper law, something sincere!
Real peace Thursday, 29 March 2012 09:13 AM
....no one has to tell us what to do, do you understand?....
neil john Thursday, 29 March 2012 08:33 AM
though i do not always agree with Dayan, most of the time he is correct. This time absolutely. Arguably the best man government got in foreign service.
Gona Thursday, 29 March 2012 07:47 AM
Excellent analysis of the situation sir. you are clearly too educated be the president of Sri Lanka
Priya Thursday, 29 March 2012 06:41 AM
It dosen't matter who's influencing who...
The fact is SL needs to improve it's hr record for all it's citizens sake
Piranha Thursday, 29 March 2012 01:35 PM
At last Dayan has seen the light.
heran siva Thursday, 29 March 2012 01:51 PM
A man with some common sense and common ground.
I am liking him.
banda Thursday, 29 March 2012 02:08 PM
Yes provided we do our job, sad we are not doing what needs to be done, so others are telling us.
Mida Thursday, 29 March 2012 02:14 PM
Well said sir...
Poor peoples they are only listening to these kind of ministers statements & big mouth not you sir, hard luck i think you will regret your statement tomorrow i hope so....
Granite Paashaana Thursday, 29 March 2012 02:46 PM
Hope to see Dr.Dayan Jayathilaka leading us in this issue.
C.K. Lankaputhra Thursday, 29 March 2012 03:07 PM
The brain Dayan has, no single politician in Sri lanka has. Dayan is a great diplomat.
Lanka Thursday, 29 March 2012 11:40 PM
At least still we have one intellectual in our diplomatic circle
pandula Rajapaksa Friday, 30 March 2012 03:12 AM
we need 17th amendmnet back, Democracy, Free media, Tender procedures, free and fair elections we have lost all of them. We are suffering because of the mismangement of the Government. It is upto the President to put back the country in the correct path.
zavahir Friday, 30 March 2012 03:18 AM
True. But too late
Jaya Friday, 30 March 2012 07:09 AM
Winning the hearts and minds of those who suffered in North and East is the way forward. Complex federal formulas in the name of devolution of power is paving the way for politicians of all communities and dozens of political parties to take the poor people on another ride. There are so many interested parties outside the country to de-stablize the country. Let all Sri Lankans be aware of this. Winning the battle is important than winning the arguments in UNHCR
SriLankan Friday, 30 March 2012 07:30 AM
13th Amendment was shoved down our throats by India to divide our country so that they will have control of us. It is the most hated A in our law and should be repealed. District councils will be better.
Lot of people don't know that 17th A was passed because the JVP was blackmailing Chandrika by threatening to pull out and defeat her Govt.
Even the Ministers of the next UNP Govt. say that the Ind. Commissions didn't work well as they were not answerable to the Parliament, but only loyal to the Parties who nominated the Commissioners. 18th A is better as they will be answerable to the Parliament, meaning us, the voters who appoint the MPs.
Dany Friday, 30 March 2012 07:53 AM
You cannot compare Burma and Sri lanka .
Fusion Friday, 30 March 2012 08:35 AM
Absolutely! We need to bury the ridiculous 18th and implement the 17th fully.
sabee Friday, 30 March 2012 04:32 PM
Dr. DJ. How can u even compare the 2 countries? Their human rights violations r related to child labour, sex slavery and women's rights. SL's alleged violations r about killing terrorists in the last Few days of the war to prevent constant bomb blasts and restrictions of the sinhala people for the past 30years. No other government has done any better than this in my life time atleast!
Lisa Perera Saturday, 31 March 2012 11:21 PM
Maybe we send Mervyn along just to give a kick ?
Sandun Thursday, 29 March 2012 05:48 AM
Dr. Dayan, I guess your position would be replaced with somebody else soon. Reason is you compare our country with Myanmar. We are so democratic..
Nodrog Thursday, 29 March 2012 03:36 AM
Where were you? Why didn't you go to Geneva....the country would have surely benefited by having you there.
Guru Thursday, 29 March 2012 04:04 AM
It's good that you are speking out the reality. Good on you.
AMG Thursday, 29 March 2012 03:48 AM
That's what we all need!
Jayasiri Thursday, 29 March 2012 04:09 AM
Well Said Sir
RW Thursday, 29 March 2012 04:29 AM
Although this person goes behind leaders ( earlier Premadasa and now MR), he is an intelligent Sri Lankan who can see the truth.
We should not become emotional about the defeat at UN. We can not overcome this situation if the government thinks only about votes at the next election. As Dr. Dayan said, be practical and take this as a challenge. We have to change before others ask us to change.
MK Thursday, 29 March 2012 04:11 AM
We would have better results in handling international pressure if Dayan was part of the team along with Mahinda Samarasinghe to head the HR delegation. Because sadly I don't see any use of Prof Peiris being the FM.
Leslie Thursday, 29 March 2012 04:17 AM
Sound advice Ambassador, but will the government take it. You acknowledge that democratic reforms etc are needed, however regrettably those in power do not think so and they are riding rough shod, with no care about law and order and human right abuses.
Glad about your straight talk. Hope you do not find yourself in trouble over what you have said.
Mifaz Thursday, 29 March 2012 04:23 AM
A smart statement, by giving example of a nation equal to SL. Adapting to change is the challenge.
perumal Thursday, 29 March 2012 04:38 AM
Dr. Jayathilaka, You say Sri Lanka must change. Do you mean a regime change?
Puravasiya Thursday, 29 March 2012 04:26 AM
You are absolutely correct Dayan but the problem is our guys don't understand this logic.
Samosa Thursday, 29 March 2012 04:38 AM
That's what we have been telling... But the problem is, whoever talks favor to the resolutions are considered as traitors. Lankan media has confused people over this resolution.
Why lankans can't see this as a positive change. Can anyone point a condition which supports LTTE or diaspora in this resolution or LLRC recommendation. Don't mix this resolution with what channel four was doing.
We can talk patriotic inside the country, but when you want to deal with other countries we realize we are just 20 million people. In order to develop our country, we must go with international community. For that we don't have to be west or east, we need all.
kadalya Thursday, 29 March 2012 04:29 AM
The state of the Sri Lanka Government, the "right hand" does not know what the "left hand' does.
The last Dinasaur Thursday, 29 March 2012 04:46 AM
At last one person in the
Government has got both brain
RM Thursday, 29 March 2012 05:21 AM
Dr. Jayathilaka is correct but it is sad that as an ambassador why can't he convince the government leaders internally rather than talking to the media and asking government to change the view? Hope media campaign is intended to garner more public support.
ase Thursday, 29 March 2012 05:57 AM
i am sure he means the whole system, from indipendancy, we had many rregime changes and everytime we went backwardes and now we are about to drown.
ila Thursday, 29 March 2012 03:48 AM
Sir, I agree with you. But keep in mind that not everyone is ready to lisent.
TMA Thursday, 29 March 2012 06:04 AM
The change he's expecting is the establishment of the 13th amendment. He spoke honestly on his views
Samayan Thursday, 29 March 2012 06:07 AM
we understand your knowledge about international affairs. you can't compare Srilanka with Myanmar. Obama,Clinton ,Camoran ,moon and Pillai are being influenced by tamil diaspora.
misunderstood Thursday, 29 March 2012 05:59 AM
Your Excellency, the change must start from the TOP. However the ones who tried to change gave up halfway and Joined them!!!
Jayasiri Thursday, 29 March 2012 06:08 AM
What change? Bring the 13A or Plus?
Imran Hussein Thursday, 29 March 2012 06:08 AM
Why do you think Dr Dayan talks like this now? He had been sidelined. But what he saying is right. He himself is changing too.
Imran Hussein Thursday, 29 March 2012 06:01 AM
Between lines he says we are undimocratic and he is damn right. Regime much change or the country needs a regime change.
chandrakumar Thursday, 29 March 2012 06:29 AM
Dr.Dayan, you are talking sense. But the regime is trying to play for the gallery regarding these issues. Hope that our great president get the political maturity needed to understand the real issue regarding this.
Gayan Samarasekara Thursday, 29 March 2012 06:03 AM
Not too sure whether Dr Dayan is approaching his last phase of diplomatic mission for Sri Lanka.
kadalya Thursday, 29 March 2012 06:05 AM
He has forgotten to mention the Myanmar released the key political prisoner. I guess he avoiding the subject to so as not to displease his masters.
j Thursday, 29 March 2012 06:15 AM
Yes, GoSL Must release SF and follow the democratic norms
siripala Thursday, 29 March 2012 06:38 AM
Truely geneiune diplomat and we need more such professionals.
sam Thursday, 29 March 2012 06:41 AM
Please try to understand what Dr. Dayan Jayathilake told. He is not talking about a change of Regime. He explains how we can get out of the trap of the powerful countries. If our government take his advice and act accordingly it is for the betterment of the country and all citizens of Sri Lanka. Thank you.
ifam Thursday, 29 March 2012 06:37 AM
sir, we need diplomatic interlectuals like you. why you are not represent in geneva?
Remo Thursday, 29 March 2012 06:39 AM
You are absolutely correct Sir. I just hope and pray that our arrogant leaders will understand this and think like you before its too late... We are in the 21st century where every country is dependent on another in order to sustain and grow their economy. We are not in the stone age. We cannot ignore or neglect the outside world. We are an open economy...
alibaba Thursday, 29 March 2012 06:59 AM
Good points but why speak of 'trap of the powerfuk countries' if there was a positive outcome for Myanmar?
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