I always wanted to talk to the LTTE: CBK

8 February 2014 06:49 am - 46 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Former Sri Lankan president Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga said she always tried her best for peace despite military conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Sri Lanka during her tenure.

Speaking at the sixth international women’s conference organised by the Art of Living (AOL) in Bangalore, Kumaratunge said she ensured that development works and peace talks progressed simultaneously in the war-torn country.

“I always wanted to talk to the terror (LTTE) groups. They did not want any government officials involved in the talks and I even agreed with their demand for international observers,” she said.

Stating that the hospitals she opened had even treated the terrorists injured in the battle, she said she continued her efforts for peace even after an attempt on her life.

“They tried to kill me two days before the elections and even made an attempt on my life after elections,” she said. Mentioning some of the dark phases in her life, Kumaratunga said it is the religious belief and study of religion that shaped her life.

On leadership, she said that when an individual in power begins thinking of himself, corruption begins.

“A leader begins to think that power is God’s gift and begins to do whatever he wants. In order to rock, he (the person in power) needs to consolidate power and to consolidate power he builds his family around him, this becomes terrible as he tries to eliminate opponents,” she said. (Deccan Herald)

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Comments - 46

dulan de silva Sunday, 09 February 2014 02:40 AM

Some people still invite her to be chief guest in functions even after courts found her guilty and fined her!

gandha azwer Saturday, 08 February 2014 01:39 PM

Desperate attempt to make a platform for the son in Lankan politics.

Jim pappa Saturday, 08 February 2014 01:41 PM

Ma'am, why can't you be graceful in defeat and accept the fact that MR managed the war efficiently, (whatever his other shortcomings are) to rid our country of the LTTE meance.

sack Saturday, 08 February 2014 01:48 PM

short term memory loss or selective amnesia?

Jim pappa Saturday, 08 February 2014 01:51 PM

Prometheus, thank our lucky stars, Prabha didn't agree to her terms. If he did, this country would have torn into two and we would have had a never ending war on our hands.

Jim pappa Saturday, 08 February 2014 01:58 PM

Go on shooting your mouth, blame others for your mistakes. That, ma'am, is the time-tested 'Science' of the 'Art of Living'.

jim Saturday, 08 February 2014 02:00 PM

Not much happened during your administration Madam. You were a incompetent a leader. You were clueless during the conflict. What make you think people of Sri Lanka going to believe your line of garbage now ??? Please, stay out of politics for good. and do charity work instead...

Simple Simon Saturday, 08 February 2014 02:28 PM

All of them were with her!!!

Satelite Saturday, 08 February 2014 08:19 PM

Madam, we love our motherland, you ate it!
How can we be friends?

Mevan Saturday, 08 February 2014 09:49 PM

Hey Jim p, it is Gen Fonseka and the forces
who won the war and not arm chair generals.

Mr. Wijeyasingha Saturday, 08 February 2014 10:55 PM

Her appeasement mentality is what the pro LITE elements want.

S. Perera Sunday, 09 February 2014 12:00 AM

SHELL DEAL - Similar term for corruption. She may have thought People are born again everyway.

Jim pappa Saturday, 08 February 2014 01:22 PM

Apparently she has not learned from her past mistakes. Otherwise she wouldn't be boasting about how she tried to talk sense to the LTTE and agree for international observers, repeating the same mistakes done by her predecessors.

nicky karunarathna Sunday, 09 February 2014 03:04 AM

You were part of the LTTE brutal barbarism and never been the solution. How can you face the 21 million destitute SL population with your clothes on? That's of course 64million dollar question.

Loku Rajaps Sunday, 09 February 2014 03:21 AM

Hi Jim..Yes, yes...to start with she could not even keep to times and appointments and always kept people waiting..That alone tell volumes of a basic discipline that she does not have.

JOPPA Sunday, 09 February 2014 04:43 AM

Yeah!!! if u you carry talks with them i bet you will loose your other eye too!!!

Lawyass Sunday, 09 February 2014 05:31 AM

No body can trust you. Not even the LTTE. Pathological liyer

lord Sunday, 09 February 2014 05:39 AM

she took the country backwords and couldnt even win the war and back stabbed Ranil so no thanks ew dont need her

flatwhite Sunday, 09 February 2014 05:41 AM

She clearly accept defeat here as one of the most incompetent leaders and her wrong decisions was costly to SL especially loosing lives due to LTTE and our security forces had major defeats so that clearly showed no vision, no mission and no goal but come and go Chicago style.Rajapaksa has shown that she was just a number not a leader.

Yehiya Sunday, 09 February 2014 01:02 PM

You done the civilized politics,That time your cabinet members members Ratwatte & SB are very shame.Ranil not cooperated for peace that time.

an s !!!kith udugama Sunday, 09 February 2014 01:17 PM

Today ,she is a better leader than any body else,but no mother Theresa

ind Saturday, 08 February 2014 11:21 AM

Yeah, our country is not in this situation. We are still fighting with LTTE !

ANTON Saturday, 08 February 2014 07:14 AM

YEAH, FINALLY SHE WAS COMPELLED TO TALK TO THEM THROUGH THE RIFFLE MOUTH.

ANTON Saturday, 08 February 2014 07:17 AM

MADAM !!! SOMETHING SMELLS FISHY SOMEWHERE. IN BRIEF, ME GAANI DAN MOKAATADA ENDA HADANNE.

Perera Saturday, 08 February 2014 07:30 AM

You made a big mistake in Year 2004.

Should have gone with UNP and our country would not be in this situation with other countries.

Now talking pointless. What we should do is work with present government and clear our country name.

There are 02 sides of the conflict and terrorist is terrorist, but we can not forget we are a government and should be more careful when we talk after the victory of war.

Perumal Saturday, 08 February 2014 07:43 AM

Every Sri Lankan leader becomes sensible and reasonable after being deprived of power unlike former/late leaders of India, South Africa etc.

cyril Saturday, 08 February 2014 08:01 AM

rata kala than wathura bonnada hadanne?
Mantali- ta, pissutha mandha!

Nodrog Saturday, 08 February 2014 08:11 AM

But it may not be a bad idea considering theres no other competent person. Now that she's hopefully learnt from her mistakes she may be a better president......

M.O.A.Careem Saturday, 08 February 2014 08:27 AM

knowing or not knowing things happened .......what else...better keep q.......

Prometheus Saturday, 08 February 2014 08:46 AM

Yes she did screw up. She ruined the UNP govt in 2004. But she made the racist SLFP more liberal. She was the 1st to offer a major political solution, even went as far as offering Prabhakaran the north-east for 10 years. Her devolution plan was much deeper than the India federal solution. She was a incompetent but at least she gave peace a real shot. Prabhakaran ensured there was no peace during CBK & RW and his luck finally ran out with MR.

sarath mendis Saturday, 08 February 2014 09:28 AM

Very good point. She was genuine and is an intelligent person. The guys we have now are criminals and thugs.

Janaka Saturday, 08 February 2014 09:28 AM

But I failed and ruined the country, so I should keep quite.. What a shame ????

John Fernandez Saturday, 08 February 2014 09:33 AM

Of course! No action........ Talk only........

lord Saturday, 08 February 2014 06:59 AM

we dont want another term from you

Mathu Saturday, 08 February 2014 11:23 AM

Monawada mee katha. EE KALE THEMA LTTE EKA APIWA NETHIKALE, AIRLANKA LIGHTS TIKA SUNU WISUNU KALE.
They (LTTE) have got the treatment they deserved.

Abdul Saturday, 08 February 2014 11:28 AM

How can we forget a declining growth rate to minus and loss of Elephant pass to LTTE during your period.

Punny Pellow Saturday, 08 February 2014 11:40 AM

It is not a good precedent to bring back old timers!

crazy coot Saturday, 08 February 2014 11:45 AM

The most competent person was prevented becoming the President by Prabakaran by his boycott in 2005 not knowing the capability of SF in warfare!!

Steven Hinkette Saturday, 08 February 2014 11:46 AM

This woman can take a hike.

King Mihiraj Saturday, 08 February 2014 11:48 AM

My fellow Sri Lankans, do not talk nonsense. Her entire family had ruined the country. First it was the father, who made Sinhala an official language. Results were no student in village schools or even in Maha Vidyalaya were able to learn the language fluently. But his three children studied in English language. Mother made another blunder, by trying making the country a socialist which was a utter failure. In modern time CBK as a President did nothing to the country, except making fortunes for herself from foreign companies. No leader in Sri Lanka except the current President had genuinely worked to end the war.

dilhan Saturday, 08 February 2014 12:02 PM

We always knew that you did not have guts to defeat bloody terrorist in war. you were a weak President and a wrong choice. So keep your mouth shut without making any shit. You never loved our country our people our culture......etc

investigator Saturday, 08 February 2014 12:23 PM

similer to all other leaders in lanka,she also not a inteligent leader.no far sighted and just president for name only.no plan ,no philosophy of governing a country.sri lanka has a bad karma regarding this matter.leader is a fool,killer,or theif,all who became leader of this country under these types.according to her decisions clearly shows she is a real idiot for politics,dismisal of unp,get jvp,appoint mahinda for pm,allow him to be presidential candidate etc,clearly shows her loe level of thinking and un suitabilty be a leader.now she is crying every where she goes for the results of her very bad decisions.

sam Abeysinghe Saturday, 08 February 2014 12:47 PM

she is enough capable to talk like baby. On people expenses now she is defaming country name in order to support tamil Diaspora

Yuri Saturday, 08 February 2014 01:01 PM

you right. to save this island before falling in hell. she could be a better president .

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I always wanted to talk to the LTTE: CBK

Comments - 46

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