There was time when MS Fernando and Three sisters performed at ” Open Air Theater” in Jaffna and youth of North danced to the Baila tunes. Until county was torn apart by dirty politics.

You must be gratitude about the article of GAMINI who our missing hero “not a cardboard one” a Real Hero Creative Actor / Director and a Very Good Man that found rarely.

I just look for your site to find information on “Rampage” where even not in encyclopedia but fortunately got your article of GAMINI.

Yes, he is the Unique Actor Great Mankind and a Real Hero whether he comes through “SAHANAYA or JAMIS BANDA” or on his very few but remarkable Lyrics or his only Tele Drama which directed by D B NIHALSINGHE (If I m correct).

This short note is to appreciate your grateful job and I think we can meet further in same projects.

Thank you very much you for keep us touch with memory of Late MR. GAMINI FONSEKA a hero of our time.

Thank you. If possible please send your e-mail to dbsjeyaraj@yahoo.com……………DBSJ

However, with all due respect to the Late Gamini, my hero is Vijaya Kumaratunga. I think one reason behind this may be that I’m about in the generation of 15 years younger than yours. Although Gamini was still very popular in the late 70’s and 80’s, Vijaya was the most popular of them all. Although Vijaya does not have many films that used his acting talents, most of his films were toe typical Hero/Villain type, we were fortunate to see his talents in acting in Darmasena Pathiraja’s films, like “Ahas Gawwa”, “Para Dige”, and “Bambaru Awith”. It’s a pity that many directors didn’t use his immense talents, and it is pathetic that the country lost one of its most humane persons in sucha tragic way. It’s shame on people who did that, who ordered that and who facilitated that. Why I most really admire him is actually not because of his acting in films, but because, he’s one of the few people who had had the most progressive ideas about ethnic issue and who did try to do something about it.

I know, your article was about Gamini, but I couldn’t help write about Vijaya when someone speaks about Sinhala films.

I’m also from Kurunegala. It’s regretful to have known that Modern is no more there. That’s where I saw many of Gamini’s films, including, one ogf my favourites, “Hulawali”.

DBSJ RESPONDS:

Thank you for this comment. I think the best in terms of character prtrayal were/are DR Nanayakkara, Tony Ranasinghe and Joe Abeywickrema. Gamini was more popular. He was no mean actor. I agree that in later years Vijaya and even Sanath were popular. Nowadays Ranjan is very popular I think

The torch passed from Gamini’s hand to Vijaya decades ago. In a sense the film Sana Keliya” where both Gamini & Vijaya acted in heralded this transition. Vijaya was more politically astute than Gamini. He was able to convert his screen popularity into political support more successfully than Gamini. Even on the ethnic question Vijaya’s vision was deeper and comprehensive than Gamini’s

Still my favourite is Gamini Fonseka. One reason is that childhood impressions are more lasting. You are right about the generational difference. It’s the same like the affection one has for childhood heroes in Tamil films like MGR, Sivaji, Gemini & SSR

1) Yes, that what I said, Politicians are politicians we cannot expect anything from them at all.
2) I could not see the “Sinhala Only Act” was something a politicians playing racial card to attract votes. I see it as an initial step took by Sinhala chauvinist to clear up the Tamils with a bigger plan in mind, which is crystal clear now. Vaddukoddai resolution may be the same kind, but it was the only democratic option available at that time for the Tamils to try prevent the disaster that came up and bring it to the International community.
3) Yes, Chandrika is little different and little better compare to other leaders but she had no power to make any solid decisions anyways. She could have relaxed or shed some lights not to LTTE but to the Tamil people as a whole that she is honestly into providing solution.
Yes, Ranil also looks decent/westernized but he is a fox like his uncle JR. Otherwise, he would not have said open that he was response for splitting Karuna while talking peace with LTTE. I think Mahinda is much better and open/honest than Ranil.

4) When we look at the reality, for internationally recognized state like Sri Lanka, if they loosen up the security the whole word will be behind to help them out. But if a Liberation Fighters relax their stand and fail, it will take decades for them to rebuild, because they have to do it themselves, no one going to provide any assistance. It was not practical to expect LTTE to compromise everything, even though I personally feel they could have comprised little. Yes, no doubt LTTE made many mistakes and many of their tactics were unacceptable. But their root claim is genuine and undeniable, which made them accepted by majority of the Tamils. If the root cause were/is addressed properly, there would be no LTTE or any one else.

4) Of course Sinhalese too need the assurance; No one else can give that assurance other than Sinhalese themselves. Bombs would never go off anywhere in Sri Lanka if everyone treated equally. Even those went off outside the north east were mainly Military or Economic targets, unlike the indiscriminate SL forces bombing/shelling.

5) I hope too but I don’t think the 30 year civil war has just ended as I still cannot see any sign of progress toward the political solution. I don’t understand the theory behind Mahinda’s 9 Stupas ceremony. Why not 9 Kovil/Mosque/Churses too? I still see many of the government posters only in Shinhala-only. It is not a big issue but kind of funny to see “Uthuru Vasanthava” even in Government & English media. Why not Vadaku/North, since it is mainly for Tamils and Northern people. When here the word “Uthuru Vasanthava”, the project sounds/feels it like the Northern Sinhala settlement or signalization is started.

6) Until there is a solid political solution, Tamil Diasporas and TN politicians will talk like that, because no body can reject their claim, as Tamils are still being treated inhumanly in Sri Lanka. No body else is giving voice anyways, at lest they have to bring the atrocities to the light right?

7) Yes, all the Tamil will say give a Federal State; you will not have to worry about Separation. As I said in Comment #57, separated countries will create long term border issues as will not let anyone live happy. It is also beneficial to be a one country for better growth for both. But this is only possible Tamil language and minorities are treated equally. But hey, after all North East is Tamils homeland, there is no one in the world can reject that including you and me. I don’t know why Tamils have to beg anyone for this.

You are a national treasure for providing such valuable articles as a Sri Lankan. Another name comes to my mind who did his best to uplift the education in then Ceylon was Sir Arunachelam.
Pl keep up the good work to inspire people to uplift Sri Lanka and extend the common decency which lacks in some quarters of the community.
Best regards
Lakshman

Thanks Lakshman. I think you are referring to “Cinemas” K. Gunaratnam a multiple theatre owner. studio owner and film producer……….DBSJ

Keep writing sir.

I am not going to blame Sri Lanka politicians; they all have been doing their job correctly. They know who they have to take care in order for them to be in power to make their money.

You should blame both Sinhalese and Tamil politicians. Politicians the world over want to get into power and retain that power as long as possible. Getting elected is an expensive business – no one wants to risk his own life savings to get elected and in third world countries where political parties may not have adequate funds to fund all its candidates in election campaigns, this can lead corruption. In multi-racial third world countries, the easiest way to get elected is to play the racial card and try and become a champion or hero for your race. The Sinhala Only Act and the Vaddukoddai resolution for example, are a direct result of politicians playing the racial card to try and attract votes.

I believe majority of Sinhalese are not going to provide any meaningful solution to the problem.

Not true. Sinhalese have in past elected to power Chandrika & Ranil, who when they first came into power, tired to negotiate peace and offer solutions, but the LTTE were never interested.

Mr N. Sri Kantha of the TNA ( considered a proxy of the LTTE ) admits this. He says : There were number of opportunities, including the solid one offered by Ranil Wickremesinghe. So looking back, one can easily say that the LTTE should not have missed that opportunity. Even prior to Ranil Wickremesighe there were some opportunities, but it was very unfortunate that the LTTE failed to act wisely. That is the bane of our race. What else can I say?
http://www.nation.lk/2009/09/20/inter.htm

Even LTTE’s Anton Balasingham acknowledged that peace proposals put forward by GL Peiris & Neelan Thiruchelvam in 1995 under Chandrika, were acceptable. The relevant extract from the link below states:

Meanwhile Anton Balasingham made a startling revelation on March 11, 2003 when he spoke at the ceremonial opening of an LTTE bank (vaippagam) at Kilinochchi. The speech was reported in full in the Jaffna based “ Uthayan” of March 13 2003. Here is the relevant excerpt –

“1995 aam aandu Neelan Thiruchelvam arasamaipputh thirutha varaipu ondrai samarppithhaar. Athu sariyaana varaipu.Athu etkakkoodiyathu. Aanaal pinnar 2000 aam aandu antha varaipin adippadayil Chandrika oru thirutha varaipai samarppithaar.Antha varaipu Neelan Thiruchelvathin varaipin oru araikkuraiyaana oru thokuthiyaagum.”

(Neelan Tiruchelvam presented in 1995 a draft amending the constitution. That was a correct draft. That was acceptable. But, later in 2000 Chandrika submitted an amended version based on that draft. This one was only a half-baked version of the earlier draft by Neelan Tiruchelvam)

After vilifying Neelan as a traitor and the August 3rd 1995 devolution package as an act of treachery for years the LTTE was now acknowledging the merits of Neelan’s draft. After condemning the “GL-Neelan” package, Balasingham was now praising it. The wheel had turned full cycle.

http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=56593

So Surya, do not put the blame on the majority of Sinhalese – they have in the past elected politicians who tried to provide meaningful solutions. It is when the LTTE consistently takes a hardline position, that the Sinhalese voted in a hardline president, and that too by a very slim majority. ( Ranil has recently claimed that he lost the last election because LTTE accepted bribes to prevent Tamils from voting ).

Just look at the recent statement, ministers in power announced, there will be no political solution until the next election… What does that tell you…….

MR won the last election by a very slim majority, and he cannot implement policies such the 13th Amendment plus without a 2/3 majority. If he tires to implement any radical polices to devolve power to the North & East, it will be shot down by his political opponents, not because they are Tamil racists but simply because they want win elections by giving the impression that they are heros of their communities. . To quote DBS : It has been the bane of Sri Lankan politics that parties in opposition engage in communal politics to obstruct the government.

This is a very important point that few people can appreciate : the Sinhala politician who supports for example Sinhala Only Act or any pro-Sinhalese proposals or takes a hardline position on concessions to Tamils, does that simply to win votes and gain the power, money and prestige that election victories can bring. That is his number one priority – he may in fact not care one bit about the progress of the Sinhalese community or the nation. The same applies to the Tamil politicians who take hardline positions – they do so simply to win votes and not because they care about the Tamil community. You can see this very vividly in Tamil Nadu prior to elections – almost all Tamil Nadu politicians will try to portray themselves as champions of SL Tamils simply to win votes and forget about the SL Tamils after the election. Taking hardline positions inevitably flares tempers, and in third world countries which have a large percentage of less educated rural populations, many are easily influenced by the speeches of these politicians.

http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=63625

…….first get the foundation build to assure the Tamils that they are going to be safe anywhere in the Island, they will have equal rights, there will be no discrimination etc by providing a solid political solution…

Equal rights is certainly important, but it is important to remember that just as you say Tamils need the assurance that they are going to be safe anywhere in the Island, Sinhalese too need the assurance that will be safe without having to worry about LTTE bombs going-off or that attempts to create Tamil Eelam will not occur in future. A 30 year civil war has just ended about 4 months ago, frankly right now the trust between the communities is still not cemented. The army is still finding buried weapons and arresting LTTE cadres with explosives in Colombo, many in the diaspora ( including on this blog ) still demand Tamil Eelam, some politicians in Tamil Nadu still talk of sending the Indian army to create Tamil Eelam – all this does not help in building trust. Instead it creates fertile ground for hardline Sinhala politicians to exploit, especially in rural areas, to play on people’s fears, simply to win votes.

Some Tamils will say give us a federal state and you will not have to worry about Tamil Eelam. But right now, just four months after the end of a 30 year civil war, the perception among many Sinhalese is that a federal state is a stepping stone to Tamil Eelam, simply because as I said earlier, the trust between the communities is still not cemented. In 10 or 20 years time, that perception may change.

Great to read articles on my Mentor and Friend – Gamini .I have known him from 1981 and became close enough to have stayed with him a nemorus number of times from Udunuwara to Ja-Ela .

E-mail me your number and I will call you to have a chat – I live in California .He made me take a major role in Kotiwaligaya – Inspector turned Koti ..I like to get this movie and am willing to spend money to release this for after all everyones Blood is the same – Sinhalese ,Tamil,Muslim or Burger – our blood color does not change .

Take Care – keep writing .

Snanth De Silva – e-mail me your contact – we would have crossed paths before .
Best regards …Vijay

Thank you. I will do so…………..DBSJ