Michael Roberts
A FEW DAYS BACK, on 28th November 2023, I circulated this item among Lankan aficianado…. [ Let me add, here, that I was prompted to do this by the burgeoning world debate on the Palestinian-Israeli War that has been raging since August]. ………………………………………………………………….. https://thuppahis.com/2014/11/18/cartographic-photographic and -illustrations-in-support-of-the-memorandum-analysing-the-war-in-sri-lanka-and-propaganda
ROHANTHA GUNARATNA in Canada responded in critical fashion. …. So I circulated his Memo to some personnel with this NOTE: “I encourage responses [to his Memo] from interested personnel – here, quite deliberately, reaching out beyond Lankans to Indians and Brits familiar with the Lankan scene in that period past.”
EMAIL NOTE from ROHANTHA GUNARATNA, 28 November 2023
Hi Mr Michael Roberts ,
I cannot see the point in this regurgitation you seem to be hell bent on .
This stupid war finished over 12 years ago and in that span of time the British were reconciled with The denizens of Dresden after having flattened it to rubble just a few months before the ending of WW 2 killing many civilians and children far far too many than the IDF is executing in Gaza.
Very much like what the “ treaty of Versailles “ did unintentionally was to fan the flames of phoenixes by creating a monster called Nazism a form of fascism with a disdain for liberal democracy.
Let me highlight the many tentacles of bonding that was taken as absolute norm in my family circles before the rise of Prabakaram
My fathers brother Richard ( also a Royalist ) married from the Tamil community, siring a Dr Motilal now in the US
My first cousin Hema de Zoysa (also a Royalist) , a Director of the World Bank married from the Tamil community. His grandson died in the Easter bombing at the Cinnamon Grand whilst on holiday from Washington.
My uncle Sir Lalitha Rajapakse , the very first Minister of Justice under DS with the unique accolade of being one of the youngest PHD in Law in the UK had a sister in law married to a Tamil MP of Batticalloa.
Indrajit’s father in law married a lady ( Tara’s mother ) also from the T C.
My mothers flower girl was Dr a Ratnesan’s mother .
Both of my eldest sisters weddings were attested by Professor Mylvaganam.
Skanda’s sister is married to the son of Bunty de Zoysa one time Attorney General .
My best friends at Royal were Ratna Sivaratnam, Indy Perayerawar, the Selvaratnam boys, and very many others.
My niece Rangita de Silva de Alwis a present Law Professor at Penn University with a Masters and a PHD at Harvard flew in to give an oration for the requiem memorium of a famed Tamil Harvard law graduate Dr Nilan……who was assassinated by the Tigers.
For Pete’s sake man do not fan the flames of hatred , have empathy and the compassion to douse the flames and let all bond and live life without enmity.
The latest vote in the Canadian parliament to have a law passed for a Tamil subjugation week’s remembrance is a unnecessary adding fuel to a dying fire simply because having lived in England for nearly 60 years see visibly a sense of togetherness developing by solid “ give and take bonhomie.
Think about what I have spelled out please without rancour and imbibe friendship like you and I seem to link through Ismeth and Dilini ( my friend from school years )
Kind regards.
Rohantha Gunaratna.
PS.
I will look forward to anyone’s comments .
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HEREWITH SOME INITIAL COMMENTS
Email Note from Mo Marikar [a Trinitian from yesteryeaer], 2 December 2023:
ALSO NOTE …. Apropos Darini’s Note
