RESTful PHP Web Services

Samisa has written a book :-)

I'm happy to hear that for two reasons. First, the book fills a gap between PHP web developers and RESTful web services. Second,it is written by someone who really knows ins and outs of the technology.

Given Samisa's expereinces in web services I'd recommend he should write a book on SOAP+PHP as well.

The book is available here

My (neighbor's) question

Here is my analysis on the current situation between Sri Lanka and India. I'm neither a political analyser nor typically interested about politics(well below the average). So my comments may or may not be valid. Yet I thought it is better to share them as a citizen at this critical moment in Sri Lankan history. Moreover my views are biased. They are biased as I am totally against LTTE terrorism and their ideology.

Current situation in brief

1. SL military is gaining advantage of the land controlled by LTTE. As a result of that many people (Mostly Tamil) are displaced
   
2. Tamilnadu politicians (DMK) are urging Indian Government to intervene the Sri Lankan war. If not they have threatened to withdraw their support to the central, stirring a political storm in India as the general election is just around the corner.
   
3. LTTE is a banned terrorist organization in India and the first country to ban the group (even before Sri Lanka). LTTE killed Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 and many IPKF during the period of 1987-1990
   
4. SL government is backed by many parties consisting of different communities to finish the LTTE outfit once and for all. Main reasons are
   
   
   
   1. LTTE is responsible of killing and chasing of many Sinhalese and Muslims from North and Eastern parts of the island to create their mono ethnic homeland.
      
   2. LTTE have killed many moderate Tamil politicians who do not accept their ideology.
      
   3. LTTE have killed many Sinhalese leaders and potential leaders including former president Ranasinghe Preamadasa
      
   4. LTTE is responsible of destroying many assets of the country. (Katunayake Airport attack, Central Bank)
      
   5. More
      
   
   
5. Indian government cannot ask from Sri Lanka government to stop the war against LTTE, yet they still need to get the full advantage of the waves of Tamil nationalism in Tamil Nadu, in order to win the GE (At the same time Delhi needs to tame the Tamil nationalism, in order to keep the integrity). On the other hand Pakistan and China is willing to provide unconditional support for the war against terror. These affections are not for the best interest of India in long term. Basically Delhi is in a thick soup.
   

What SL should do?

1. Sri Lanka should not treat India as an enemy. The enemy should always be the LTTE.
   
2. Sri Lanka should allow India to help the suffering Tamil community. We should not forget that at this moment there are people living under trees. If Tamilnadu politicians are genuine about their appeal, they should help the displaced Tamils not a terrorist organisation. SL government could facilitate this.
   
3. Government should convince effectively the Tamil community about their safety (now and post war). Sinhala/Tamil/Muslim political leaders should understand the situation and should fish in troubled water for their short term political interests.
   
4. Government should have a mechanism to convince ex-LTTE cadres and Mahaveer families (Those who support the cause and got benefited from LTTE) about their safety too.
   
5. Government should provide facilities to those who are displaced due to war. After all we need to make sure that a “child today” is not a “terrorist tomorrow”.
   
6. SL government should keep good relationship with international community, not allowing LTTE propaganda to spread lies. Government representatives and diplomats abroad should be more vigilant and active.
   
7. Finally SL political parties should unite in this crucial hour. They should throw their personal agendas away. The country should always before the party.
   

The hypocrisy that cannot be neglected

1. When LTTE is committing direct attacks on civilians Tamilnadu was in a deep sleep.
   
2. Whenever LTTE is militarily powerful and mount attacks on an elected government, Tamilnadu was just blind
   
3. Whenever LTTE killed moderate Tamil leaders and torture Tamil civilians, Tamilnadu was deaf.
   
4. When tables are turned and Sri Lanka government takes the thing control into its hands (as it aught to do) and LTTE is struggling to survive, Tamilnadu becomes very unconfortable. Despite the wow of LTTE not to allow SLDF to step in tiger control areas, now the Tamil Tigers are pushed towards a defensive war.
   
5. Tamilnadu knows very well that India is fighting tooth and nail to keep the Kashmir.
   

The solution

Still it is too early to say what would be the solution. Seems each party is just continuing what they do. If Sri Lankan government could play their cards carefully and let the Indian governments to handle their internal affairs, then the LTTE would be history. At the same time the government should lay their plans on how to address key issues in every community and pay an especial attention in developing the war torn areas.
It is quite interesting to see how Indian government eat food without burning their fingers. Though an Indian military intervention is far from reality we have to live with South Asian politicians who cannot see beyond the ballot box. Though winning an election is my neighbour's problem...

Sports, Politics and Nitwits

Blindly following the path of their psychopathic leader, the LTTE goons have staged a stinky protest in Canada during the Twenty20 Cricket series. The best slap over the faces of those pathetic losers, is given by the SL cricket team by winning the series. And for the best of all, the spinner Ajantha Mendis, who was the main target, (just because he is serving in the army) is the man of the series. Too much for the bunch of nitwits who cannot see the difference between sports and politics.


[Photo AP]