Software Issues in Sri Lanka Part 5


Posted on October 13, 2006  /  214 Comments

Please continue discussion from Standardizing Sinhala for IT Part 4, on this thread. The change in the title reflects the diverse software issues discussed in the context of Sri Lanka that have gone beyond the initial Unicode vs Donalcode debate. Please keep the discussion civil.

Previous discussion is archived in the following threads:

214 Comments


  1. Shouldn’t the title be “IT Issues in Sri Lanka” because always we see people discuss here about beyond the scope of Software, Like Organizational issues and politics of ICTA , .lk issue and VK Sam bashing .

  2. LET’S WRITE IN SINHALA

    Helaya, Donald, and the honorable audience, may I humbly propose that we try to use Sinhala when writing here? The arguments aside, I was just elated to see so much Sinhala. (Actually, I think we should keep to civil public discourse, but I agree that it is difficult).

    For those who would like to test it, we have the US (Sinhala) keyboard. It is only slightly different from the US (English) keyboard but it is optimized or fast-typing Sinhala.

    Helaya, please try it, just for the fun of it. Of course, if you use only Linux then you’d have to use the one with dead keys. In most Windows machines you switch between the keyboards with CTRL SHIFT combination. It’s easy, I am not lying, kiddos.

    Here are the rows showing the difference (remember, only-lower-case):

    LINE ONE
    ———–
    English:
    q w e r t y u i o p
    Sinhala:
    ä w e r þ y u i o p
    (Notice that the first position is visargaya and fifth is OE Thorn)

    LINE TWO
    ———–
    English
    a s d f g h j k l
    Sinhala
    a s ð f g h j k l
    (The third is OE Edth)

    LINE THREE
    ————-
    English
    z x c v b n m
    Sinhala
    æ x c v b n m
    (The first is OE Ash)

    The original letters assigned to those altered keys could be had by typing those keys while holding down the right-hand side Alt key or CTRL ALT on the left.

    síhalayaa nægitapiyav! uBalage molee munta vadaa varðhanaya velaa þiyenavaa. avasþaava viþarayi apata oone. ee kiyanne hæmaþænama Internet eka (jájaalaya) nomilayee þiyenna oone. eeka karanna oya hiþana þaram salli oona nææ.

    URL:
    http://www.sinhalaheritage.com/ussinhala/

  3. Naom,

    The real topic should be VK Curse in Sri Lankan ICT. It is not the topic that is important here, it is the content. Your revelations about VK has gone to the right place (to the top most) and his life in ICTA is hanging in the balance now. So, it is high time you start a “well organized attack” on him as you once mentioned. VK’s real skin is being exposed now…. Wolf is out. His time is being reduced, thanks to this blog. So, keep attacking. One day you see the light at the end of the tunnel. Hope VK also see his light as well since he is about to kick the bucket. You could do in one post what Donald couldn’t do in last few months as you attack with substance. VK won’t be able to fool the big man for long.

  4. “Standardizing Sinhala” to “Software issues in Sri Lanka” much broader topic.

    Quote from 199 of Standardizing Sinhala part 4
    “If you have any problems regarding dictionaries and encyclopedias ask from an expert on that field. There is no point to bring such questions here.”
    unquote

    We do not have a complete electronic Sinhala – English dictionary or an encyclopedia neither in printed form.

    Only I have printed and published a near complete set of full Sinhala Characters.

    All this is due to the fact that Unicode Sinhala , SLSI1134 and Sinhala ISO is incomplete and incorrect.

    Dino and his group has spent funds from the government for the past 25 years yet failed to give the public proper product.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  5. Re OCR

    My version of OCR is as follows

    “The OCR hardware scans the material and compares the image with the text matrix in the software. The character is analyzed in a Cartesian coordinate system on a pre-defined grid to identify the character. Once the shape of the character is determined, the program could conduct a search for similar character(s) in the character allocation matrix and thereby determining the character”

    For Sinhala character “DU” or “KU” to identify by OCR the image of “DU” or “KU” has to be in the software as a full character “DU” or “KU” . In SInhala unicode I cannot find a “DU” or “KU”

    Profesional IT guys can you give an explanation. As to how OCR works for Sinhala Unicode.
    When Sinhala unicode has no location for the character “DU” or “KU”

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  6. Software Issues in Sri Lanka. I like that topic because that is what everything boils down to.

    Now, I have been watching his Dumriya debate for long. On one side, it gives rise to such passion that it becomes personal. Let me take the OCR question.

    I am a person who is old enough to remember the time OCR was introduced. It was very inefficient. Now it is better, yet hardly anyone uses it. I am talking about English.

    Let’s look at the English alphabet:
    Small letters:
    a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
    We can agree that the following sets of letters occupy about the same shape and size of space and about the same density of darkness to confuse the program.
    c, e, o
    b, h, k
    i, l
    i, j
    So, depending on the clarity of the scan, there are ten out of 26 for lower case letters that someone may have to edit OCRed doc. This is presuming that the program is advanced enough to guess the font family.

    A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W
    For caps I’d take the following sets:
    B, D, E, H
    C, G, O, Q
    F, T
    U, V
    P, R
    M,N

    Too many!! However, a spell checker might help because the choice is less than four letters.

    Even so, OCR is just not a big deal here. You scan and PDF the files, perhaps because scanning is much improved now. US send most doctors’ records to India to scan and PDF because the Federal Government requires record keeping (and compromise security, sigh). They also do medical transcription. They do MT because OCR is inefficient.

    How about Sinhala? There are 24 vowels, long and short without counting iluyanna. And about 39 consonants counting updhmaaniiyaya (f) and leaving out visargaya and bænði akuru. That is, 24×39 letters. As many of this set do not belong to mixed Sinhala sound set, let’s say we have 900 letters. (The font we made has 1600 plus characters altogether).

    First, Sinhala letters have a much higher dark part density than Latin. Second, Sinhala fonts cannot be categorized into font design families. An OCR program has to take these into consideration.

    Consider one similar set:
    Mahapraana kayanna, kantaja naasikyaya, cayanna, tayanna, dayanna, sanyaka dayanna, mahapraana ðayanna, bayanna, mayanna, amba bayanna and vayanna = 11 letters

    We cannot say which one of these would be selected by the OCR program for a marred mayanna. So someone needs to manually edit the OCRed text or help along the PCR process.

    If I were the person to convert the scan to text, I’d employ typist to do it because it is afster, accurate and cheaper.

  7. JCA!!!

    quote
    As many of this set do not belong to mixed Sinhala sound set, let’s say we have 900 letters…
    unquote

    The problem here is the UNICODE SINHALAor SLSI 1134 or ISO whatever you name these charts do not have the full set of SInhala characters. less than 100

    This is where the problem is.

    Quote
    (The font we made has 1600 plus characters altogether).
    unquote

    Unicode sinhala do not not have 1600 plus characters in the registered format.

    Latin script does have more then 128 and falls into several pages in unicode!!!

    With the few registered unicode sinhala set how can OCR identify the “DU and “KU”?

    I place this question to HELAYA who claims to be an IT professtional.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  8. The best answer was given in the Maubima a Sinhala news paper in Sri Lanka
    Page 36 written by Mr Pushpananda Ekanayake

    Will someone translate it to english and post it.

    A simple summery is (but he had written more than this)

    “The people who worked few decades ago had the knowledge of the subject that they were working. A typesetter knew how to use sinhala characters and compose looking at the manuscript additionally had a very good knowledge of the language even to correct the errors.
    Today a typesetter knows how to use a computer but have no good knowledge of the language.”

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  9. Donald,

    I understand the OCR dilemma. Unicode does not have all the possible combinatons. I am just trying to approach the problem honestly.

    Unicode indeed presents a problem for OCR. However, that may be solved.

    I think what I might do is make a font that has all the possible characters (I mean Sinhala letters — Unicode even mangled the English language). How you do that is by placing those characters that do not belong to the Sinhala Unicode block in the Private User Area (PUA) of the Basic Multilingual Plane (BMP) of Unicode starting at U E000 going for 6400 positions.

    I’d map them as composites and decompositions of the Unicode character set. The decompositions are needed for the two ligatures it has that shouldn’t be there. Now, the OCR engine could associate charcters it finds to the characters in the font.

  10. Thanks JC
    Quote
    Unicode does not have all the possible combinatons.
    Unquote

    again the rest have bolted

    When we can register the whole thing in unicode or SLSI or ISO why should we use the private area?

    First we have to get the people who did it wrong to correct it
    Officially Donald Gaminitillake placed the objections to the SLSI 1134.
    This was officially discussed and documented
    While accepting a need for a character allocation table DINO’s group over rule my objections.
    That is why Dino is not coming forward to debate with me.
    He knows that a character allocation table is required to move Sinhala forward in the IT field.
    Since he missed it and now he has to give the credit to none other than Donald

    Now get back to the SLSI 1134 correct it with my Sinhala character set.

    Then the whole problem of Sinhala software will get solved overnight

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  11. Dear Administrator,

    It is ideal that you have changed the topics of this thread to Software Issues in Sri Lanka Part 5.

    The so called standardization issue (or shall I say non-issue) had been discussed for so long and it has brought no results. Even if we discuss this non-issue for another ten years the results will be same.

    Donald and JC are just repeating what they have said earlier umpteenth time. Their individual questions have been answered successfully so many times, but they ask the same questions repeatedly. For instance Donald asks what is the code point for ‘Du’ I have pointed it out. (In fact so many like Harsha and Harsula have done so) It is clearly there in Unicode in black and white. So that shows only Donald inability to understand the Unicode concepts. That is his problem. Not ours.

    There is no use of wasting web space for non issues.

    There are so many important issues regarding the development of software in Sri Lanka.

    Let us all forget this so called Sinhala standardization non-issue and start talking about something useful and productive.

  12. Answer the questions posted rather than running away from the problems caused by your group.

    Also note that I speak on SINHALA UNICODE , SLSI 1134 and SINHALA ISO
    Not the unicode consortium.

    You mix up Unicode consortium and Sinhala Unicode

    What Sri Lanka registered in the UNICODE is incorrect and incomplete Sinhala
    This is the issue. Helaya, Dino and his group knew only a sinhala typewriter not ICT

    Read Maubima Sunday 15 Oct Page 36 written by Mr Pushpananda Ekanayake. This text suit Helaya. Helaya claims to an IT Professional expert trying to have a first class upper division but knows nothing how to use this IT as tool unable even to understand the basic of OCR!!!!! I post the question once again for this IT expert. How OCR identify “KU” & “DU” only using Sinhala unicode chart or SLSI 1134 or SInhala ISO ?

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  13. It is obvious that we should ignore Donald’s usual question about ‘DU’ now, but I don’t think we are in such a hurry to say that there is no issue in Standardization of Singhala for IT (current Singhala Unicode standard).

    1. One point JC Ahangama raised the question that current Singhala Unicode standard cannot support Pali and Sanskrit successfully. (I still think JC seems to be honestly trying to push some technical issue and practically trying to solve it, may be in correctly ;-) )

    2. Other point it is similarly important to talk and criticizes the process of achieving that standard and to question the real productivity of that process . In fact I assume the major portion of theses discussions should be about this aspect of IT. (If you guys follow discourse on IT in West (mostly US ;-) ) is mostly about such topics, they don’t do the technical analysis of for example the Open Document Format on public discussion groups, but they discuss the issues relating to not having such standard and how Microsoft is trying to under cut such standard and things like. And there are so many forums that have very influential and independent views on many aspects of IT) If I understand correct, Lirneasia is also trying to initiate some thing similar, so I think we should use it to the fullest.

    One more thing I think we should consider JC Ahangama’s efforts little more seriously and should not categorize him also with Donald. I downloaded his stuff and trying to dig in. (He mentions open source in some places, but I am yet to find what exactly in there open source. Don’t worry JC I am not trying to fork.)

    It is also important to identify the real objectives of Anti-Donald voices show up in this group. One such category is just opposite of Donald, they don’t add anything just repeat the same answer and hatred (unproductive) again and again. I think what this people really want is, just add lot of unnecessary noise in to theses forums and suppress the more important debate, the really really important debate like What are the real bottle necks in utilizing IT is SL how much VK Samaranayeke, Gihan Dias, et el contributing to these frictions, is it cost effective what they have done so far, should the authorities allow these people to continue, Ultimately why IT is not really flourishing in Sri Lanka.
    These noise makers finally make these discussions ineffective, by distracting the audience.

    At last I think people dont come here to talk about some thing productive in IT (For that you need to go to your work place meeting room. After all this is not kernel.org is it.) – dont get me wrong. People come here to talk about why they can’t do certain things productively in IT (in Sri Lanka). To discuss about those road blocks (and may be to kick those shrivel old asses too ;-) ).

  14. Noam,

    I agree with you that there are issues with Sinhala language introduction to computers but since we have come a long way, those issue should be settled within the Unicode structure and SLS 1134, not outside of it. Also it is time to put this ‘Du-ku-gu’ rubbish to rest.

    I also agree with you JC should not be lowered to the level of an O/L dropout who has not done even an iota of work but gives “pora talks”. JC has actually done some research in this area so we should take him seriously.

  15. OK, Naom and Helaya,

    Naom you say you downloaded the stuff that I put out for y’all to test. That looks like a first for this place. Now, then get serious and take it piece by piece and say what you have to say about them.

    Let’s begin with the fundamentals: the alphabet. Tell us merits and demerits. It represent the entire Sinhala sound set. Challenge me. Let’s se if Unicode Sinhala or Dual-script is practical.

    Let’s honestly bring out its weaknesses and try me for answers or admissions. If you do not want to install WorldPad, add files for complex scripts and uninstall them. The residue would allow the orthographic font to work inside Notepad (because Microsoft does not take back the system services that ought to have been there from the beginning. Who knows that they were there originally and they removed it when they started shipping? Also, how come Adobe can show the font in their programs?

    Go and read the Install.txt file that has some tech links that highlight the problems Unicode has in general (not just Sinhala). These docs are by Microsoft and IETF, not street persons.

    Helaya, you say since a lot of time was spent on Unicode we should stick with it. And, go for the $53 million debt too? How about the time we spent in the US on the alternative? The time I spent on it was really money lost because my time was taken away from my work. There’s no boss paying me.

    You say you have answered my questions repeatedly. I did not ask questions. I answered questions you guys put out, and you become silent or change names and hide. I don’t know which is which.

    I was asked to change the link to the Dual-script Sinhala files. They are improved and stationed at:
    http://www.sinhalaheritage.com/ahangama/

    This is only for a limited time and only for genuine testing and feed back.

  16. Quote
    Also it is time to put this ‘Du-ku-gu’ rubbish to rest.
    Unquote

    No way you can put aside sinhala language away

    Answer the question posted for OCR

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  17. Dear Readers,

    I am not here to answer O/L dropout’s questions. If they know any thing about ICT, it is their problem. Not mine.

    However, if any of you think that I run away from arguments, here are my responses.

    1. First of all I do not think for an application like OCR, we need any standards. We need standards only for information exchange. We do not need standards for each an every thing.

    Somebody can specify every car should have four wheels, a steering wheel in the right front seat etc., but it is up to the manufacturers to decide the models and the features of a car. If govt. forces the same standard on every car manufacturer the world will be a very boring place to live. So OCR application developers can always have their own systems as long as they can convert the Sinhala to same Unicode compatible font set once they are scanned and recognized.

    2. Even if anyone does not like it an imposes a standard one can always use the Unicode code point (0DAF0D8B) to recognize the character.

    So, not just one, but two solutions.

    This is the LAST TIME I respond on this matter. This is just to show that we have ALL the answers for this stupid O/L dropout has been raising for so many days. This mottaya does not even know the difference between Dhammapada and Loveda Sangarava and give “pora talks” about saving the Sinhala language.

    Sinhala language should be saved only from those mudalalis who tries to make it proprietary so that they can earn a fortune from that.

    I think this man is somebody escaped from the Angoda metal hospital. We should let the hospital authorities know about this, so all these unnecessary issues are solved.

  18. What you scan from the OCR can you cut and paste with note pad into word and then into helawadane and/or Thibas? further into linux Unix Apple using the sinhala unicode or SLSI 1134

    Where is “DU” “KU” and “GU” in Sinhala unicode to use in OCR?

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  19. Quote from Helaya posting 18

    “Sinhala language should be saved only from those mudalalis who tries to make it proprietary so that they can earn a fortune from that”
    unquote

    Now you can understand who was paid govt funds for 25 years!!and still in the govt pay roll — yet no proper Sinhala in Computer

    Unicode Sinhala incompete and incorrect.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  20. Only the computer illiterate mottayas can say stupid things like no Sinhala in Computers.

    1. Sinhala Unicode standard had been established. It is correct and complete. Not a single sane person had ever challenged its completeness or correctness. (Escapees from Angoda don’t count)

    2. Sinhala standard key board is there.

    3. There are so many Sinhala sites using Sinhala Unicode compatible fonts.

    4. There are even chat rooms and forums using Sinhala Unicode.

    5. Sinhala Unicode compatible fonts support all major Operating Systems.

    6. There are so many Sinhala Unicode based font developers. Companies and individuals.

    7. Printing industry heavily uses Sinhala fonts with no difficulties what so ever. They publish not only Sinhala text, but also Pali and Snaskrit texts.

    8. All major Sinhala Newspapers are now page made by Computers.

    9. You can send e-mail and SMS in Sinhala.

    10. OCR and handwriting recognition applications have been developed.

    If computers cannot handle Sinhala how can one explain all these developments?

    If anyone still claims there is no Sinhala in computers after all these advances, he should first touch his head to see whether there are two horns growing.

  21. You cannot perform the following task

    What you scan from the OCR can you cut and paste with note pad into word and then into helawadane and/or Thibas? further into linux Unix Apple using the sinhala unicode or SLSI 1134

    Pls refer to the unicode sinhala chart and give locations for “GU” “DU” and “KU”

    What Helaya had written is just gimmock

    Donald Gaminitillake

  22. Earlier they have removed my father’s (Dino) pants.

    Now Donald’s pants are being removed. This is good for a change.

    Donald, are you blind? I see Helaya has given the code point for ‘Du’ so many times. Why you repeatedly ask this question when he answered it? Don’t you realize that you are now wearing Emperor’s new clothes?

    Hoo…hoo…Donald, there are girls here. Plese cover yourself asap…hoo…hoo…

    oka thamai kiyanne Donald, anunta kala de – thamanta pala de…

    Guys, this Donald uncle is a bigger crook than my father.

    Never ever let Donald uncle go anywhere near ICTA. He will create annexes in ICTA and will sell them through his web site to gullible foreigners.

  23. Helaya,

    You listed ten things. If all that is true, Sinhala does not need any more work. I am removed from the scene and that could be why I have this perception that Unicode Sinhala is inadequate. I feel that romanized Sinhala gone further ahead. Who is right?

    First, let’s agree that if Unicode Sinhala needs fixing, it should be done. We all can get together and agree on a fix. Yes, Helaya, only if it is broken. Same is true about romanized Sinhala.

    This list seems like comprehensive. I humbly request that we take the POST 21 as the basis for the discussion. Let us please keep the discussion civil and respect each other.

    So, as a rule, if one says I am not going to answer that question, then let’s have someone declare that that point is in suspense and go to the next. (How about Gamage acting as the moderator or Samarajiva? Sam, I hope you do not have any special interest than the betterment of the language) Don’t personally attack for not answering a question. That itself is admission of failure. So why hurt someone already injured?

    May I ask Helaya to support each point and let others respond so that we could come to a logical conclusion? We must have proof to support each point. Sweeping statements like everyone does it or only fools do not agree are not proof. For instance, if one says the newspaper industry uses Unicode Sinhala, let someone from that industry confirm that with some verifyable proof. No one can attest to anything by saying ‘I do it’ while concealing their personal identity.

    I won’t dare say 1. until Helaya agrees to this scheme (and of course, the audience). But let me just suggest going down the list in order is orderly. (duh).

  24. Sincere apologies, but LIRNEasia cannot provide the requested moderation. As we have repeatedly explained these issues are not central to our work. If we don’t keep our focus and get our work done, no one will bail us out.

    Please manage the discussion among yourselves. The suggestions for ground rules seem eminently sensible. Perhaps JCA can moderate, while also expressing his own views.

  25. 2. Sinhala standard key board is there.

    Nobody challange the Sinhala key board. input methods are not a problem.
    There are several input methods but the same character should appear. The text has to be compatible amoung any OS any system any application

    3. There are so many Sinhala sites using Sinhala Unicode compatible fonts.
    4. There are even chat rooms and forums using Sinhala Unicode.
    6. There are so many Sinhala Unicode based font developers. Companies and individuals.

    seen on Limited to operating system and a limited font set — data not compatible across any OS

    5. Sinhala Unicode compatible fonts support all major Operating Systems.

    Data not compatible. What created by font “A” cannot be read using the Font “B”

    7. Printing industry heavily uses Sinhala fonts with no difficulties what so ever. They publish not only Sinhala text, but also Pali and Snaskrit texts.

    Limited to specific users. the sinhala news papers cannot be read in the web without downloading the font that created the text.

    9. You can send e-mail and SMS in Sinhala.

    Nokia has come out good issue the bad part is it will never be compatable with another brand or a mobile system. It will work with in the frame work of Nokia a act of monopoly. These act of Monopoly has to be stopped. There would not be a monopoly if the character allocation table is published. I do have the copyrights over the issue of using full sinhala characters.

    With the unicode sinhala a limited number of sinhla may be used. But Nokia gives a location to “Yansaya” Nokia has its own charracter allocation table.

    Nokia SMS any provider SMS readable only on Nokia Hand sets
    Dialog SMS only on limited handsets only on Dialog System
    Celltell SMS only on limited handsets only on Celltell System
    Mobitel SMS only on limited handsets only on Mobitel system

    Example
    If someone send a Sinhala SMS from Nokia handset OS to Sony on Dialog — the SMS is not readable!!!
    Is this what we wanted.

    OCR issue has been answered before

    Unicode Sinhala is incorrect and incomplete

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  26. Re Sinhala e-mail

    You need the same font that the E mail was created to read the content.

    All above violates the concept of unicode consortium

    Quote from unicode consortium
    What is Unicode?
    Unicode provides a unique number for every character,
    no matter what the platform,
    no matter what the program,
    no matter what the language.
    unquote

    “Sinhala unicode” will not perform any of the above tasks.
    This is because Sri Lanka registered a limited number of Sinhala characters in the unicode consortium.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  27. Helaya a claimed to be an IT professional write the following on quote 18

    Quote
    1. First of all I do not think for an application like OCR, we need any standards. We need standards only for information exchange. We do not need standards for each an every thing.
    Unquote

    He contradicts the first phrase with the second, and the second with the third

    Do I have give a lecture to him on ” information exchange”

    These are the type of guys we have in our universities. He knows nothing else writing on behalf of someone else.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  28. JC,

    Your post looks very sensible. I am agreed to the scheme, if everyone else agrees to the following conditions.

    1. Okay, we can take post No. 1 as the base.

    2. Donald had been asking the same stupid question about “Du”, “Ku” and “Gu” since time immemorial. This question has been successfully answered. For your information the code points for the same are given below.
    DU = 0DAF0D8B
    KU = 0D9A0D8B
    GU = 0D9C0D8B

    Since the successful answers are given Donald should stop asking this question repeatedly. So that issue is settled.

    3. Donald makes so many false statements either to misled the public or because of his ignorance.

    eg. [q] seen on Limited to operating system and a limited font set — data not compatible across any OS [uq]

    This is wrong. fonts based on Unicode standard is compatible across the applications and across OSs. This has already been demonstrated to Donald at ICTA. So this issue too is settled. We need not discuss about it.

    4. Anybody who challenges saying Unicode is incompatible and incomplete should have a solution of his own. You have your own solution. (though some may not agree that is the way) So we can argue with you. No problem. But Donald does not have ANY solution as an alternative. So there is no need to argue with such a person.

    5. Donald does not understand how market works. For instance he thinks there should be one key board. This is a big joke. Even for English there are so many key boards. (eg. Dvorak, which is not very popular) So there is no need to have standards for each and everything we need standards only for information exchange.

    Under these conditions, I am ready for a fruitful conversation. But definitely NOT with O/L dropouts who repeat the same stupid arguments because of their ignorance. Their stupidity / ignorance is their problem. Just because one person is stupid, we do not have to make the whole nation stupid.

    Now I am sure that O/L dropuout will jump with the same age old rubbish.

    We have sucessfully answered EVERY question he had asked. So my question is what is the use of asking the questions that had been already answered?

    Do you think there is any use of answering such a person?

    Do you think anybody sane can maintain such a stupid attitude?

  29. JC,

    No dont get the facts wrong.

    We can agre about opinions but fact should be maintained.

    Donald said:

    [q] Now you can understand who was paid govt funds for 25 years!!and still in the govt pay roll — yet no proper Sinhala in Computer[uq]

    I replied:

    [q] Only the computer illiterate mottayas can say stupid things like no Sinhala in Computers. [uq]

    I gave ten examples and ALL major Sinhala newspapers using computers in their layout designs is one. There was no issue of Unicode.

    What proof you need that newspaper companies use computers for layout purposes? You are free to visit any newspaper company (ANCL, Wijeya, Upali, Rivira, Maubima, Leader etc) and see yourself. There is no dire need to use Unicode compatible fonts here, because there is no dire need for information exchange.

    Do you agree with me that any ordinary person can say there is no Sinhala in Computers when so many newspaper companies use them?

  30. With the powers that have been vested to me by the people of this country, I hereby declare this debate on Sinhala Standardisation OVER.

    CHAPTER CLOSED.

    Also please do not say anything against Prof. V. K. Samaranayake because he has been appointed as ICTA Chairman with a good reason.

    Just like this country is the feudal property of families like Senanayake, Bandaranaike and Jayawardena families, ICT in Sri Lanka (including organizations like UCSC, CINTEC, Infotel and ICTA) is the feudal property of Prof. Samaranayake. So he is the best person to head ICTA. After he retires (i.e. after the doctor confirms the death) his son will take over the post of Chairman from him. If he does not have any sons post of ICTA Chairman will be given to the brother of his wife.

    I hope this is clear.

    Let us everybody now join hands and discuss how to develop this country instead of uselessly arguing.

    Therunai?

  31. Quote
    For instance he thinks there should be one key board.
    Unquote

    Who said so I never said this.

    Nobody challange the Sinhala key board. input methods are not a problem.
    There are several input methods but the same character should appear. The text has to be compatible amoung any OS any system any application

    quote
    DU = 0DAF0D8B
    KU = 0D9A0D8B
    GU = 0D9C0D8B
    Unquote
    These are just sequence NOT a Code POINT for “DU” “GU” or “KU” all three characters are not visible in SINHALA UNICODE or SLSI 1134

    Quote
    This has already been demonstrated to Donald at ICTA. So this issue too is settled. We need not discuss about it.
    Unquote

    I have answered this http://www.lirneasia.net/2006/05/standardizing-sinhala-for-it/

    quote from 191
    Oh That story is quite different
    I went with Keerthi president of Sri Lanka Association of Printers (posting 19) & Delan
    Manju too was present. This was the second meeting.he got angry and went out.

    The “Yakshaya” part came on the first meeting.
    Dr Gihan wanted a word from us to show in his computer with his system
    I told to type “Yakshaya” into the note pad and copy and paste it to another application
    The word “Yakshaya” what he typed into the note pad was not the “Yakshaya” apperaed on the second application.
    In this meeting even he failed with the word “Yakshaya” he never got angry. He said it was a bug.(wow)

    In the second meeting still he had no solution for “Yakshaya”. (after several months) He got angry and walk away embrassing Manju. Not only because of “Yakshaya” but due to other facts.Unfortunately I have not taken any notes.

    These meeting was not on invitation form ICTA but by requested appointments with Manju.
    Technically during the time we made objections to the SLSI 1134.

    Instead of “Yakshaya” why not try “Rajapaksha” and see the results yourself Jehan. Hopefully someone will have to do a demonstration to the President. This was one of the visuals I planned for the Sirasa TV debate.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

    This was confirmed by 194 of the same blog

    194 Keerthi on Jul 10th, 2006 at 9:32 pm
    191. Donald Gaminitillake what he say there is correct the intention was not to criticize any one but to look at more lucrative solution. When Gamini was getting to an argument with Dr. Gihan I only suggested why not you tell a word and let Dr. Gihan type and copy to a different package. That was not successful. It was not a story like Jehan was trying to explain and let me clear Gamini from that since he want with me and Dilan.

    I write just to clarify this matter only.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  32. Quote
    nybody who challenges saying Unicode is incompatible and incomplete should have a solution of his own
    Unqoute

    I SAY ONLY “SINHALA UNICODE” is incorrect and incomplete
    WHY — only limited number of sinhala characters were registered in the unicode consortium

    Sri Lanka registered as a national standard with Unicode a table SLSI 1134 which is incomplete and incorrect. They have not given proper code points for all Sinhala characters. Therefore the font developers are unable to develop correct proper sets of fonts to use in computers.

    I have the solution
    My character allocation table for Sinhala Language is published ISBN 955-98975-0-0 (Contents do have Copyright areas & Patent pending areas©2000-2006)

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  33. Re News paper issue

    Limited to specific users. the sinhala news papers cannot be read in the web without downloading the font that created the text.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  34. Quote’

    What proof you need that newspaper companies use computers for layout purposes? You are free to visit any newspaper company (ANCL, Wijeya, Upali, Rivira, Maubima, Leader etc) and see yourself.There is no dire need to use Unicode compatible fonts here, because there is no dire need for information exchange.
    Unquote

    News papers are a part of information exchange.
    Free media movement and free and fare publication for the public to read and obtain facts are given from the News paper

    “”no dire need to use Unicode compatible fonts here”” you are censoring the free flow of information.

    I think the journelist shoould comment on this issue

    This is a part of censorship imposed

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  35. JC,

    Saw the same stupid response?

    Do you think there is any use talking to a complete idiot like this?

    I ignore this modaya. (like so many wise men had done before me) When somebody replies to him out of sheer courtesy (thinking this is somebody who does not know the facts and willing to learn) he takes advantage of it. Then he goes on repeating the same stupid arguments. (which already been answered for the umpteenth time.)

    I don’t see any need to discuss this issue further, because there is nothing to discuss.

    It is all settled. Unicode can support any Sinhala character and Unicode standard is inter-exchangeable over different applications and operating systems. This is all what we need. So the issue can be put to rest.

    If you have any other issues we can discuss.

  36. Macho Dino’s son, I agree with you.

    My dad is a bigger crook than yours.

    Your dada flicked from the $ 15 million Samsung deal so you can enjoy the life in USA. My dada is trying to get a patent for the Sinhala alphabet thinking that he would earn enough money to send me to USA.

    However, your dada is smarter than my dada so the former always wins.

    I hope soon he will be appointed as CEO of ICTA, so he would buy me a bicycle. You know, the CEO of ICTA is being paid millions of dollars for doing nothing. So it is an ideal job for my dada.

  37. In one word, Exasperation!

    I expected to discuss one point at a time. Instead, there came a barrage of a response. Then Helaya, you say it is settled, which I cannot blame you for. Isn’t it a bit unfair, though? Here , it’s impossible for a balanced discussion and you cleverly take advantage of it. I just laugh. How can anybody hear when everyone is screaming different things to drown out the others? I hope I am not doing the same, sigh.

    This is not the forum for discussing anything substantial. But please let me say the following. Note: This is in the interest of the big picture — the future! And we are together.

    Unicode Sinhala is here to stay. Therefore, let’s get it to a condition that is best for us. I can apply for a revision. You can too. The Koreans did it too. They call it the ‘Korean Mess’. But this is not for one man to do but for you people back at home.
    I would like to have a good backup plan for Sinhala and Tamil. Let’s back up a bit. This is for you to see what I mean. Back up plan for what? Backup plan for Unicode Sinhala. The Thais have it. What they did was, they have the characters at Latin-1 space and the same set so many codepoints higher (just behind Sinhala) in exactly the same order. This way, they add or subtract one number to go from one code page to the other.

    They were able to do this because they are always united behind the king and, though their language is similar to the Indics, they did not get caught up in the Abugida thing. Abugida essentially says that these languages are strange. So strange that they cannot be supported the way they do the European languages. (I think that this is the result of Indians harping too much on the grandiosity of Sanskrit, godly letters, cerebral sounds etc. I would too like to do something mischievous to such people).

    Using the little linguistics I know, I see plainly that this idea of our being too strange is untenable. ISO too did not think we are strange until like 1999. Something happened after Unicode took control of character tables (soon after they talked to ISO guys bringing them down to America). They quickly disbanded the ISO-8859 committee. We were thrown into the abyss of Abugida by our own ineptitude.

    First Sinhala and Tamil are different from the Indics of India. Tamil is Dravidian and all other Indics listed on Unicode are mixtures of Indo-European and Dravidian. Sinhala has no Dravidian at all. That is why I say that the ancestors of Sinhalese must have spoken an Indo-European sound set and not an ancient Dravidian. Therefore we should not have allowed Unicode to model Unicode according to Devanagari.

    Now, if Sinhala is so Indo-European, we should be able to write like the other Indo-European languages and have cognates with them too. Both are correct. Romanized Sinhala is proof of the former. The idea of cognate is important. That allows attesting some spelling. We ignored this fact and stipulations of old grammar books and included taaluja sanyuga naasikyaya in the Unicode set. Look at jçaana and know. They are cognates and start with a consonant followed by a nasal. Most Europeans stick to this pattern of spelling though pronunciation has simplified. Why do we add confusion to something already quite clean? For those who do not know romanized Sinhala, jç means hal jayanna saha þaaluja naasikyaya.

    Read this article by venerable Microsoft. It tell what a daunting task lies ahead for Internationalization, code word for writing programs to accommodate those who are given codepoints above Latin-1:
    http://www.microsoft.com/typography/unicode/cs.htm
    Some excerpts from it:
    BDCS
    No leadbytes fall within the lower 127 (ASCII) range, but some trailbytes do.

    ASCII
    the only means of interchanging data across all major languages (without risk of character mapping loss) is to use ASCII (or have all sides understand Unicode)

    Unicode
    Unicode is not a technology in itself. Sometimes people misunderstand Unicode and expect it to ‘solve’ international engineering, which it doesn’t. Unicode is an agreed upon way to store characters, a standard supported by members of the Unicode Consortium. (

  38. continuation…

    Character
    …no single character is assumed to identify a language in itself. character “a” can be a French, German or English “a” (or Sinhala “a” (JC))
    appearance should reside in the font as an artistic issue, not the code point as an engineering issue. (Hence, Sinhala ‘a’ could look like Sinhala ayanna (JC)).
    Although it’s technically possible to ship one font which covers all Unicode characters, it would have very limited commercial use, since end-users in Asia will expect fonts dedicated and designed to look correct in their language. (What happened to the wonderful idea that Unicode is plain text?)

    I say, we should reconsider Unicode Sinhala with practical use of it in mind (not a set of trillion codepoins please, Donald — will never happen). Until such time, romanized Sinhala is eminently capable to support Sinhala in *current* technology and forward if necessary.

  39. Like JC says a revision of Sinhala Unicode is a must
    The problem here is they do not accept the fact that present Sinhala unicode need any revision or a correction

    They also say Sinhala need not be standared

    When Unicode consortium say we need a standard and all the major languages are been working on a ISO or Unicode standard we Sinhalese say need not have an Standard

    Quote from Unicode consortium
    Fundamentally, computers just deal with numbers. They store letters and other characters by assigning a number for each one. Before Unicode was invented, there were hundreds of different encoding systems for assigning these numbers. No single encoding could contain enough characters: for example, the European Union alone requires several different encodings to cover all its languages. Even for a single language like English no single encoding was adequate for all the letters, punctuation, and technical symbols in common use.

    These encoding systems also conflict with one another. That is, two encodings can use the same number for two different characters, or use different numbers for the same character. Any given computer (especially servers) needs to support many different encodings; yet whenever data is passed between different encodings or platforms, that data always runs the risk of corruption.
    Unquote

    People with brains will understand and know who is winning.We need a proper sinhala character allocation table like what I have published to revise the Sinhala incorrect unicode

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  40. Even though I do not want to get in to answering/supporting detailed technical stuff here, I can’t help. Donald and Helaya both are attacking each other using half truth, because if they reveal the complete facts it will expose what they are trying to hide. So they make some theories (which is acceptable or profitable for them) using half truths and then go in to make it work some how. When it does not work on it’s technical credibility (because there is no full credibility to it) then they reach out to the politicians to help it. Use the political power to make it work. This is the sad truth about our country. From J.L. Peris, Epasinghe, V.K. Samaranayeka and Gihan Dias to Donald that is the truth. Ok now we get down to the facts.

    1. I hate to even mention this question but what can we do.. Can Unicode support letter “Du”. Donald says can’t but Helaya (and Gihan and V.K. and Prof. J. B. Disanayeke ) says it can support. So what is the truth? Yes there is no one single code point for “Du” but using two code points Unicode can represent “Du”. So what is the real question here?
    a. Do we really need single code point to represent each possible character in singhala alphabet? Is it possible? Is it desirable technically? If possible and desirable why Singhala Unicode front did not go fore it. Was it so hard to come up with this so obvious solution for those PhD guys? (One to one mapping is the simplest and obvious solution any fourth grader can come up with in a few minutes, yeah.. its so easy Donald) Or is there some thing else these people don’t tell us? What’s up with those legal battle stuff mentioned in fonts.lk given as the reasons why they are so late to come up with the Unicode Standard.

    b. Can current Unicode Standard support all possible characters support using one or more code points? Are there some characters left out. If so what is the reason for it. Was there any acceptable academic or community process/debate followed to get in to these decisions? Was it a pragmatic decision not to give a direct code point to “Yansaya” and give a direct code point to “Fayanna” (or is it just because Prof. J. B. Disanayeke invented. Did the people worked on this had any spine to come up with genuine questions like that. Or are they just afraid to talk about things like that. Ultimately can V.K. Samaranayeke et. el. create such free rained intellectual environment?)

    If any one wants to make this debate intellectual they have to talk about above question (a) and (b). Ideally if Helaya (or who ever want to support Singhala Unicode) and Donald are real intellectuals they should go back and spend some time to write some kind of white-paper on similar analysis and publish in there respective sites. Then we can talk about it with proper references.

    2. Yes now there are so many news papers in internet and uses singhala. There are even mobile phones supporting Singhala. (Very long time back 1997, I was personally involved in deploying Singhala Pager ) By saying that Helaya is trying to say there is no problem in using singhala in IT. But is it true? No not at all. Just some fonts.

    3. Don’t take supplementary technologies like OCR here Having it or not having done does not prove any thing.

    Sorry I’ll continue later

  41. What the fuck? The times and the order it apears in this list got messed I think.

  42. May be caching and refreshing I hope..

  43. I think JC’s suggestion on applying a revision for current Singhala Unicode is good. But do we need one, if yes why?
    Donald need it just to push forward his copyright solution may be (I am not over judgmental Donald, You really spoiled your credibility here, but I think you can work on it, we are humans after all). If not, say clearly that what ever get in to this revision should be free for everyone personal and business. Helaya may say “no we don’t need”. But get real here man. Was that “Yakshaya” problem resolved (I really don’t know).

    JC may have some good suggestions. (May be to expand the scope to include Pali and sanskrit)

    I just want to have prominence to “Yansaya” insted of “Fayanna” ;-) what the fuck.

    And any answers to my two questions in above post also give some suggestions.

    Also I would like to suggest at least for the most part this revision has to be backward compatible with existing Singhala Unicode. (Other wise that Meegamman guy will get pissed. No not really, if he is a real business man. Because he can sign new set of contracts to upgrade for existing clients. Money, money, maony, mo..ney.. So get in here brother..)

    So people who are working on these matters for real get back to a proper discussion. Shall we?

  44. JC / Noam,

    The very concept behind Unicode is to have a UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED pages for each language currently used in the world, instead of proprietary pages for each language.

    For instance, when I say Unicode 0D85, I do not have to mention anything about Sinhala, but everybody knows I refer to ‘A’ in Sinhala. There is no other letter (in any language, say English, Spanish, Hindi or Urdu etc) or symbol is represented by the same code. Or vice versa (this is very important) Sinhala ‘A’ (ayanna) is not represented by any other code.

    So there is always a one to one UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED relationship between the code 0D85 and Sinhala ‘ayanna’

    The benefit of this is not seen by Sinhalese, because Sinhala is only used in Sri Lanka. However, if you take a language like Tamil which is used in so many different countries there is a clear benefit, because there is no need to have national standards. Unicode is the international standard so it is only a question of adapting the same. (Imagine what will happen if India has one national standard for Tamil and Malaysia has another national standard incompatible with the Indian one.)

    Conclusion: Whatever the issues we have we cannot move from Unicode. That is the way forward. (JC, we do not have any objection of Romanised Sinhala. You can use it for specific purposes. But still it is a proprietary system.)

    Now, let me come to my point.

    Since Unicode has to make allocations for ALL languages in the world it gives only 128 codes for one language.

    This is not a problem for languages like English, which has only limited number of letters. However, all Indian languages have thousands of characters, so they cannot be obviously represented in a matrix of 8×16.

    That is the simple reason why we need a combination of “two” codes for “Du”. However there is no rule that a character should always be represented by 8 byte code. If it is represented by 16 byte code or 32 byte code there is no issue at all. That would have been a problem in 1960s where computer memory was a luxury, but definitely not today.

    What our Donald mottaya says is that we should have a proprietary character allocation table and map each character in Unicode with a proprietary 8 byte code.

    That is not necessary. I can give many reasons why.

    (a) Adding another proprietary component will add no value to Unicode. In fact, it will reduce the value of Unicode.

    (b) What he suggests is already there. There is no need to add anything extra. For example Nokia phones or Helawadana use their proprietary character allocation tables. There is not need for these proprietary character allocation tables to be standard. It is like building buses. You can have the same standard chassis, but you can build the body the way you want.

    (c) If anyone still wants a standard character allocation table, one can always expand the same Unicode chart to have the sacred matrix Donald is talking. In fact, one does not need to have it on paper. It can be done mentally. In the matrix these are the relevant code points. DU = 0DAF0D8B, KU = 0D9A0D8B, GU = 0D9C0D8B. These are NOT sequences, but the code points in the Unicode character allocation table.

    Finally why Donald uncle is so cross is he planned to make some money by taking a patent for something he thought an ingenious invention, but now he realizes that it is not possible. It is not the fault of Prof. VKS or Dr. GD. Donald mottaya is simply too stupid to think something original. Nobody gives patents for duplicate work.

    CONCLUSION:

    Unicode Sinhala is now complete and accurate. It is inter-exchangeable among operating systems and applications. There is no need to “correct” it. Why try to mend something when there is nothing wrong in it? So now the issue is how best to use Unicode Sinhala in applications.

    Hope my long explanation settle the issue forever.

    We can discuss things but please do not ask the same questions again and again. (It is a pain explaining these basics again and again. How many times we have done this now? I feel like teaching a class of some really dumb students.)

  45. Quote
    Since Unicode has to make allocations for ALL languages in the world it gives only 128 codes for one language.
    Unquote

    Unicode cannot restrict the number of characters per language
    Unicode consortium accepts unconditionally any National standard any number of characters.
    This is a very worng concept of Helaya

    Quote’
    I say Unicode 0D85, (…..=”A” ayanna)
    Unquote
    Likewise give the code point ofr “DU” “KU”abd “GU”
    These are not registered in the unicode Sinhala

    I never said anything agaiunt UNICODE CONSORTIUM but ONLY on SINHALA UNICODE which is incorrect and incomplete set

    As per unicode registration

    0D9A = SINHALA LETTER ALPAPRAANA KAYANNA
    0D8B = SINHALA LETTER UYANNA
    Where is “KU”?
    Please do not fool the public man

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  46. To Noam

    I have the copyrights by the law of the country.
    Any author of a publications do have copyrights

    A Character allocation table for Sinhala is only done by Donald Gaminitillake
    ISBN 955-98975-0-0 (Contents do have Copyright areas & Patent pending areas©2000-2006)

    This is the standard for Sinhala unicode. I offered this rights to the SLSI 1134 through objections but declined. 2003 to CSSL they too declined. Now every one is worried only about my copyrights

    SLSI will have to give full credits to Donald to revise the Sinhala unicode and SLSI 1134

    Dino and his group has no place on this issue.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  47. Again Helaya is misguiding the public

    see
    Latin script

    Unicode Blocks : Latin-1 Supplement
    Unicode Blocks : Basic Latin
    Unicode Blocks : Latin Extended-A
    Unicode Blocks : Latin Extended-B
    Unicode Blocks : Latin Extended Additional

    Five pages are allocated. every latin character is represented by a code point
    There is a proper standard.

    Likewise Sinhala too need a proper standard to move the IT forward in Sri Lanka

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  48. JC / Noam,

    I have explained things in detail. There is nothing more to say.

    So I do not try to respond when a typical mottaya ask the same stupid questions I have addressed for the umpteenth time.

  49. The pubic TV debate is still open event

    Why dont you come for a public debate with me with computer visuals
    Only on the topic “Sinhala unicode is incorrect and Incomplete”

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  50. Dear Noam

    With any uncicode sinhala font — type our preseidents name “Rajapaksha” using kayanna badhi shayanna- Our president write with kayanna badhi shayanna—

    into the note pad then copy and paste it to word then to Linux then into Helawadana then into Thibas then into Apple

    Publsih the results in this blog

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  51. Our President is also the Minister for IT

    Our preseidents name “Rajapaksha” using kayanna badhi shayanna-

    Like the Unicode Sinhala 0D9A = SINHALA LETTER ALPAPRAANA KAYANNA
    Our presidents kayanna badhi shayanna – is not represented in the Sinhala Unicode Chart.

    Poor President he is unable to write his own name using the Sinhala unicode chart.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  52. Hi Helaya,
    I like when people try to explain things clearly. Thanks for your post 45. I hope every one understands the universal-ness of Unicode. and all languages has to coexist in it without any overlapping or ambiguities. There should not be any question about it. JC understands it and thats why he says his solution is kind of intermediate, I think. But what I am not certain is whether there a set limit for the number of code points for any given language. Helaya says it is 128. Donald is saying no. Please, Can some one enlighten us. (At least it can’t be unlimited I hope) Basically this will resolve part of my question (a) in post 41. Lot more to go. So Helaya, don’t come to conclusions so fast.

  53. Hi Donald,
    I think if cut and past does not work form one application to another application then its a problem with those applications. Once it is defined that 0D85 is “Ayanna” it should not matter who(application ) reads it, its the applications responsibility to take 0D85 as “Ayanna” and show “Ayanna”. But my doubt is whether there is any characters in singhala language (including Pali and Sanskrit) which is not possible to represent using current Singhala Unicode standard. (Please understand I am Ok with having combinations of codes to represent one character) Then we can say it is incomplete.

  54. It is 128 fixed. For any language it is the same.

    You can check Unicode charts any other language.

    http://www.unicode.org/charts

  55. Noam,

    [q] So Helaya, don’t come to conclusions so fast. [uq]

    What I told you so far were NOT conclusions, but basic fundamentals of Unicode, everyone who talks about the subjects should know.

    I cannot help people do not know even these fundamentals.

    In our country, it is the fashion that people who knows nothing about subjects to give “pora talks” about them.

    Wimal Weerawansa too is an O/L dropout and he tries teaching us economics. Our gon thadiya here too is an O/L dropout and he does not know the difference between Dhammapada and Loveda Sangarawa.

    Ane me mee harakunta tokkak annindawath kenek nethi heti!

  56. Quote
    It is 128 fixed. For any language it is the same.
    Unuote

    Why Latin script falls into 5 pages!!!
    Examples Arabic falls into several pages. Korean Japanese Chinese

    No one can dictate terms for a National Language in any country

    Noam
    “A” ayanna is registered in Sinhala unicode but not “DU” “KU’ “GU” “Yansaya” ‘Repaya” and many more unregistered in unicode.

    Give me the authority I will register the sinhala characters & show you the results

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  57. Quote
    Ane me mee harakunta tokkak annindawath kenek nethi heti!
    Unquote

    Show this blog to the H.E. President and Mr Wimal Weerawansa you will get it from them

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  58. My dear Donald uncle,

    Educating you is a very challenging task. Your teachers might have had a hard time with a mottaya like you.

    You are an O/L dropout but you behave more like a grade 5 dropout.

    Not all languages are the same. There are things called language families. (People with low IQ levels sometimes might find it difficult to realize that)

    Chinese, Japanese and Korean languages use one way of writing.

    Latin languages use another way of writing.

    Arabic uses another way of writing.

    Sinhala is an Indic language and it uses another way.

    When I say other languages I meant “similar languages”. All Indic scripts have 128 code points and that is more than enough. I never thought there were people so stupid to compare Sinhalese with Chinese or Japanese. But apparently there are such gon thadiyaas in the world.

    Donald, you are stupid. But do not demonstrate it. Try to hide that. Donr behave like a donkey.

    All Sinhala characters are represented in Sinhala Unicode. You are just too stupid to realize that. That is your problem. Not ours.

    Sinhala Unicode is complete and correct. There is no need to mend something which is not broken.

  59. Writing direction have no problems with unicode
    Japanese could be written left to roght
    top to bottom or right to left

    Give me the authority I will register the sinhala characters & show you the results

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  60. Noam / JC,

    I think now it is clear if anything needs to be amended it is Donald’s brain. That is what is incomplete, not Unicode.

    Unfortunately, even the modern science cannot make a completely stupid person intelligent.

    We the Unicode users have never found anything wrong with it. So I am surprised, how just one non-user can find errors when the users themselves do not complain.

    You will realize it when you see this is only an attempt make a business. This is an attempt to monopolize the Sinhala language for commercial purposes. What Prof. Samaranayake had done was to stop it. (The nation is ever thankful to him for doing it.)

  61. Donald,

    [q] Give me the authority I will register the sinhala characters & show you the results [uq]

    I hereby give you the authority. Now show your results.

  62. Hi Helaya,
    Looking at the chats in http://www.unicode.org/charts it looks like there are many languages which has more than 128 code points. Please refer me to a rule which says it allows only 128 code points for a language or some thing similar.

    I said “So Helaya, don’t come to conclusions so fast. ” because in your post 45 you had a whole section as conclusions.
    [Q]
    CONCLUSION:
    Unicode Sinhala is now complete and accurate. It is inter-exchangeable among operating systems and applications. There is no need to “correct” it. Why try to mend something when there is nothing wrong in it? So now the issue is how best to use Unicode Sinhala in applications.
    [UQ]
    What I wanted to say was your CONCLUSION was kind of premature. Because the facts you have mentioned are still under debate (At least in this blog ;-) ). So we will try to get them clear one by one.
    Does it really matter even if Donald is a O/L dropout. Does it matter that VK Sam has a PhD. I don’t think so. We will get into those some other time.
    Thanks anyway.

  63. Hi Donald,
    [Q]“A” ayanna is registered in Sinhala unicode but not “DU” “KU’ “GU” “Yansaya” ‘Repaya” and many more unregistered in unicode.
    [UQ]
    I told you clearly that I am Ok with having combinations of codes to represent one character. Why you again and again say this fucking “DU” “KU’ “GU” thing. Don’t try to mix it with “Yansaya” ‘Repaya” and “Rakaransaya”. Missing “Yansaya” ‘Repaya” and “Rakaransaya” is not similar to not having direct code point for “DU”. I assume what Prof. J.B. Disanayeke thinks is we can write singhala without “Yansaya” and dont need it at all.

  64. Noam,

    I do not know why you people find it so difficult to understand this.

    Sinhala is an Indic language. All Indic languages are handled the same way. There is nothing special for Sinhala. ALL Indic languages have 128 codes.

    My conclusions are NOT premature. I am talking about accepted standards, nationally and internationally. Not about things hanging from the air.

    Nobody needs any special authority to change Unicode. It is a system works on consensus. If one can prove ones own solution is superior to the rest, they accept it. So if you don’t like it, even you can make the suggestions and change it. However, it is a different question whether others agree with you or not.

  65. Noam,

    As you say, this ‘DU, KU, GU, HU’ rubbish and not having yansaya, repaya and raakaransaya are two different issues.

    All three yansaya, repaya and raakaransaya are there in SLS 1134 now, handled indirectly.

    However, if you think they should appear in the Unicode Sinhala chart itself, you can suggest the same to Unicode consortium. Still there are enough empty squares left for these characters in the Sinhala chart.

    Unicode chart is not something static. It is a dynamic and developing chart. so you can always add new characters WITHIN Unicode chart. Several Tamil and Bengali characters were added to respective charts like that.

    All you have to do it to wrote to Unicode and suggest the additions.

    That is the way to do it, not ranting here in this blog.

  66. Helaya “Unicode chart is not something static.”

    You have admitted the Dino’s Sinhala unicode is incomplete and incorrect.

    Noam we need these “Du’ “KU’ ‘GU’ and many more to write sinhala and scan sinhala in the OCR and other applications.

    We can add thousands of Sinhala characters to Unicode Consortium not restricted to 128
    Sinhala Language has to be protected from the people like Helaya & Dino who bend their knees to the US Organizations and distroy Sinhala

    Hey what aboyt the debate why are you running away!!

    You have not answered how to write the name of our president

    He cannot write his name using the Sinhala unicode chart

    Sinhala unicode is incorrect and incomplete

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  67. Quote
    ‘All you have to do it to wrote to Unicode and suggest the additions.
    unquote

    I wont write to Unicode

    ICTA chairman will have to write and say the present Sinhala unicode that he made is incorrect and Incomplete. Accept the new set as per Donald chart

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  68. Quote
    suggest the additions
    Unquote

    This clearly prove that the present Sinhala unicode is incorrect and incmplete

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  69. Noam

    Quote
    I told you clearly that I am Ok with having combinations of codes to represent one character.
    Unquote

    We are not typing. typewriter “yes” not in a computer.

    The input method could be a combination but the “DU” has to be in the unicode chart to represent

    Best example is
    the German umlaut character Ä is listed in unicode as one character. Defined as ISO 10646 Table 2 row 00 Latin -1 Supplement
    DEC 196 as = latin capital letter A with diaeresis

    but to keyin this umlaut character Ä we have to combine several keys. Irrespective to the input method umlaut character Ä will appear in any platform –why — it has a proper code point in the unicode consortium.

    Combine input methods are acceptable but the character has to be registered in the unicode consortium. That is why I ask you “where is DU in the Sinhala unicode chart”

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  70. Noam / JC,

    See this gon thadiya is repeating the same rubbish.

    Do we have to waste our time because of his mee haraka’s stupidity?

    Moo pissan kotuwen penala aapu ekek.

  71. Noam

    Hope you still remember the “basic” on DOS

    Those days if we key in
    ?1 2

    he computer gives
    3

    “?” “1” ” ” “2” “3” all reside inside the computer

    Likewise the “DU” has to be registered inside the unicode sinhala chart to comeout when you key in the combinations

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  72. “plus” character gone missing

    ?1 plus 2 ok

    Donald

  73. Helaya why dont you come out with your proper name given by your parents?
    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  74. Noam,

    [q] Likewise the “DU” has to be registered inside the unicode sinhala chart to comeout when you key in the combinations [uq]

    This mee haraka does not know it, but it already happens in Unicode.

    His problem is just because he does not know things he assumes they are not there.

    Man kivve, moota ara paiththiyan. Koheda yana pissek.

  75. GSM Association Press Release 2006

    Microimage & Open-Plug Take Top Prizes at Inaugural Asian Mobile Innovation Awards

    17th October 2006 – Singapore: The GSM Association (GSMA) last night announced the winners of the inaugural Asia Mobile Innovation Awards at the world-famous Raffles Hotel. Microimage won the award for Most Innovative Mobile Application or Content and Open-Plug scooped the prize for Most Innovative Technology Development. The competition – sponsored by Ericsson – is exclusively for young, small and start-up companies across Asia developing exciting, innovative technologies, applications and content for the fast moving mobile space.

    Microimage has developed the world’s first patented local language messaging and content browsing application to provide customised, local language support for entry-level applications on mobile devices in emerging markets.

    “We are absolutely delighted that the judges selected our localised messaging and content browsing service as Asia’s Most Innovative Mobile Application or Content offering,” said Harsha Purasinghe, CEO, Microimage of Sri Lanka. “The award is fitting testimony to the hard work of the team at Microimage and will act as a catalyst to our company’s international expansion. We would like to thank the operators, partners and customers who made this happen.”

    Open-Plug’s ELIPS is the first open software framework designed for mobile phones, which enables ELIPS-based handsets to be tailored and configured far more quickly according to the requirements of operators.

    “This award will catapult Open-Plug onto the global mobile stage and will be a major milestone in the development of our small, innovative company,” said Nicolas Sauvage, CEO, Open-Plug Taiwan. “For our component-based ELIPS framework and MMI to be named Most Innovative Technology Development in Asia is an incredible achievement. We couldn’t be more proud of, and grateful to, the people that made this happen – our employees and partners.”

    Microimage and Open-Plug were judged winners by a prestigious judging panel comprising senior representatives from Bharti-Airtel, KTF, Smart Communications, SpinVox – winners of this year’s global innovation award – and Ericsson after a round of ‘elevator’ pitches at the 3GSM World Congress Asia in Singapore.

    In addition to their awards, the two winners will receive an automatic place on the shortlist for the innovation category of the GSMA’s Global Mobile Awards at the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona next February. For full details on the Global Mobile Awards, visit: http://www.gsmawards.com

    About the GSM Association:
    The GSM Association (GSMA) is the global trade association representing 700 GSM mobile phone operators across 215 countries of the world. In addition, more than 180 manufacturers and suppliers support the Association’s initiatives as key partners.

    The primary goals of the GSMA are to ensure mobile phones and wireless services work globally and are easily accessible, enhancing their value to individual customers and national economies, while creating new business opportunities for operators and their suppliers. The Association’s members serve more than two billion customers – 82% of the world’s mobile phone users.

    For further information contact:

    Mark Smith/David Pringle
    GSM Association
    Tel: 44 7850 229 724 / 44 795 755 6069
    Email:press@gsm.org

    Richard Fogg / Alex Sowden
    Companycare
    Tel: 44 118 9395900
    Email: richard.fogg@companycare.com / alexs@companycare.com

  76. Quote
    [q] Likewise the “DU” has to be registered inside the unicode sinhala chart to comeout when you key in the combinations [uq]
    Unqquote

    This again clearly confirm a hidden set of characters exsist

    If it is in the UNICODE SINHALA CHART show the location like the “ayanna”

    It is not in the Sinhala unicode chart.

    Therefore Unicode Sinhala is incomplete set

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  77. It looks like Donald has some incurable mental disease. Otherwise he should not be making this kind of ignorent points. I have to agree on that with Helaya.
    But there is no use attacking each other like this as “Pissu ballao dennek”(පිස්සු බල්ලෝ දෙන්නෙක් වගේ)
    We dont need one to one mapping for all characters just for the heck of it, even if it is possible. But Helaya also trying to make some inacurate rules by saying Unicode allowes only 128 code points for a given language. You dont have to say that. if 128 is enough, then thats ok. You dont have to lie, it makes Donald take it for his advantage.

    My point is in Unicode chart “Papilla” has a code point. But “Yansaya” dont have a point. I saw some guy called Anuradha’s old blog https://beta.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=15283331&postID=114286904904617600 trying to explain this fact.
    [Q]
    Input from several Sinhala scholars and experts have been taken into account to decide that repaya, rakaaransaya and yansaya should not be basic code points, but should be produced by using sequences of code points, as they are linguistically alternatives forms. In other words, they are there as sequences of code points, not as single code points. Nevertheless, they are there, so the claim is wrong.

    If Mr Donald’s claim is “yansaya, rakaaransaya and reepaya should be individual code points”, that would be more valid. However, somebody has to eventually decide what’s basic and what’s not, and it has already been done. Technically, this is not an issue at all.
    [UQ]
    So one thing is clear, Donald already knows about ins and outs of this but he is trying to fool new guys like us.
    Other thing is even above blogers debate does not clerly and certainly say what kind of intelectual resoning allowed them to be so strict about not to allow any alternative. It only make things so confusing. And allow implementers do all this monkey business. Thats why there is a standerd. But I understand thechnically anything is possible. What I think is either who ever those “several Sinhala scholars and experts” were missled by some false like 128 character rules, Or they were some ego maniacsa or bunch of ligustic Dictators.
    Just forget about Doneld and please to explain your statement
    [Q]
    All three yansaya, repaya and raakaransaya are there in SLS 1134 now, handled indirectly.
    [UQ]
    little bit more here.

    P.S.
    Hi JC
    Is JC vacationing this last few days of fall? I am also planing to go south for few days. Where are you? You are silent for some time now.

  78. Noam,

    I am not lying. Unicode allows 128 for every Indic language, and Sinhala is an Indic language. If you know any other language like Malayalam, Hindi (devanagari), Tamil, Bengali, Oriya, Panjabi, Gujarati, Kannada, Telgu, Nepali etc (more than 15 in the list) you will appreciate my point. All these languages are similar with minor differences and differences in letters. So Unicode handles all of them in the same manner.

    128 codes are allocated to every one of these languages. Sinhala is no exception.

    On the other hand Unicode handles English like languages in another manner, Chinese-Japanese and Korean languages in a completely different manner and Again Arabic in a different manner.

    You can compare Sinhala with Hindi/Tamil. You cannot compare Sinhala with Chinese.

    I think Dr. Ruvan Weerasinghe touched the point you raise here and has given a clear explanation. (I will search for it and report it for you.)

    Noam, the decisions regarding Unicode have not been taken in ad hoc manner. Actually, Sinhala Unicode has been designed clearly following the guides how other SIMILAR languages are handled in Unicode. For example, for repaya, Sinhala Unicode follows the same way it was handled in Devanagari.

    In fact there are so many things happening at the University of Colombo Language Technology Research Lab right now on this topic. If you need more info please visit http://www.ucsc.cmb.ac.lk/research/ltrl/index.html

  79. [q] This again clearly confirm a hidden set of characters exsist [uq]

    Gon thadiya has finally made a discovery.

    Of course, all these applications can have and they may actually have “hidden” (ie. hard coded) sets of character allocation tables. So what? What is wrong with it?

    Any proprietor software developer hides his source. That is his IP.

    There is absolutely no need for that to be there in the Unicode chart.

    Donald keeps his private parts “hidden” by clothes. But that does not mean he cannot and does not use them. Neither does anybody can force Donald to bring his pants down and expose his private parts. Same here.

  80. Congratulations Microimage and Harsha.

    You are in the right track. You have a long way to go ahead. Surely there are so many people who will stand in your way because they are green with jealousy and they try to block others just because they themselves cannot come up with anything original.

    Please neglect such stupid Gon thadiyas. Critics have never made this world. Builders did.

    I wish you all the best for the future. You have brought glory to the motherland. Our heartiest congratulations for you!

  81. Noam,

    This is Dr. Ruvan Weerasinghe’s long explanation on this issue. Hope it will be useful. Especially please read the second part where he talks about Donald G.

    hi,

    tried to read as much of this thread as humanly possible in one sitting. being someone who was either involved or aware of the history of sinhala support on computers let me try to summarize very briefly the way i see it:

    1. several parties including the university of colombo developed sinhala font support (which amounted to both keyboard and display support in the good old days!).

    2. a cintec committee comprising of sinhala scholars of various persuations sat down to set some standards for terminology and keyboard layout and a standard ‘code’ in the 80’s.

    3. this work progressed failry slowly especially since most work was done on microsoft operating systems which kept changing drastically their input and rendering methods (from dos to win 3.x to win 95…).

    4. since none of these parties (including university of colombo) was a microsoft developer no access to internals were available so that sinhala support lagged the OS by several years!

    5. almost when the people involved were giving up with keeping up with microsoft’s constant changes, unicode came on the scene. to sri lanka’s surprise, a foreigner had submitted a proposal for a standard for sinhala in unicode.

    6. a team from the cintec committee defended the proposed sri lankan standard against (5) above in 1997 and got the initial sinhala unicode proposed by sri lanka accepted in 1998.

    7. several discussions followed with microsoft (with the help of some sri lankans working within) to no avail. sinhala just hadn’t shown up on the world scripts map as yet as far as electronic support was concerned – pure economics. mind you, even indic scripts hadn’t made it yet with all the potential of a huge market.

    8. indians kept taking up issue with microsoft well into the new millenium before they got a hearing.

    9. microsoft’s own language support has only really matured over the past 2-3 years. and obviously they started with support for the economically sensible ones first. their unicode support still has to rely on successive versions of the rendering engine being written/updated – this is one of the reasons you need to download software to see sinhala unicode (you are not just downloading a font, you are infact downloading a display driver too – not to mention a keyboar driver).

    10. incidentally, why one does not need to download thai fonts is because thai support was added to windows with win 2000 or XP already (unlike sinhala). conversely why you don’t need to download sinhala fonts in some sites is because of a font embedding technology which still ‘infects’ your computer with (yet another) proprietary font!

    10. the lk-lug meanwhile has also developed increasingly maturing sinhala unicode support on linux.

    11. incidentally, all references to unicode sinhala refer to the SLS 1134 standard. the confusion about dates is due to the fact that, while the unicode standard was accepted in 1998, the SLS 1134 re-adopted it with some minor changes proposed during the unicode consultations only in 2001 (i.e. SLS 1134:2001). this was further updated with more detail (since some details were not spelt in the original) in 2004 which is the current standard SLS 1134:2004. this is a fairly comprehensive document which spells out in fair detail how the system works. unfortunately the unicode system itself is non-trivial to the layman. it would have been much easier to understand if there was just a contiguous space containing all 642 or 1440 over 2000 or indeed 64,000 (depending on how inefficiently you want to represent sinhala) composite glyph shapes of sinhala.

    12. over a year ago microsoft finally showed signs of being serious about sinhala (aparently owing to a BBC tender for indic language support for its site). since the reason for their interest that time died away, we were still unable to get anything but a homegrown workaround to ensure sinhala unicode support on win 2000 and XP.

    13. more recently, as someone in this thread had pointed out, they seem to be finally serious about getting sinhala into vista.

    14. unfortunately, all is not yet ironed out – be realistic, sinhala is still not as important for microsoft in an economic sense. it is only important for them in a political sense (bcos many countries in the region are embracing open source).

    15. support on linux doesn’t suffer all the drawbacks of having to deal with economic interests of a single company. it is an excellent opportunity to race ahead by empowering ourselves. unfortunately, sri lanka has not put in enough effort to promote FOSS – instead taking a ‘neutral stand’ on it. it is in the interest of coutries like ours to push the FOSS agenda so that we no longer have to rely on big business in other countries to determine our fate.

    though i don’t wish to ‘throw mud’ at anyone, i think i also need to put this thread in context with respect to donal G:

    1. donald G was someone who i first met online over 2 years ago.

    2. i listened to his ’solution’ just as did some others like gihan D

    3. like some of you on this thread, i thought he needed to be enlightened – after all he knew and cared a lot for how the printed word looked (being from that industry), but had no real grasp of the complexities of unicode.

    4. like several of you i and gihan did try to show him how the system works (and how it is adopted by the whole world – not only for representing language as text, but also by programming languages, XML, databases, the works).

    5. while initially he didn’t realize the pervasiveness of unicode (and consequently the futility of fighting it), later he came to realize it and in this thread he distances himself from that stand. aparently he is now against sinhala unicode (SLS 1134) rather than unicode per se.

    6. this is why i now believe that he actually understands quite a bit (though not fully the intricacies involved).

    7. may take on his reason for ‘pretending to not understand’ is (a) he had spent some 2 years in japan figuring out his so called sinhala representation – making the fatal mistake of aligning it with the japanese (or CJK) – there’s much more granularity in indic languages such as sinhala and (b) based on this he had a mistaken notion that he would be able to take out a patent for his ’scheme’.

    8. two years ago, he mentioned about his patent and his impending ‘proof’ by implementing his ’scheme’. in this thread i find he claims he needs 12-18 months of work (if he gets the funds) to implement it.

    9. i was present at the SLSI meeting where donald G’s objections were heard. it was almost frustrating that the chairman (mr. rohan wijeratne) gave him such a long audience. he was very tolerant. at the end of the meeting all the printing association supporters who he brought were satisfied that sinhala unicode was the way to go – but not donald. i know some of them from the industry, and they are no more with him on this.

    10. mr. ahangama is the only other person to bring a serious objection to sinhala unicode, but i find one can discuss openly with him. he may not yet be convinced (by the look of his posts on this thread) but i hope the technical explainations given by people will convince him. like him, a casual user like me would rather prefer to type latin characters and get a simple transliteration scheme to output the sinhala…

    11. with donald it is different. after gihan and i argued sincerely trying to convince him, various others tried too. while i told them my experience, i never discouraged them from trying. anuradha, several others at lk-lug, several harsha’s and now harshula. the end result is the same. misquoting, misrepresenting and misleading others.

    12. for this reason, i wouldn’t be surprised if no one takes him on in a TV debate – unless we can find someone who has not been on the job of convincing donald already! this is not because they’d be afraid of his argument, but because all of them without exception have come to the conclusion that he is no longer sincere in his motive.

    finally with respect to the practicality of sinhala unicode:

    1. at the SLSI meeting referred to above, the lakehouse folk (arguably one of the biggest consumers of this technology) confirmed that they have been working with sinhala unicode and had no problems of the sort brought up by donald.

    2. wasantha deshapriya has outlined some of the practical uses ICTA has put sinhala unicode to use to

    3. we at the university of colombo (ucsc) are developing the collation algorithm, text corpus, OCR, TTS etc using sinhala unicode (see http://www.ucsc.cmb.ac.lk/ltrl/)

    4. we will be the first to admit that microsoft support for sinhala unicode is not perfect yet. nor is linux support quite there. the point is that unicode support IS there on both these platforms and all other technologies.

    5. rest assured, the unicode consortiums policy will *never* allow for donalds proposed scheme of representing all individual composite glyph patterns (ligatures) for sinhala since all indic languages (as all european ones) are allocated just a single code page (with only CJK languages allocated more owing to their pictogram nature).

    it is time for donald to honestly admit that his interest is no longer in language but in a patent or compensating for what he must perceive as a waste of 2 years of work designing his scheme in japan.

    if you truly love the sinhala language and want to help its progress in the e-world, you need to redirect your immense energies and that of others in this thread to get on with the job…

    if not, at least let us know what more ‘proof’ you need to do so: there are websites, wordprocessed documents, spreadsheets, databases, OCR, TTS, mobile apps…

    please do not consider this a flame. i have tried to be as impartial as i can be given the immense amount of harm caused by donald’s campaign of misinformation.

    regards,

    ruvan.

    ps: i must admit in a quircky kind of way, i admire your ability to still oppose this against all the evidence! it is a rare skill – unfortunately put to destructive use.

  82. Noam,

    You might find so much of information getting repeated in this thread.

    Some time back, somebody complained this thread is like a broken gramophone disc. The needle is always in the same circle. The same stuff has been repeated so many times.

    If you check the link http://www.lirneasia.net/2006/04/questioning-ict-myths where it all began you would notice that all the issues we discussed now actually have been discussed 5 months ago.

    However, we cannot help it, because there is a Gon Thadiya in this thread who fails to understand any logic, and even after being answered for umpteenth time, continue repeating the same stupid questions like where is my “Hu”, “Du” and “Gu”….

    Basic decency prevents me from telling him where is “Hu” and “Gu”. :-)

  83. Naom,

    Writing to this place is frustrating. How much of time is wasted in making false declarations? I wonder how people could get higher education and arrive at high places without learning to treat important problems with analytic, dispassionate manner. But living in a place with sanity where such unbelievable violence happens is even more surprising. I love Lanka and the people too. I wish they learn to read deeper into motivations of the Western countries and businesses. Prosperity happens only after you feel equal. If you can do it, I too can do it attitude. Just look around. Those countries that were not colonies of the West are developed. It’s a mentality that ‘I am as good as you’ that we lack.

    Well, I am here. Come on over to Dallas if you would. Write to me; jc@charter.net and declare your real name. I’ll call you if you tell me which number.

  84. JC,

    Sorry, it has been a frustrating experience to you.

    I have been always open to discuss matters in a decent manner with decent people and arrive at mutually beneficial solutions.

    I have no issues with your research or with your system. We appreciate your efforts and I am sure we can use it parallel with the Unicode Sinhala. (The same sentiments had been expressed by Dr. Ruvan and Harsula) We need to develop it and please try to visit University of Colombo when you visit your motherland.

    However, for those who try to disrupt others work for pure jealousy, ask same questions repeatedly for pure stupidity, I have no sympathy. They should be treated in the manner they rightly deserve.

  85. Helaya,

    Change your keyboard layout to US-International or the keyboard with dead keys on Linux. It could be used for English and Sinhala both — very powerful. Then, RtAlt t is þ. People need to get used to seeing this ONE letter that is so much like p. Just as we are used to h and n, soon it becomes familiar.

    See this elegant Icelandic web site:
    http://briem.ismennt.is/index.ice.htm
    (Briem is a type designer.) Romanized Sinhala is quite like Icelandic but has much less accented letters. It has a lot of þ and ð letters.

    Sinhala resembles Old English even better:
    http://www.humanities.mcmaster.ca/~beowulf/main.html
    Select a chapter number under OLD TEXT and hit Go. You can actually read it fairly accurately.

    In Indic, the frequency of t is under 10% that of þ. The frequency of d compared to ð is even less. The main thing I did to make the Sinhala keyboard was to promote þ and ð to regular positions of t and d and move d and t to AltGr plus level. This instantly made a multi lingual keyboard optimized for fast-typing Sinhala.

    Talking about confusing letters, think about the time you first learned the Sinhala letters. (Did you learn the alphabet too?). How many ridiculously assigned letter shapes did you see? kantaja naasikyaya is like (non existent) kayanu bænði ðayanu, þaaluja naasikyaya looks like a (non-existent) sanyaka gayanu bænði ðayanu. Then you have eyanna and mahapraana payanna, mayanna and oyanna, hayanu and mahapraana bayanu.

    Romanized Sinhala is what we should use instead of Anglicizing. It only needs that simple keyboard extension fron US-Engkish to US-International. All of a sudden, Sinhala could be used in personal emails. Be brave and try it, y’all, they can’t jail you for it.

  86. JC,

    I tied doing what you requested, but unfortunately I cannot do so without having administrative rights. (I use my office PC and d not have administrative rights on that.)

    However, I do understand and appreciate that Romanised Sinhala does have a role to play. It is NOT a threat or competition to Unicode. Both can survive side by side. Users will select the one that meets best to their own individual needs.

    Please talk to Dr. Ruvan Weerasinghe, Prof. Samaranayake or Dr. Gihan Dias on this. I am sure they will be receptive to your idea.

    Some of them are often depicted as daemons in this site, by those who feel jealous about their work, but let me assure you all three, Dr. Ruvan, Prof. VKS and Dr. Gihan are very nice human beings to work with.

  87. Again University tactics from Helaya

    Why can’t Dr. Ruvan Weerasinghe’s post his comments directly. Or is it a communucations among themselves and now posting from an unknown creature called “Helaya”

    Later things go wrong both Dr. Ruvan Weerasinghe’s will comment that it was a creature “Helaya”‘s version.

    Anyway

    Helaya and Dr. Ruvan Weerasinghe’s are scared of foreign powers to distroy Sinhala

    How come Sri Lanka register in 1998 a set of Sinhala characters which is incorrect and incomplete with Unicode consortium when SLSI Sinhala was not approved

    Second WHY SLSI accomodated 128 locations when Donald Gaminitillake objected to it

    Who was behind this? That group who came to the SLSI will have to accept the responsibility to the act of disyroying Sinhala language.

    Quote
    4. we will be the first to admit that microsoft support for sinhala unicode is not perfect yet.
    Unquote

    Micorsoft accept my System
    To prove I am posting a communication from Microsoft India

    “”Dear Mr. Gaminitillake,

    Thank you for your confidence in us.

    The fact of the matter is that what you are proposing and what Microsoft is following, actually supplement each other!

    Your main request of supporting the QWERTY keyboard layout for Sinhala and Tamil is not at all an unreasonable request. Users the world over have graduated from traditional typesetting systems, and there are strong legacy reasons for which it is sometimes prudent to support multiple keyboard layouts for any language.

    What Mr. Paul Nelson has been trying to explain, sir, is that this is possible, without compromising on the Unicode support!

    As I had explained on the phone, the font, the keylayout and the char storage are all different entities. One can provide support for multiple keyboards, and still carry out character storage in Unicode, which Microsoft strongly embraces for all languages.

    For your information, we already provide IME kind implementation for Hindi, Tamil, Gujarati and Kannada through ISVs in India. This kind of an IME is similar to a Japanese one, though of course much simpler.

    To take this forward, I suggest that I work with you, to ensure that your QWERTY keyboard “is” supported in our forthcoming Sinhala support.

    To do this, I request you sir, to please send me:
    · The QWERTY keyboard layout for Sinhala, as you would want it to be implemented
    · The QWERTY keyboard layout for Tamil, as you would want it to be implemented

    Based upon your layout, I shall engage a partner into this exercise, and work to ensure that when we release Sinhala support for Windows, the layout is supported.

    I hope this helps.

    Thanks & I look forward to hearing from you.

    Raveesh Gupta
    Program Manager: Localization
    Microsoft Corporation (India) Pvt. Ltd.
    The Great Eastern Centre
    New Delhi 110019
    India

  88. Quote
    8. two years ago, he mentioned about his patent and his impending ‘proof’ by implementing his ’scheme’. in this thread i find he claims he needs 12-18 months of work (if he gets the funds) to implement it.
    Unqoute

    Yes I am still waiting for funding.

    Quote’5. rest assured, the unicode consortiums policy will *never* allow for donalds proposed scheme of representing all individual composite glyph patterns (ligatures) for sinhala since all indic languages (as all european ones) are allocated just a single code page (with only CJK languages allocated more owing to their pictogram nature).’
    Unquote

    Sri Lanka never had a proper character allocation table to present to Unicode COnsortium.
    Only Donald did it. Donald do have the copyrights and a pending patent

    Give me the authority I will register and show you the results

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  89. Quote
    it is time for donald to honestly admit that his interest is no longer in language but in a patent or compensating for what he must perceive as a waste of 2 years of work designing his scheme in japan.

    if you truly love the sinhala language and want to help its progress in the e-world, you need to redirect your immense energies and that of others in this thread to get on with the job…
    Unquote

    When Sinhala data is not compatable across all platforms. People have to downlaod the fonts and the application created the text

    The Solution only is my system that is why all are worried.This is proved by the letter from Microsoft India. So now my concept will be having more advantages and more legal power.

    To progress in e-world has to be done with correct and proper standard.

    Why do you just ignore the govt funds that was wasted for the past 25 years paid to Dino and his group.

    If you guys do have a proper system why worry so much on my system and my method.
    Why cant the ICT Research and innovation grants give me the funding and see the results
    Why do you block it

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  90. Qupte from
    http://www.ucsc.cmb.ac.lk/ltrl/

    It is 5 years since the adopting of the Sinhala UNICODE page (0D80-0DFF), and to date no implemented Sinhala UNICODE font exists.

    Unquote

    Who is the Gon Thadiya in this thread?

    Donald Gamintillake
    Colombo

  91. Noam, Helaya where are you ?
    Have you guys bolted?

    Where is “DU” “KU” and “GU”?

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  92. Of course, I knew this!!!!!

    I knew sooner or later Gon Thadiya would ask this question. I was waiting.

    You see. He is addicted to that. He cannot wait even few hours without asking this vital question.

    Where is “DU” “KU” and “GU”?

    They are inside “HU” of your “MA”, Donald.

    Of course “GU” is inside your “PU”.

  93. Quote
    Of course, I knew this!!!!!
    Unquote

    You should have answered it.

    You and your Dino have lost.
    Why dont you come for the public TV debate.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  94. Helaya,

    That was the most positive message I ever got from anyone on this matter. Thank you. I had two such experiences earlier:

    One was when Wendy Krieger, a respected mathematician / linguist in the US who became the first person to read the entire hoodiya page at Sinhalaheritage.com (that was a time I worked on the web site). She helped me along to finish the romanized alphabet. (BTW, she advocates using þ and ð in English and she always writes ‘the’ as ‘þe’ and says that some shop signs in England still have þe for the!).

    Second was when the who’s who of Colombo raided my computer on September 20th for the hoodiya. I am sure many reading this are some of them.

    The feeling that we are working together for the country and the people is a noble thought indeed. I recall Ruwan helping me with Unicode Sinhala. At that time, I was using a Windows 98 machine and could not understand what was wrong. I moved to a Windows XP with great effort just to test Unicode Sinhala and saw some of the brakes Unicode puts on Indic and its users. For years I have watched Harshula doggedly working on Unicode. (This must then be the same person you mention in your post.) Sorry, I do not track names. But Donald is memorable. He is the person who wrote to me about this site.

    Yesterday I heard on Public Radio here a story on HP trying introducing a method for Hindi that is supposed to be superior to Unicode way of assembling letters. It sounds like the Chinese input method of selecting letters from a list that pops up. (Well, kind of like want might come out of Donald’s scheme).

    It’s good if people think that romanized Sinhala might have its own strong points from the practical angle.

  95. Characters of any language belongs to the Printers and publishers
    Our kings wrote it on Stones “sel lipi”
    Later it was moved to Ola leaf
    Then into paper
    Now to a computer “display”

    Substrate changed with the evolve of the technology

    Early stage when “Amawathura” was written we had only few characters.
    With the evolve of thousands of years our characters develop into a maze.

    A group of people with some knowledge of maths had no knowledge of typology or typography or any experiance in Printing and publishing Industry looked at the Wijesekera Type writer and registered few sinhala characters in the unicode consortium. To Support that they created the SLSI 1134 even there was correct and proper objection filed by Donald.

    Today it was proved byond reasonable doubt that the SLSI1134 , Sinhala Unicode is incorrect and incomplete.

    With JC comment on HP developing Hindi using full characters which is the final destination for all langauges. I have proposed this for the past so many years but due to selfish nature of few people and the rest is scared of a Dino.

    I am the highest qualified living and residing Printer in Sri Lanka. (there may be other sri lankan living else where but not in Lanka)

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  96. Printers and the language:

    Folks, talking of printing, the oldest known printed book in the world is supposed to be the Chinese book, Diamond Sutra, vajracceþika prajçaapaaramiþaa suþþa:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_Sutra

    The Gutenberg story is Western propaganda to promote the idea that civilization started in some biblical place: The Judeo-Christian centric theory. I question the notion that Brahmi akxara were derived out of Semitic: The argument goes, they look similar and Semitic happened before anything else fact (?). Therefore, Brahmi is a derivative. (Someone asks, ‘But they are written in opposite directions. Reply: Be quiet. They’ll hear you). Then why did Anuraadhapura get six- thousand-year old Brahmi? We can say this similarly: Adam’s peak is in Lanka, We have his footprint. Earliest writing is Brahmi because his people used it. Ridiculous?

    Romanticizing has no use (but Romanizing has a lot). So, let me climb down.

    Note:
    The romanized Sinhala, ‘vajraccheþika prajçaapaaramiþaa suþþa’ does not have a direct transliteration path to Unicode Sinhala. This is why we need to take another look at Unicode Sinhala. Yes, another kind of ‘Korean Mess’ is ok.

    Donald,

    You are no doubt highly qualified in the printing trade. It is quite evident. However, the notion that “Characters of any language belongs to the Printers and publishers” is a dangerous idea.

    Language belongs to the people who speak it, writing too, not to any special group. When printing came to England, not only did the printers reshape the alphabet to exclude Old English letters for which they could not find Latin alternatives, but replaced common words with Latin words. (Doesn’t that sound like our Sanskritizing?) You give an inch they take over the foot, and if they could, occupy the entire yard.

    If you really want a qualification, I was a printer too. Now, here’s what the printing did to Sinhala:
    Printing technology initially used hand set composition. You take the composing stick and pick one letter (type) at a time and place them in it. That allowed any kind of letter, single or composite, to be included in a font. You’ll notice that older books like the Bible, Pririth Potha and grammar books, tend to be more conforming to the Ola tradition of writing. I am personally aware that the compositors those days ground down the type and added improvised diacritics with brass rule pieces when printing romanized Pali. It was quite a flexible system.

    Then came mechanized typesetting, monotype and linotype technologies. To help along these, the Government Printer proposed some changes like standardizing papilla and fixing the relative vertical position of the yansaya. Some were controversial like the squarish papilla for kayanna. These were ok at that time.

    Then came the Wijesekera keyboard and the typewriter. I have used that too (another qualification, though it had a negative effect at that time because the Paper Corporation did not like my using Sinhala for bi-weekly reports. As it turned out, the Colombo-educated liaison clerk did not know much Sinhala).

    Now Sinhala had to be written exactly the way the typewriter provided.

    Today, we have completed the whole circle. We have soft fonts and computers to help input text, plus grand programs like Adobe suite of publishing software.

    Note well:
    The printer has no problem in printing Sinhala. Again, NO PROBLEM for you. The printer in you needs only nice type designs. That’s it.
    If there is a printer reading this, go to:
    http://www.sinhalaheritage.com/smartfont
    and try out the proof-of-concept font (Theodore) that is already supported by Adobe versions CS and later. Make type designs and start using this system. I have sent it to a graphics arts company to test it on Macintoshes. It works fine in Windows.

    Problems remaining for Sinhala are in data manipulation area, the electronic publication area like web sites and in electronic messaging.

  97. Printing is something which can be seen with our eyes and reproduced in quantity.
    Visual records dates back up to 30,000 years. (pictographs and Ideographs etc)
    Hieroglyphics perfected by Egyptians around 2500 BC
    Movable printing appeared in China.
    In 1440 unaware of the development in orient Johann Gutenberg brought the west up to date with is invention of movable type. Until then all books were hand written.
    Historians credits this invention as the end of middle age and the beginning of Modern History.

    JC could write “vajracceþika prajçaapaaramiþaa suþþa” and all of us could read it simply because the above characters has been registered in the ISO, Unicode falling into five pages as individual code points.

    Quote from JC
    Problems remaining for Sinhala are in data manipulation area, the electronic publication area like web sites and in electronic messaging.
    Unquote

    What Sri Lanka registered with the unicode is incomplete set of Sinhala. That is the simple reason why we cannot use Sinhala. I pointed this fact and wanted to make the change for the betterment of Sri Lanka. This was turned down.

    Then I published the idea which I got the copyrights and requested a patent (which is pending — )

    Now they point the finger at my copyrights!!!!

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  98. Quoting from JCA’s pdf file

    Typing hints for US-International keyboard
    (AltGr means the right-hand side Alt key or Left-hand side Crtl Alt):

    AltGr z => æ
    AltGr ç

    Combination inputs but gives a single character ” æ ” or ç
    ” æ ” “ç” do have an individual code point in the ISO , Unicode
    irrespective to the operating system all can read ” æ ” or ç

    Similar process happen with the sinhala character “DU” “GU” “KU”
    You can use combinations but “DU” “GU” “KU” are not in the unicode or ISO or SLSI chart
    Therefore Sinhala unicode is incomplete.

    not only “DU” “GU” “KU” many more Sinhala characters are missing.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  99. Donald,

    I think you meant to say two code pages above, not four. The romanized Sinhala belongs to the Basic Latin (English) and Latin-1 code charts. Together they have all the special codes necessary for character manipulation, printer commands etc. The code points are single-byte size.

    These two charts together are also known as ISO-8859-1 character set, which is the default character set of web pages. Another name is Latin-1 character set. All common fonts such as New Times Roman, Arial, Helvetica have every letter in these two pages.

    That and because code point within these two code charts are single-byte characters, are the reasons that romanized Sinhala was based on Latin-1. It cannot fail. Most of all, romanized Sinhala could be used on mature, business-class programs we already have. You can get to work with it without waiting. You can send an email in it to any computer in the world and be assured that it would arrive there intact.

    Theodore is there to show romanized Sinhala in Sinhala letters. (It’s an ugly proof-of-concept font). Technically, it is like Aria except that the character shapes are awfully different. It is a smart font because it has intelligence to change the display dynamically as you type and edit. Adobe and Microsoft developed Open Type technology.

    May I humbly say that Theodore is the first of its kind representing a major language of the world? Actually, the only smart font I know.

    Adobe does not seem to support Indic. here’s a quote from the manager of VOLT developer group. (VOLT is the program you use to program OpenType fonts):
    “Adobe applications do not support mark positioning (for all scripts).”

    Therefore, if I were a printer, since Unicode support by Adobe is getting delayed, I’d take a look at the smart font and make commercial quality fonts based on it and stop wasting time waiting and hoping. You need only a computer, Adobe CS and the font to produce world class Sinhala prints.

  100. JCA,

    I understand you are using the first two pages 128 into 2
    But Latin codes extent into several pages. In unicode Sinhala too can get extended byond the 128

    Unicode consortium wanted to compile the full set and since the indic languages had no proper national level standard (late 80) they simply allocated 128 per language. We need not stick to this.

    When I placed objections officially — the SLSI could have accommodated the full set of Sinhala Characters rather than bending the head to Dino and accepting the 128 locations.
    IF SLSI took my view and accepted the full list I would not have this special privilege of copyrights or a pending patent.

    I know Dino accept this. That the need of a proper full character allocation table for futher development of IT in Lanka. Unfortunately it was not Dino who came forward with this concept but Donald. Donald is educated else where. So Dino or his group will not get any credits for my work. This bites into his ego.

    With my proposed system one need not worry about which operating system they use.
    I will have to adjust to the major two systems Microsoft compatible and Apple compatible set. Since the code points are published others too can make commercial software with credits to Donald.

    Quote JCA : Problems remaining for Sinhala are in data manipulation area, the electronic publication area like web sites and in electronic messaging. Unquote

    All above will get solved with my code points.

    Today the problem is — the location of “DU” by software maker “A” and the “DU” of the Software maker “B” is kept at different value locations. That is why every time the font created the text has to be downloaded.

    When there are more than three four thousand characters to use QWERTY or Wijesekera keyboard has to be supported by a proper back up software.

    Once I do the basics other software developers do have the chance of improving and venture into other ethnic markets in the Indian sub continent.

    There could be new input methods by the new generations. Irrespective to the input method the same character locations are being used what appears in the “Display” remains the same.

    All these developments are being blocked by the selfish nature of a group. Their clear intention is not educate the public nor give proper chances to the software developers in Lanka.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  101. Sunday Maubima 22/10/2006 page 36, Written by Madura Gamini interview of Mr Henry Samaranayake.

    Unfortunately again a Sinhala publication.

    This article clearly explain how the quality of our Childrens educational books are going down the drain. How they compile these books without any standard etc.

    Children are the future leaders of our country. If these children are not given the correct books with correct contents and with correct “Akuru” Where will this country head.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  102. It is so disappointing that people who so vociferously opine here ignore the whole purpose of the discussion.

    Sinhala just being available in some standard on paper or pushed by some powerful group like Unicode is not going to help us.

    We should be able to use Sinhala like other languages that are successful in the IT environment. Japanese and Chinese cannot be sent to me as email so that I can read them. I don’t have language support for them. It does not matter for those people because they have large communities that intercommunicate among themselves. When they do communicate with others, they do so using English.

    The Sinhalese are perhaps 25 million world over. They will not have their own copy of the Internet. We cannot provide the economy of scale for a Sinhala Internet. Nobody is going to give the money for it nor do we have people who could make one.

    What do we need Sinhala for?

    First, we should be able to use it in every day programs like word processors, spreadsheets, databases, business applications etc. Presently we need special programs for Sinhala.

    Next, we should be able to make web pages using standard methods, not script driven ones. (World Bank report says we need web sites for the government. I wondered if the guy who wrote that was thinking about Netherlands or something like that).

    Nowadays, we use hack fonts. That is because web browsers do not understand multi-byte characters like Unicode and do not have the means to render them even if they do. (By the way, FireFox says it is too slow to render Unicode. Now what?)

    Innovation is fantastic, It’s daring to do what you want. I loved Kaputa for being so advanced in web development. I used to stare at that page and say “Go baby go, you are so brilliant”. Now haven’t been there for maybe years. Unicode is thwarting that spirit. If I were in Lanka, I’d try to get the web developers to agree on a single set of character codes mapped to the same set of Sinhala letters. Then, in each page, using CSS, we could list the alternative fonts to show a piece of text. That way, people could be told to download the set of fonts that have the agreed upon codes. Hack or not then we have a **standard!**. That would be a practical standard. Hurrah! sinhalayaa aÐuren eliyata aavaa! This is how standards develop — as a fix for a problem, not as a decree from some power. If they did this cooperatively, they could have fought to make *that* the Unicode standard for Sinhala. They would have had the proof.

    Thirdly, we need Sinhala to transmit over networks and arrive intact. Email should not become question marks or squares.

    Multi-byte formats are always going to be limping simply for the following reason:
    Internet equipment belongs to private parties. Presently, almost all information passing on the Internet is Latin based scripts or other single-byte format data. In order to accommodate multi-byte format data these equipment need to be drastically changed. Who wants to do that? We say here, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.

  103. Quote
    Nobody is going to give the money for it nor do we have people who could make one.
    Unquote

    We did had US$ fifty five million puls US $ fifteen million for IT
    Just a fraction of this is more than enough to do the sinhala
    There are people in Lanka who can do Sinhala but deprived to do so for selfish nature of DINO and his group.

    Most of the new ones are multibyte type. Early computers what was sold in US and Asia were not compatible. If you use OSX just switch the language from the international in the system preferance. The languages are residing inside your OSX.

    Quote
    Thirdly, we need Sinhala to transmit over networks and arrive intact. Email should not become question marks or squares.
    Unquote

    When my system is implemented this will not happen

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  104. Helaya,

    You were addressing Naom and me in post 45. I am so sorry for coming back this late to read it. (This is Saturday and had to work in the yard and wanted to browse at the computer to forget muscle pain and bumped upon your post). Your statements do no harm but the reader should hear the corrections.

    I am so glad you brought this up. The crux of the problem is right here.

    You said:
    Since Unicode has to make allocations for ALL languages in the world it gives only 128 codes for one language.

    This is not a problem for languages like English, which has only limited number of letters. However, all Indian languages have thousands of characters, so they cannot be obviously represented in a matrix of 8×16.

    Response:
    (I am laughing Helaya, you sound so much like our mutual friend Donald.)
    Yes. they give 128 each and would have given more if it was justifiable. (Too late, Donald). We follow the Indic pattern by default and indeed got 128. Now, English has 128, Devanagari has 128, Tamil got 128, and Sinhala got 128 too – same size code charts. Sinhala (D80 – DFF) with plenty of spare blank spaces too!

    So, the fact is, our code chart is same size as English. However, English use Single-byte codes and we use double-byte codes. **This is exactly my problem with Unicode**, not Unicode Sinhala, repeat, not Unicode Sinhala but Unicode system.

    Everyone, understand this:
    —————————————
    JC wants single-byte codepoints
    Unicode Sinhala is double-byte codepoints
    Donald wants even larger multi-byte codes (I think four)

    Above is the fundamental difference in these points of view.

    Now, if English and Sinhala have the same size code charts, why do our letters need two bytes?

    Simple,
    1
    The Unicode database is a simple arithmetic progression with a common difference of one, starting at zero: 0,1 ,2 etc. Each of these positions are called Unicode characters. Unicode guys like to confuse you just like I confused you by bringing in ‘arithmetic progression’ instead of saying a list of numbers starting at 0 going up.
    They call a number a character! Let’s call it Unicode character for clarity (Remember it is just a number)
    2
    Each Unicode character is a placeholder for some alphabetic character, numeric character, a control code, or a well known graphic etc. That’s how we tend to understand it. But with the same breadth Unicode says, “We are not talking about shapes of letters but just the names. So, if you make ayanna look like Tamil avanna, it’s okay by Unicode.
    3
    Recall that I said, ‘a list of numbers’. This number is the code that a letter gets. So Sinhala anusvaraya (binðuva), which is the first Sinhala Unicode character, is at position 3458, which is same as hexadecimal D82 or more correctly, 0D82.
    When you look at a hexadecimal number, it is easy to say how many bytes are needed to store it in the computer. Each pair is a byte. So, binðuva is 0D, 82 when coded (stored in computer).

    Now starts our problems:
    Hex 0D = 13 = Carriage Return
    Hex 82 = 130 = Break Permitted Here

    mage lassana binðuvata monavaþ veyiða?

    This is why you sometimes see garbage characters for Unicode. Some computer between you and the sender did not decode Unicode. It is good if you see question marks or squares, That means you don’t have the font. Or, (I think) the program is incapable of showing the font.

    When a single-byte character travels on the network, it goes as it is. But when Unicode Sinhala goes it has to be **encoded** specially so that it is not misinterpreted as I suggested above.

    The standard for this was published in November 2003 (RFC3629). It is called UTF-8 encoding. UTF-8 makes our two-byte binðuva three bytes as follows:
    E0, B6, 82
    (I used http://www.faqs.org/rfcs/rfc3629.html and http://www.shunsoft.net/ipcalc/help/chap12.html)

    Three bytes? Yes, two becomes three and the program has to make it back into two.
    Are we not mad? Isn’t this unfair? Why can’t we have single bytes?

    The problems do not end there. Some computers store bytes in reverse order. That is 0D, 82 may be stored as 82, 0D! This is called the Big-endian Little-endian problem (remember Gulliver’s Travels?). Unix uses BE and Intel LE. Unicode traveling between Unix and Intel could get corrupted.

    They applied a fix for this with the Byte Order Mark (BOM) character. That gave rise to a third problem due to ‘zero width no-break space’ being same as BOM!

  105. BOM is “byte order mark”
    Some higher level protools permit BOM and also prohibit BOM.

    First we have to accept that Sinhala do have more than 128 characters
    Second in the SLSI will have to accormodate all the Sinhala characters

    Do not worry about the encodings. My team will handle that part.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  106. Donald,

    Perhaps you do not understand how the Unicode database is organized yet. I sincerely think that your team is pulling your leg. Read this page and learn it first hand:
    http://www.unicode.org/Public/UNIDATA/Blocks.txt

    It shows all the character group allocations.
    Check out the PUA area (E000..F8FF) E000 = decimal 57,344. You have (Hex 8FF = )2303 codepoints there. I use this area for my font and Iskola Pota probably used it too. It has 519 Sinhala glyphs.

    Then go to the bottom of the list. You get Supplementary Private Use Areas A and B.
    Just looking at them you see that they have (hex FFFF = ) 65,535 positions in each.
    I tested the SPUA – A for my font and it worked.

    Read this too:
    http://www.unicode.org/Public/TEXT/ALLOC.TXT
    That tells the philosophy behind future allocations. Don’t get jarred by seeing Sinhala proposal there by UK. That’s either Pali or we used UK to work on our behalf for Sinhala (neo-colonialism), or UK did it for us because we were sleeping.

    Now, you have 2303 2(65535) = 133,373 codepoints to do whatever you want. Actually, you can encode entire Sinhala words that you think are problems for OCR.

    I’d give the team one week to come up with a solution or fire the entire group. (Hire me for half price). I think as they know that you are rich, they want to milk you slow. The rate you Sri Lankans travel around the globe, you can do magic if you really sit down and apply. I am dreaming of money to go there and do something useful for the people but am broke.

  107. JCA
    my team is not pulling any leg
    Before you think of unicode registration we have accept that we have more than 128 and correct the SLSI.
    In Same time I will develop the software with proper encoding to run
    Leave the software development to our team.

    Please do not mix Unicode Consortium and my Character allocation table

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  108. Donald,

    I am now confused. Maybe I misunderstood you right from the beginning. Probably I came to the Unicode Sinhala discussion at Google too late to understand what you guys were arguing about.

    You say your project is apart from Unicode Consortium’s table. So, is it totally a national thing?

    Yes, I agree that we have more than 128 characters when counting all the composites. I just counted the base characters after expanding the anusvaraya into its short and long versions. I got 67 base characters. Of course, it excludes common bæÐi akuru.

    Still I do not get what you are trying to do.

  109. Dear All,

    Hi, after a long time. I did not contribute but was watching the game eagerly.

    Let me start saying that I was one of the few people here who had a sort of sympathy for Donald initially.

    I sympathized with him because I was angry that Dino and group dominating the scene, without listening to anyone; spend public money without ever bothering to get public opinion on the work they do and thinking it is a crime to express any dissident opinion. I thought Donald voicing his opinion against that mafia.

    However, when the discussion grew I totally lost my sympathy towards Donald.

    I initially thought Donald as an individual who expresses his ideas on national interest, but now it is crystal clear he does everything with a personal business agenda. Whether he is right and wrong is a different question. He is just trying to do exploit a possible “loop-hole” (I am not sure about this, because I am not a techie) to his own personal advantage. If he succeeded, the only person who gains will be him. The nation will not gain anything, because introducing Sinhala to computers is something that goes much beyond making minor technical adjustments.

    I have repeatedly asked how Donald could convince big guys like Nokia, Microsoft, Apple to adopt his system leaving the Unicode standard out, but he failed to give any answer. All these companies have already heavily invested in Sinhala Unicode and I do not think they will simply change their plans just because one individual tells them so. They will ask Donald to a fly a kite.

    I have somewhat negative feelings about Sinhala Unicode and thanks to Helaya, who gave wonderful explanations, now my doubts are cleared.

    I think Sinhala Unicode is the way to go. Harsha, Harsula, Anuradha you are in the correct path. If Sinhala Unicode has problems we can solve it within itself. We do not need Donald codes.

    Donald, thank you very much. We do not need you or your character allocation table anymore. You can burn the character allocation table and apply the ash in your forehead. Perhaps you can go to India and try to sell your character allocation table there. You do not have any chances in Sri Lanka to do that anymore. You have badly lost Donald.

    If I were to judge, I would say Helaya had definitely won the battle with cutting Donald down to the right size. Well done Helaya. We need people like you more and more in our country.

    Three cheers to Helaya!

  110. JCA

    We have to think in terms of hand set composition.

    ” hand set composition” = Key in method (Qwerty or Wijesekera Keyboard or any other new system)
    “composing stick” = Display
    “pick one letter (type) at a time” = Character allocation table Sinhala individual characters
    “place them in the Display” = Special Software that has to be develop

    67 base character theory has to be kept aside.
    It is good for the typewriter technology and use it for the key in method or (driver developmet)

    All Sinhala characters according to the allocation table has to be listed properly.three four thousnds. No worries about this number as we can go up to …..nth value.

    Yes it is a National programe. Once I do it for Sinhala rest of indic languages can follow this way may be more developments will be done by the new software engineers.

    Since there are funds for research and development of IT. Use a part of it for this project.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  111. Donald,
    if you need funding there are hundreds of organization which have enormous grants for IT related research. One is this http://apdip.net/

    Try tapping them harping on ICTA and GOSL. Both don’t show any interest in your solution so you always have another way.

    Write a SENSIBLE proposal with good English and ask for money for what you want to do. But if you goal here is to attack Dino and not working on language issue, the blog admin will let you doing so.

  112. Correction.

    Try tapping them instead of harping on ICTA and GOSL

  113. If Donald is really interested there are so many options available for him to develop his solutions instead of just wasting his time ranting.

    He can also approach organizations like IDCR.

    IDRC has funded the language research laboratory of University of Colombo. If Dino can approach these organizations and get funding why not Donald?

    This is what their websites says:

    The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) is a public corporation created by the Parliament of Canada in 1970 to help developing countries use science and technology to find practical, long-term solutions to the social, economic, and environmental problems they face. Support is directed toward developing an indigenous research capacity to sustain policies and technologies that developing countries need to build healthier, more equitable, and more prosperous societies.

    IDRC’s mission: Empowerment Through Knowledge
    In carrying out its mission, IDRC provides funds and expert advice to developing-country researchers working to solve critical development problems.

    funds applied research by researchers from developing countries on the problems they identify as crucial to their communities. Most projects supported result from direct exchanges between the Centre and developing-country institutions; provides expert advice to those researchers;
    builds local capacity in developing countries to undertake research and innovate.

    http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-8513-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html

  114. Guys,

    Are you mad? Funding is always given for innovative ideas. Nobody gives funding for duplicating efforts. Sinhala is already there in computer environment, so why should anyone fund for any more research to duplicate what has already been done?

    Dharma, thanks for your sentiments. I knew sensible people like you, JCA and Noam would always understand what I say.

  115. Thanks for the links

    my question is when there is 5 million dollars at ICT Research and innovation grant in Sri Lanka why cant they give a fraction for Sinhala Development

    Helay’s comment
    ‘Sinhala is already there in computer environment,’
    and
    the sinhala is compatible across all platforms are two different issues
    These guys show jpg images similar to sricolama web page and say this is Sinhala
    All these are majic shown to the Computer illiterate people.

    Who is fooling whome

    Donald GAminitillake
    Colombo

  116. majic should have been MAGIC

    Donald

  117. I think what is happening to Donald should be explained with this folk tale. Hope you guys know what happened to the guy who wrote a huge (boring) book and got in a mess due to the boringness of the book. He loved the book he wrote painstakingly but it was so boring and useless nobody wanted to read his book. So he started reading the book to others. First he was chased out of the house by his wife since she couldn’t stand it. Then his neighbors, friends, people on the road, academia in the country started avoiding him and finally the citizens filed a case in the high courts against this writer as he disturbed the public buy reading this boring book in public places to get attention. So the writer was summoned by the judge and former was ordered to read the book at the courts since the judge himself wanted to listen to the book to give a correct verdict. What happened was judge ran out of the courts when the writer started reading the book!!!!! Same thing is happening to Donald it seems!!! Nobody wants to accept his solution and it has become a pain to listen to him. Many people have left him due to this. His friends, journalists, ICT experts, associates and now Dharma, one who admired him a lot has left him. At least now Donald should get a break and spend some time somewhere cool and “refresh” himself. If he doesn’t do it soon, he will become a big joke here and ultimately evil Dino will have “another feather in his hat.” He is the ultimate winner of all these. Only one who could challenge Dino in this country was Donald but due to Donald’s adamant behavior he is now losing the credibility of all his allies. It’s a pity that everybody is decamping with him now. If he doesn’t change the strategy here, he will pay the price soon by guys like Helaya who come with strong points and facts for the Final Assult.

  118. Quote
    Only one who could challenge Dino in this country was Donald but due to Donald’s adamant behavior he is now losing the credibility of all his allies…….Helaya who come with strong points and facts for the Final Assult…..
    Unquote

    Thanks for the comments. I know helaya and his group is going through all the five blogs.Using the best applications compare the texts etc.

    Whatever said and done it is proved byond reasonalbe doubt that the present SINHALA UNICODE and the SLSI is incorrect and incoomplete. Sinhala data is not compatible across all platforms. Tere is a real problem for Sri Lanka.

    Full character solution is proposed by only Donald.
    My system/concept/thinking/method/platform for the Sinhala and Tamil language to use in a computer is unique ( to Donald.)Therefore it is a novel idea The Functionally Computer illiterates like “Helaya” will not be able to understand it. To Helaya sinhala jpg in (eg Sricolama) and a text appearing with a downloaded font (eg lankaenews) looks the same.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  119. As folktale predicted “the Final Assult.” has begun
    Somebody is posting using my name comments made on this blog all over other blogs
    They may have change few words here and there

    These are all unethical acts.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  120. Dear Admin

    Thanks for correcting the problem by deleting the unwanted postings

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  121. Friends,

    This is to inform you that very soon I will be assigning the duties as the CEO of ICTA. My friend Basil told me so. (In fact, this was decided long before even Manju left, as many of you are aware.)

    Initially I thought of having Donald as my advisor and let him give the opportunity of developing his new Sinhala system, but now I have second thoughts. I do not want to get utter bored.

    Folktale is correct, this guy Donald is a complete bore. I do not want him anywhere near me.

    Please also note we also plan to change the premises of ICTA. Basically Dino seeya and I want to reverse everything Manju and gang did.

  122. Quote
    we also plan to change the premises of ICTA
    unquote

    Why not move it to Kirinda!!!

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  123. Why not in Mahavilachchiya? That should be the best place.

  124. Too close to vilpathu game resort. Dino might get lost there

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  125. Dear Folk Tale,

    You are correct I think. Visit http://www.horizonlanka.org/guidance/index.htm Donald is not on the board of the Mahawilachchi project. He was a director earlier. What does this mean? Was this language issue and his ISBN rated boring book the cause for his exclusion from the board of this project????

  126. Yes, I paved way for the Horizon children to take care of Horizon.
    They are growing up, once you set the guide lines they will follow the path.
    The two new Directors are students of Horizon.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  127. Quote
    “boring book”
    Unquote

    Why you guys are worried about a boring book?

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  128. Workshops on IT Literacy

    The Rotary Club of Colombo Reconnections

    2nd November 2006

    The Rotary club of Colombo Reconnections will be organizing 2 workshops on IT Literacy. This will be held on Thursday, 2nd of November 2006 at the Galle Face Hotel.

    “Opportunities with Free and Open Source Software : How to become a Smart Player in the Knowledge Revolution” – by Dr Shahani Markus Weerawarana, Chief Technology Officer, ICT Agency of Sri Lanka

    The details of the 2 workshops are as follows;
    Workshop one – starting at 5pm
    This will be aimed to provide the younger generation with new/latest
    technological/business information, career guidance and inspirational
    role models, that would enable them in today’s marketplace.

    The entrance fee per person is a only Rs 300/=

    This program will be followed by a workshop for Rotarians

    Workshop two (the business community) – starting at 6.30pm

    What we need to know about our corporate website, the internet and
    email as leaders in the business community and professionals.

    The above workshops will briefly cover:

    – An introduction to Free & Open Source Software (FOSS)

    – The FOSS model of operation

    – FOSS initiatives across the world and in Sri Lanka

    – How to become part of FOSS community

    The entrance fee per person is Rs 500/=

    We are looking forward to welcoming you to experience and be inspired,
    together with members of your club, organization, family and friends.
    Please email us at

    timalta@sltnet.lk

    and confirm your attendance
    preferably by 27th October so that we can cater for you.

    Please pass this on to others who can benefit.

  129. This is another reminder that Rotary Club of Colombo Reconnections is conducting 2 workshop on IT Literacy on the 2nd of November. The first will be aimed to provide the younger generation with the latest technological/business information, career guidance and inspirational role models, that would enable them in today’s marketplace and the other a general one.

    Please see the 129 for more details.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  130. Maubima page 32, October 29, 2006
    Sinhala news paper

    A very good example by the writer Mr Pushpananda Ekanayake

    Since I cannot post images I have posted the image with two examples to prove the content of the writer.

    http://www.akuru.org/images/pushpananda-29-oct-2006.jpg

    All this happen because we had a very late SLSI 1134. This too is incomplete Sinhala.

    Dino and his group is responsible for this act.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  131. OLD TEXT — NEW TEXT

    Donald,

    You could also write the line you corrected thus (in Romanized Sinhala):

    na ca khuððá samaacare kiçci yena viççuu pare upavaðeyyú

    The above is a direct transliteration made out of the kuððaka paatha paali discourses (in sutta pitaka) from Pali Text Society’s Tipiþaka found at:
    http://www.metta.lk/tipitaka/

    If you look closely, even the ‘corrected’ Sinhala script version has errors (kiiçci for kiçci and viççu for viççuu). The ultimate solution for Pali text is Dual-script Sinhala. The above line given in romanized Sinhala could be viewed (and edited) in the Sinhala script using one of the orthographic fonts I made. Those who recite Pali and who understand the language, could then attest to the accuracy of a Pali text.

    By the way, for those who think romanizing Sinhala is a novel thing, understand that Sinhala is the only Asian language that was romanized more than 150 years ago (Read: http://www.palitext.com/) and continues to be used regularly ever since. Buddhist monks and scholars all over the world learn and use it daily. They call it Pali, of course. The romanized Sinhala I am using here is a computer friendly version aimed at replacing the older, letterpress era version (It adds four prenasalized consonants — sanyaka akuru — of the mixed Sinhala alphabet).

  132. CORRUPTION OF THE SINHALA SCRIPT

    Ekanayake, the writer to Mavbima, is right about the force (rather limitations and careless application) of technology corrupting the script. However, we now have cutting-edge technology to use any writing style (orthography) for Sinhala while at the same time CORRECTING writing errors. One of the things that I found quite hard to remember is how to write Cream Crackers in Sinhala phonetics. In romanized Sinhala, it is:

    kriim krækars

    Now change the font to Theodore or Sumangala and see how it should be written in the Sinhala script!

    PS:
    maubima or mavbima? I’d say the latter because it is Mav bima . Also, mau corresponds to kombuva, mayanna, gayanu kiþþa, which is not Sinhala but Sanskrit.

  133. JCA

    Thanks for the comments.
    If we had a correct SLSI all these character problems get solved.

    Now this problem is getting bigger for selfish attitude of the Dino and his group.
    Still we have time to correct and put sinhala on correct path

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  134. Old text and New Text

    Nothing was corrected or edited
    Old text used the lead fonts and the new text is digital typesetting

    See how the same text differ today and 35 years ago

    We are heading for disaster

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  135. 129 post. donald’s ad says

    “and confirm your attendance
    preferably by 27th October so that we can cater for you.

    Please pass this on to others who can benefit.”

    Hello donald mudalali,

    Have you shifted from selling annex to ctering now. Good you found a job that suits you. Hope we can have some relief in this blog instead of your ranting……

    GD

  136. GD
    Why don’t you reply to 131

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  137. Today’s Mavbima writer Pushpananda Ekanaya’s article worth reading.
    It is warning to the future

    According to this author we have close to million words for Sinhala

    We do not have a printed Sinhala English Dic with 40,000 words.
    We do not have a cross platform Sinhala Electronic Dic

    If my system is implemented this could be solved overnight.

    When a composer have close to a million correct Sinhala Vocabulary he or she could do wonders to the Sinhala Language

    See (A Sinhala language News Paper) Contents Credits to Author and the Maubima News Paper

    http://www.akuru.org/images/Nov5-mavbima2.jpg

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  138. Sri Lanka’s first outdoor wireless computer network is now up and running in Mahavilachchiya.
    What if we had Sinhala in these computers!!!
    Hope the farmers knows their basic Simple English to write E mails and read the contents!!!
    Yes they can use JCA’s Sinhala until a proper character allocation is done!!
    What a sad position we are having?
    Technology moves forward country walks backward “Newtons 3 law”

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  139. Donald Uncle,

    Please dont bark like a mad dog. Sinhala is already there in those computers.

    If you cared to visit the page http://www.horizonlanka.org/news/mesh/launch/visiting_village.html you would have found a farmer reading a Sinhala newspaper on the web in the picture captioned “Duleeka’s dad reading a Sinhala newspaper online”

    Please dont mislead the public. Wanni knows better than you to not to neglect Sinhala. He has given Sinhala the right place.

    Learn from Duleeka’s dad.

  140. Why don’t you ask them to send an E mail to me in Sinhala not a jpg image.
    That image need a special font to be downloaded.
    Sinhala problem is not solved.
    “Sinhaya” is misguiding the public .

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  141. Sinhalaya,

    You are trying to deceive the reader by showing a picture of a man reading a Sinhala newspaper on the Internet. Anybody can read the newspaper on the web if they have the HACK FONT downloaded from that web site or some other place.

    For those who do not know what is a **HACK FONT**, it is a font made by altering a regular font by changing the glyphs. Such fonts are used **ONLY FOR READING**. You cannot use those fonts to create text in a regular text editor. That man cannot write a letter to the editor, so there is no such facility, I can guess with confidence.

    What we are talking here is about making Sinhala and Tamil as nearly as good as English on the computer as well as on the network. ** THAT SAVES MONEY** — millions of dollars that ultimately also goes to pay you bureaucrats. It’ll boomerang on you. ( mark my words).

    Dual-script is the only solution that has come closest to it. It only needs Browser support and accompanying email app support. Mozilla is working on it. MS Word is a question. I am a member of MS VOLT group (plus others) and hear how policies are made here. M$ always waits until others succeed to grab it. Read about ‘embrace, extend, and extinguish’ policy and other things at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft. Maybe Corel WordPerfect would support it earlier. Adobe already supports romanized Sinhala font.

    The irony is that the US Dept of Commerce looks at the solution for Sinhala favorably than anyone in Lanka. For one, they are not intimidated by big business and they are open minded, not you!

    We are well into converting the entire Tipitaka into RS. (Two ten-year-old girls volunteered to start it). That means, soon anyone would be able to read it in Romanized Sinhala or in traditional Sinhala. I tested the font by dictating to a woman who has never seen Sinhala. She could type it on the regular QWERTY keyboard (with three keys altered) and made Sinhala come alive on the screen.

    Unicode Sinhala, which is a misleading name, by the way, spells disaster to the country. What it is going to do is divide the country permanently onto two: The English literate ruling class and the rural masses. Donald’s solution is not second to it, I am afraid, if not worse.

    Sorry guys. You guys are not at all constructive. Your infantile quarrelling does not help anyone but puts brakes on things that are really worthwhile to talk about.

    I am disgusted by the denigration of appellations like Sinhalaya used to hide behind by cowards, as if to show they are the only genuine Sinhalayas. Come out to the open if you are a real Sinhalaya!

  142. Donald uncle and JC uncle,

    If you say is it a gimmick to put a picture of a person reading a Sinhalese paper blame Wanni and Horizon for cheating. Not me. I just reproduced the link here.

    The difference between the two of you and the poor man who reads that papers is that person uses the best of available technology, while two of you do nothing constructive than blaming others for your own problems.

    Just because you cannot do something, you want all others to suffer. What a nice theory.

    It is because of people like you we can never move forward in this country. I am so sorry to see this country is full of kalakannis like you.

    Real Sinhalayas of this country are people like Wanni, who think positive and reach their goals whatever the impediments put in their way and not negative thinkers like you, who know nothing but to complain.

    “Lighting one lamp is much better than cursing the darkness.” Kalakannis (those who waste time) like you will never learn the truth of that.

  143. I work and continue to do so, not because the government is paying me, but because I am concerned for the people, my dear nephew or niece (and I feel that way).

    Here is the link (that I gave numerous times here that you ignored):
    http://www.sinhalaheritage.com/smartfont/
    Since you are writing in English, you could surely understand what I have written in the install.htm file.

    If it is too much, download just the font, copy it to fonts folder, open Notepad and type something in that font. Well, if it is Linux you use, you know what to do too.

    Still if you do not want to try and be disappointed that someone has really worked maybe more than you, just download the Khuddakapatha.pdf file and see for yourself what that font can do. This is exactly the same page found at:
    http://www.metta.lk/tipitaka/ (Under Sutta Pitaka, Khuddaka Nikaya)

  144. Thanks JCA for the comments
    When you point out the fact the Sinhalaya put it on Wanni
    These guys hide themselves and also does not take any responsibility

    They have failed in Sinhala unicode or the SLSI 1134 what is the other solution
    Follow the path of the Latin code use full individual characters for Sinhala

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  145. From Daily News today…

    New software to recognize Sinhala hand writing characters on PDAs and PCs
    Hathoon Sheriffdeen
    Friday, 10 November 2006

    IT SECTOR: Four students from the Moratuwa University have developed software to recognise hand writing characters in Sinhala language named Panhinda on PDAs (Personal Digital Assistant) and Tablet PCs.

    It is developed specifically for Microsoft Windows Mobile platform and compatible with entire Sinhala alphabet. The system implementation principally concentrated on optimal memory and processing utilisation as well as storage optimisation due to the inherent low processing power and memory constraints on mobile devices.

    It demonstrates a recognition accuracy of 90% and resembles another milestone in localise computing, Harshana Ranmuthugala one of the students on building this application system said.

    This application system will reduce the paper work and make
    organisations more customised and efficient. People oriented activities such as banking customer care centres, E-Government activities, mass media journalism, and any data input and collecting segment connected to laymen will benefit from this software, Harshana said.

    The students who developed this software are Charith Jayasundara, Nishan Pathiragoda, Harshana Ranmuthugala and Kasun Karunaratne.

    Source:http://www.dailynew s.lk/

  146. Quote
    compatible with entire Sinhala alphabet
    unquote

    On what format? Who has published this entire Alphabet? What is the allocation matrix of the Sinhala? Students can develop it on their own private matrix. The text data will not be compatible across any OS. Unless every one use the same computer environment that read the hand writings.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  147. This message is for the students Charith Jayasundara, Nishan Pathiragoda, Harshana Ranmuthugala and Kasun Karunaratne who developed the hand writing reading software.

    No doubt you have done a great job. Congratulations. But let me warn you, that you have to beware from two individuals.

    The first one is Prof. VK Sam. This ugly old man can never tolerate young talent. So many youth who have shown budding talent have been completely ruined by this guy. He is so full of venom, if a poisonous “maplia” to bite VK Sam, the “malipa” will die, not Sam. He is so poisonous. Don’t touch this guy with a barge pole.

    The second guy you should protect yourself from, is Donald. This man is not venomous as VKS, but he is a nuisance. He never agrees with anybody and definitely will try to distract you. He will provoke you asking the same stupid questions. Don’t answer. Just ignore him.

    Don’t give a damn to your critics. It is not the critics that build this word. Please take your good work forward and bring glory to your motherland.

    Best of luck.

  148. Quote
    He will provoke you asking the same stupid questions.
    Unquote

    I ask the correct question and expect a proper answer from the students.
    R & D is required. But the basics have to be answered.

    Student and “Best of Luck” — incapable to answer the question I posted.

    What is the allocation matrix of the Sinhala used in developing your system? Where it has been published? Have you used my one? If so where are the credits?

    This cannot be achieved using the matrix of SLSI1134 or Sinhala Unicode.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  149. I visited the blog after a long time. I did not visit this blog after it went to part 3, as the same stuff being told again and again. Only positive notes I witnessed this time in the blog is that Helaya has managed to convince Dharma Gamage (who was anti-Unicode to the core) of the accuracy and completeness of Sinhala Unicode. Harsha Purasinghe, Harshula and Anuradha have also contributed to this factor. Also noteworthy that a number of research in the areas of Character Recognition, translation, RSS feeding using Unicode have taken place and reported to the blog. Out side to this I have also witnessed excellent educational content being built such as Shilapa Sayuara. Amidst all this you hear the broken record. Happy to note that the majority has accepted that the Sinhala Unicode is the way to go!

  150. Welcome back Wasantha

    You have not answered any of the technical questions that has been posted.

    Quote
    majority has accepted that the Sinhala Unicode is the way to go!
    Unquote

    I do not think so. because
    1.SMS from one company is not readable by the other company
    2. Yes “Character Recognition,” has been done but it is not machine editable across all platforms

    Quote
    “The OCR hardware scans the material and compares the image with the text matrix in the software. The character is analyzed in a Cartesian coordinate system on a pre-defined grid to identify the character. Once the shape of the character is determined, the program could conduct a search for similar character(s) in the character allocation matrix and thereby determining the character”

    For Sinhala character “DU” or “KU” to identify by OCR the image of “DU” or “KU” has to be in the software as a full character “DU” or “KU” . In SInhala unicode I cannot find a “DU” or “KU”

    Profesional IT guys can you give an explanation. As to how OCR works for Sinhala Unicode.
    When Sinhala unicode has no location for the character “DU” or “KU”
    Unquote

    3 no Sinhala electronic Dic across all platforms
    4. Simple Text created by Thibus not readable by Helawadana or word (machine editable Sinhala text)
    5. Sinhala Web browsers need to down load the specific fonts

    Quote from JCA
    “You are trying to deceive the reader by showing a picture of a man reading a Sinhala newspaper on the Internet. Anybody can read the newspaper on the web if they have the HACK FONT downloaded from that web site or some other place.

    For those who do not know what is a **HACK FONT**, it is a font made by altering a regular font by changing the glyphs. Such fonts are used **ONLY FOR READING**. You cannot use those fonts to create text in a regular text editor. That man cannot write a letter to the editor, so there is no such facility, I can guess with confidence.”
    Unquote

    6. Nanasala (VGA before) concept is a disaster

    7. Unicode Sinhala (SLSI 1134) chart is incomplete and incorrect

    hope you have visited
    http://www.akuru.org/images/Nov5-mavbima2.jpg
    http://www.akuru.org/images/pushpananda-29-oct-2006.jpg

    None made any attempts to comment on above

    I think Wasantha you will have to change your “chinthanaya” — open your eyes and mind to save Sinhala.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  151. Evolution

    A poem by VK Sam

    2003 ICTA
    2004 ICTE
    2005 CITE
    2006 CINTEC

  152. Donald,

    No language is static. Languages develop everyday. The scripts of the languages too develop according to the requirements of the users.

    At http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:History_of_Tamil_script.jpg you see how Tamil script has developed over centuries.

    The changes of the letters are largely due to the medium of writing; i.e. simple and with straight lines at ancient times to facilitate carvings, and rounded when the medium was ola leaves. (straight lines can make the leaves tear.)

    Similarly, when you move from paper to computer too there will be so many changes.

    My guess is whether anyone likes or not features like combined letters (bendi akuru) will die very soon. New generations might not even use features like Yansaya and repaya.

    Dis trnd is cn in Englsh 2. In futr v use n entrly diffrnt languge our grnd fthers evr used.

    The use of a langue is entirely for communication purposes. If a language can communicate effectively, there is no need to nitpick the minor grammatical and other “mistakes”.

    After all, the language is a creation of man. So we should have the right to change it the way we want.

  153. You are correct Paranawithana

    If you read the original “amawathura” we had only few characters. With the development of Sinhala over thousands of years we had gained many characters.

    We need to use all the Sinhala characters. You cannot delete any Sinhala character or characters just because one is unable to read. You are permitted to add more Sinhala Characters as Prof J B Dissanayake. Also there are four new characters has been registered at the patent office.

    In Computer all Sinhala characters has to be present with proper code points.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  154. Donald,

    Visit http://www.horizonlanka.org/news/mesh/kumar/kumar.html Those guys in MV are reading Tamil newspapers as well online. So much for your solution!!!!!

  155. Like the Sinhala you will have to down load the font that created the web page.

    Why not make the posting in Tamil in this blog with an English translations for the people who are unable to read the Tamil script. We all should be able to see the Tamil Script on any Operating System irrespective whether we could read Tamil.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  156. There is a big difference between simple practical people like the villager portrayed in the story and the so called “educated” experts like Donald.

    While people like Donald wastes his time and everyone else’s time nitpicking every minor points, practical men like that villager get the best use of technology, without ever bothering about the intricacies.

    This is the difference between the intelligent men (like the one in Mahavilachchiya) and those who think they are intelligent, but in reality typical modayas.

  157. I do not speak Tamil, but if Donald likes to see Tamil scripts so much, let me produce an extract from BBC. (About Raviraj assasination)

    It can be seen in any computer, irrespective of the OS and platform, provided you use the correct version. (If anybody dont see, it is time to upgrade your OS. You are using an OS ver in the stoneage.)

    இலங்கையின் யாழ்ப்பாண மாவட்ட நாடாளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர் நடராஜா ரவிராஜ் 10.11.2006 அன்று காலை சுமார் 8.45 மணியளவில் கொழும்பிலுள்ள அவரது இல்லத்திற்கு சற்றுத் தொலைவில் வைத்து இனந்தெரியாத துப்பாக்கிதாரிகளினால் சுட்டுக்கொல்லப்பட்டார். அவருக்கு வயது 44.

    தனது வாகனத்தில் கொழும்பு எல்விட்டிகல பொறளை பகுதியிலுள்ள அவரது வீட்டிலிருந்து தனது மெய்ப்பாதுகாப்பாளருடன் பயணித்துக் கொண்டிருந்த சமயம், அங்கு மோட்டார் சைக்கிளில் வந்த இனந்தெரியாத துப்பாக்கிதாரிகள் இவரது வாகனத்திற்கு மிக அருகில் வந்து இவர் மீதும், மெய்ப்பாதுகாப்பாளர் மீதும் சரமாரியாகச் சுட்டிருக்கின்றனர் எனத் தெரியவருகிறது.

  158. I see
    “இலங்கையின் யாழ்ப்பாண மாவட்ட நாடாளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர் நடராஜா ரவிராஜ் 10.11.2006 அன்று காலை சுமார் 8.45 மணியளவில் கொழும்பிலுள்ள அவரது இல்லத்திற்கு சற்றுத் தொலைவில் வைத்து இனந்தெரியாத துப்பாக்கிதாரிகளினால் சுட்டுக்கொல்லப்பட்டார். அவருக்கு வயது 44.”

    This is the problem with all Indic Languages!!!!

    First I solve Sinhala then Tamil , followed by other Indic Languages

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  159. Remember in Sri Lanka we have an incomplete SLSI for Sinhala
    Tamil Languages has not been even thought by the SLSI or ICTA.
    Only I who had spoken openly for Tamil Language rights for Computer in Sri Lanka. See my web site http://www.akuru.org.

    I want Tamil and Sinhala Languages to work in hand in hand with the Latin script.
    I have the ability Technology and knowledge to do this project.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  160. Quote
    every minor points,
    Unquote

    Unable to read SInhala and Tamil across every OS is a minor point for you.

    Can you give five points how these people in Mahavilachchiya uses a computer as tool for their daily living without Sinhala and Tamil.

    Make them to participate in this blog. JCA’s Latin script Sinhala or Tamil acceptable else use what ever the English they know. Why cant they thank the public who helped!!! Make some comments with correct names and addresses.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  161. Donald,

    So you have cut and pasted the Tamil script and I can read it. (I don’t have any Tamil fonts installed.)

    So what is your problem? Tamil script works perfectly across platforms.

  162. You have it in your system. Then you can read.What I see is ????
    This is same with Sinhala and all other indic scripts.

    Why don’t you send me an E mail to me and meet me. I will show you the problem

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  163. Donald,

    I don’t have any problem reading and seeing Tamil – this is without installing any Tamil fonts. I can easily copy to any application and as you have proved, it is platform independent.

    You can’t see because your OS is outdated. When did you buy it?

    Time for you to upgrade your machine. New Apple Mac OS X supports Tamil.

    See here. http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/international

    More Languages and Scripts
    Tiger includes the Tamil language script, a new input mode for Korean and extended system fonts to support Greek (modern and classical), Vietnamese, Cyrillic and roman script languages of the former USSR.

    I can fix that problem for you so you can read Tamil. Will you pay for the OS and service charges?

  164. Mr you have clearly said “Quote “I do not speak Tamil,”unquote

    Yes Mac uses “Tamil 99” or Anjal in OSX 10.4.

    Tamil 99 was developed in the year 1999 and now it is 2006. If you want to write to any Govt department in Tamil in the State of Tamil Nadu you will have to use Tamil 99.

    I know what I am writing and talking. First lets solve the Sinhala and then talk about the Tamil.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  165. Donald,

    What you say in post 166 is not relevant to our topic.

    Tell me what your OS and when did you purchased it.(or pirated it.) Why you dont see Tamil is you use an old ver.

    A simple upgrade will solve your problem. I can solve it within few hours if you are ready to bear the cost.

  166. Tamil,

    Donald is using an Abacus. That is why he cannot work in Sinhala and Tamil.

    Farmers in Mahavilachchiya use better machines. So they do not face any problems.

  167. I use OSX 10.4 original versions
    If I need any thing done with my computers BT Options can do a better job than you

    First we Solve the Sinhala then we can move into Tamil.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  168. Donald, can you or can you not see the tamil script above on your computer? If yes, have you tried copying and pasting it on MS Word and notepad? does it work?

    Please tell us honestly about the results. Thanks

  169. Donald,

    If you have Mac OS X 10.4 in your computer you should be able to see Tamil Script, as Mac OS X 1.4 (aka Tiger) supports Tamil.

    Apple assures it. (I have given the link above.)

    So if you still cannot see Tamil you should complain the company that sold you the computer. (BT Options?)

    I am puzzled. If your OS could not recognize Tamil characters, how could we read your post No. 160 including Tamil scripts?

    The very fact that we see Tamil scripts in post no. 160 made by you proves that your OS recognizes Tamils script.

    First we settle this Tamil issue, because most of the OSes already recognize Tamil. If there is no problem with Tamil, there cannot be any problem with Sinhala because both Unicode charts are similar.

    So please honestly answer Divakar’s question. Can you read Tamil scripts? If not what do you see?

  170. You see the Tamil characters because you have the fonts to read it
    When I check the source code for 160
    “I see

    “இலங்கையின் ”

    Eventhough I have activated the Tamil99 , Anjal I need the proper font to read.

    I will get a Tamil font installed and check

    BUT you may be able to read this

    அச

    அஉஎ

    ஏஏஏ

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  171. Because of the code point problem I need to have the same font to read the text.
    Even in Tamil if you use a font “A” it will not be able to read using Font “B” of a different developer.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  172. Donald, I was able to see all the tamil script you typed. I have not installed any tamil fonts. My anti-virus will not allow anything to be installed on my computer without authorization either.

    I thought the whole point of OS support was that it relieves you of the hassle of installing additional fonts. Does the problem then lie with your operating system?

  173. Donald,

    Two questions.

    1) If your PC does not support Tamil script, how can you make a post with Tamil scripts? How do you explain that?

    2) We do not talk about fonts here. According to Apple OS X 1.4 (aka Tiger) supports Tamil Unicode standard. (I am sure you understand there is a difference between standards and fonts) So if you do not see Tamil script, do you think Apple is lying?

    Why don’t you approach your service provider and I am sure he will be able to solve this issue for you.

    Please do not worry. These are not big problems.

  174. Donald,

    I think Divakar is correct.

    There is something wrong with your OS. Please check with BT Options.

    These are minor issues which can be solved by a single phone call.

    No need to waste blog space for such small issues.

  175. Donald,

    What you say in post 173 would have been valid few years ago.

    Now with the introduction of standards, things have changed. Please get yourself updated. :-)

  176. 177 the facts I posted in 173 is valid today.

    Apple is not lying. Fonts and input codings has to support each other.

    let me get the Tamil fonts sorted out.

    Quote from 175
    1) If your PC does not support Tamil script, how can you make a post with Tamil scripts? How do you explain that?
    unquote
    Firefox & Apple OS copy with the source codes correctly that is why you see.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  177. # Finland Donald Gaminitillake on Nov 22nd, 2006 at 1:35 pm edit

    Quote
    “in-shoring” some of the local BPO operations to Nenasalas?
    Unquote

    1. Language concept.We got to solve the language issue first.

    2. Management

    3. Responsibility and the security of data

    4. accuracy

    5. responsibility

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo
    # 27 Sri Lanka Advice to Donald on Nov 23rd, 2006 at 7:44 am edit

    Donald,

    Can you please confine your language issues to the correct thread? Please do not act like a bull in a China shop. We discuss about BPOs and Nenasala in this thread, not language issues.

    I have been told by many people that they do not write anything in this forum because they do not want to be bullied by you. You act as a negative catalyst who discourages productive discussion in this forum. Please do not bully other users. Do not act as if this forum is your feudal property.

    Since there is no moderator for the forum, we users should take the responsibility of proper behaviour.

    The least you could do is to confine yourself and your language issue to the right thread.
    # 28 Finland Donald Gaminitillake on Nov 23rd, 2006 at 4:42 pm edit

    QUOTE
    BPOs and Nenasala in this thread,
    UNQUOTE

    Let me know the language you are going to use in Nanasala and BPO’s
    If you say you are going to use English there is no problem if not how these people use a computer in Sinhala and Tamil.

    Language is a major issue for inshore BPO and Nanasala

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo
    # 29 Sri Lanka Advice to Donald on Nov 23rd, 2006 at 5:42 pm edit

    Donald,

    Okay. Your concerns have been noted. Now let others raise issues other than language related ones.

    Please don’t scare the users off from the forum. Please do not try to dominate in this space. Others too have ideas and let them speak.

    Don’t you ever understand repeating the same story endlessly will make it darned boring for others? (irrespective of the fact whether you are right or wrong)
    # 30 Finland Donald Gaminitillake on Nov 23rd, 2006 at 5:55 pm edit

    Quote
    (irrespective of the fact whether you are right or wrong)
    Unquote

    One cannot have right and wrong both in the same issue. If I am right in the BPO & Nanasala language issue tell me I am right. Do not escape by using words as NOTED.

    Do you know that the Dept of INLAND REVENUE collected a large number of data from the tax payers? All the data is in hand written paper format. Do you know that this department yet to have a software program to input this data. All this is inshore work.

    I know what I am writing and talking in BPO and Nanasala. Also why should any one be scared of Donald!!!

    Admit the fact until the Language issue is solved there will be not much of a development in Mesh technology , inshore BPO or Nanasala.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo
    # 31 Sri Lanka Advice to Donald on Nov 24th, 2006 at 7:42 am edit

    Donald,

    I am NOT arguing with you on any issues.

    I only gave an advice on your behaviour.

    Please don’t be a menace to other users. They too have their own concerns just like you.

    Had there been a moderator, you have been banned long before.

    Your rude behaviour had resulted in chasing off many users and many prospective users from this forum.

    This is the only forum we can use to voice our opinions on ICT. Please do not abuse it.
    # 32 Finland Donald Gaminitillake on Nov 24th, 2006 at 10:32 am edit

    Quote
    This is the only forum we can use to voice our opinions on ICT.
    Unquote
    You have the right to publish your views and opinions. Who bars the other users?

    Can you prove that one can use ICT without any human language?

    Quote
    Please don’t be a menace to other users.
    Unquote

    How can I be a menance to any one. How can you have a BPO or inshore issues without a language — all of you gets bowled out with the language issue. Admit this fact.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo
    # 33 Singapore Divakar Goswami on Nov 24th, 2006 at 11:50 am edit

    Donald, I doubt any one is getting bowled over by your arguments, I think the reaction is more of frustration and irritation of having you pop-up on a number of threads and chanting the same mantra over and over again. The sad thing is that mantra is more to promote your private interests than the interests of users of IT in Sri Lanka and in the region.

    It is clear that you have put in a lot of work on your character allocation table but more elegant solutions have emerged that have been adopted by the major stakeholders who are moving forward with it. Your anguish is understandable because if your solution had won out there would be a big payout. I am sorry that you are taking a financial hit on this. But our website is not a platform to promote private interests but rather to foster discussion on ICT issues that have a public interest. But we will not prevent you from chanting your mantra that is becoming less credible every day..

    The BPO study that was conducted in Sri Lanka did not identify language issues with software as one of the barriers that was holding back their growth. For in-shoring there would probably be a lot more use of the local languages and standards may be more of an issue. But I doubt whether that is the biggest barrier preventing inshoring from taking off. Client and BPO provider may adopt any one of the proprietary solutions available in the (temporary) absence of Sinhala Unicode solution being supported by Windows OS. Whatever arguments you make on this issue I doubt people can take you seriously because you have a private axe to grind.
    # 34 Finland Donald Gaminitillake on Nov 24th, 2006 at 3:58 pm edit

    Quote
    The BPO study that was conducted in Sri Lanka
    Unqoute

    Who conducted this research? Where can I download? In which language they conducted the research?
    Tell me in which language they are going to do these BPO’s?

    Quote
    that is becoming less credible every day
    Unquote

    This is simply you guys does not understand the Sinhala Language issue. You clearly admit my copyrights. Why worry about a copyright if my system is incorrect.

    Even Bill Gates do have copyrights and Patents only I cannot have!!!!

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo
    # 35 Singapore Divakar Goswami on Nov 24th, 2006 at 4:13 pm edit

    If you search for BPO study on LIRNEasia’s website you will find it. I don’t know what is the relevance of the language of the report to anything, but such is your blinding obsession…

    Please do not delude yourself by believing you are some kind of protector of the Sinhala language all the while peddling your narrow self-interest.

    Your copyrights are laughable. You can sit on them for eternity for all anyone cares.
    # 36 Singapore samarajiva on Nov 24th, 2006 at 4:30 pm edit

    “Who conducted this research? Where can I download? In which language they conducted the research?”

    http://www.lirneasia.net/2006/09/baseline-sector-analysis-of-the-bpo-industry-in-sri-lanka/
    # 37 Sri Lanka Donald Gaminitillake on Nov 24th, 2006 at 6:36 pm edit

    I quote from the http://www.lbo.lk/fullstory.php?newsID=1404874798&no_view=1&SEARCH_TERM=5

    This report research report is relative to export oriented BPO. Therefore the basic language is Latin script English.
    If it is for Local BPO it has to be trilingual English, Sinhala and Tamil Language

    see the contents for the English language

    Quote””
    2.3 Labour

    The leading skill requirment in the BPO labour market is for English language skills

    5.6 Skill and Demand

    The primary set of domain skills in demand is language and communication skills (57%) accounting knowledge (19%) and technical knowledge (5%)

    21 Language speech and communication skills requirements are primarily to English.

    Figure 18 No 1 set of skills demanded by BPO 57% = Language Speech communication

    Just under half the companies (43%) are not satisfied with the availability of personal in the primary skill areas of accounting knowledge, technical subjects and languages skills.

    Sri Lanka need to address capacity constraints in the three areas of English Language skills

    8.1 capacity constraints

    The survey revels that Sri Lanka requires further investments in education, particularly in English language skills. Irrespective of a company’s services. English Language is a requirement across board. Therefore improving English Language skills is a blanket requirement for BPO sector growth.

    Speaking and writing skills in Sinhala and Tamil are considered “NOT IMPORTANT” by a majority (over 60%) of BPO managers which is not surprising as the sector is primarily export oriented.

    Unquote

    For BPO language skills and use of language in a computer is a basic essential.

    So I win Divakar!!!!

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo
    # 38 Singapore Divakar Goswami on Nov 24th, 2006 at 7:20 pm edit

    Donald I hope your lack of reading comprehension isn\’t a a reflection on the rest of your mental abilities.

    Please re-read the post 33 where I say:
    \”The BPO study that was conducted in Sri Lanka did not identify language issues with software as one of the barriers that was holding back their growth.\”

    What has English language skills got to do with developing a common standard for Sinhala for cross-platform usage? You can\’t start pontificating about the barriers preventing BPOs and inshoring without doing some research.

    Currently, you are arguing like a Kindergarten kid. I hope your analytical abilities go beyond simple associations with words like \”language\” and \”computer\” to prove the point that the BPO report was discussing the very thing that you were too.

    Only thing you are winning is ridicule.

    Please read, understand, think and then hit the \”submit\” button.
    # 39 Finland Donald Gaminitillake on Nov 24th, 2006 at 11:41 pm edit

    Divakar you need a language for BPO. Admit that fact. It has been proved.
    My point is that.

    For English there is no problem which I have written before but for Sinhala and Tamil BPO there is a problem.

    Relative to English post 33 is correct. The research is also done for export oriented BPO. For an export oriented BPO software is not an issue. It is an issue for SInhala and Tamil languages.

    I talk of local BPO’s in Local languages not BPO’s in English or languages using Latin Script.

    Remove your sunglasses and think with an open mind

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo
    # 40 Sri Lanka Divakar Goswami on Nov 25th, 2006 at 8:26 am edit

    Donald,

    one needs a language to do anything, how profound is your point! You’ve been somehow trying to drag your Sinhala language standards issue to topics where it may not even be relevant. You are making a crass attempt to promote your narrow self-interest with total disregard to logic, relevance or consideration to other participants on this blog.

    have you done a survey of BPOs that are currently doing inshoring and have they identified Sinhala standards issues as their biggest barrier? After you’ve done your research and survey please come and enlighten us about what is preventing inshoring from taking off.

    But in the meantime by harping constantly on the Sinhala standards solution you have developed is tantamount to cheap marketing on a public blog. In the beginning it was a point of discussion but in the subsequent threads it became amply evident that there are better alternatives to your solution which have a greater chance of success/adoption. It was also proved in those discussions that you are blind to logic and reason. At least I can see through my sunglases, unfortunately your self-imposed blindness is preventing you from seeing anything that invalidates your pet project.
    # 41 Finland Donald Gaminitillake on Nov 25th, 2006 at 8:57 am edit

    Quote
    one needs a language to do anything
    Unquote

    Quote
    Sinhala language standards issue to topics where it may not even be relevant.
    Unquote

    You are contradicting again see quote one and read quote two

    Quote
    have you done a survey of BPOs that are currently doing inshoring and have they identified Sinhala standards issues as their biggest barrier?
    Unqote

    1.
    No need to do any research since we cannot use Sinhala and Tamil across all platforms like the latin script.

    2.
    In sri lanka by constitution we have to use Sinhala and Tamil to do all govt documents

    3.
    For Sri Lanka inshore BPOs we got to use Sinhala and Tamil and English. Technically trilingual

    These are the basics. Rest follow later.

    If you have a better solution for Sinhala & Tamil better than mine for the BPO publish it.
    Exsisting Sinhala unicode and SLSI1134 is not compatible across all platforms like the latin script therefore you cannot use it for trilingual BPO.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo
    # 42 Finland Donald Gaminitillake on Nov 25th, 2006 at 9:01 am edit

    Quote’
    But in the meantime by harping constantly on the Sinhala standards solution you have developed is tantamount to cheap marketing on a public blog.’
    Unquote

    I think you will need to correct the contents of above statement.

    Any way until such time we have Sinhala and tamil across all platforms like the latin script I will make comments. My system is superior to the present Sinhala and Tamil.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo
    # 43 Sri Lanka Divakar Goswami on Nov 25th, 2006 at 9:42 am edit

    Bravo, another display of Kidergarten logic. You are peddling your wares like a cheap salesman. Putting on the garb of the defender of the Sinhala language can’t hide the fact that you are trying to sell your product. A product that have been proven countless times by a number of people to be unviable and inferior to new solutions that have been developed.

    But still you insist on promoting your clunky product with the faint hope that someone may fund your non-solution. I think you will have better luck elsewhere. Most people contributing to language standards thread have figure out what your ulterior motives are and have stopped engaging with you. You have become an irritant rather than someone who is contributing to new knowledge.
    # 44 Finland Donald Gaminitillake on Nov 25th, 2006 at 11:42 am edit

    Please do not quibble Divakar

    You all like to quibble on my copyrights but never quibble on the people paid by the public funds for 25 years and done nothing for the language.

    If you want to do BPO in Sinhala and Tamil you will have to solve the use of language else change the constitution of Sri Lanka to work in English or to any Latin script even french or JCA’s Sinhala

    Do not compare the Constitution of Sri Lanka to Kindergarten logic. The problem here is you all are well educated group who has forgotten the basic Kidergarten education.

    All these ICT problems in Sri Lanka are at Kindergarten level. We got to get to Kindergarten and move forward. You all are shy to tell that you will have to study again in Kindergarten.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo
    # 45 Finland Donald Gaminitillake on Nov 25th, 2006 at 1:40 pm edit

    Quote
    have figure out what your ulterior motives
    unquote

    Can you be more specific and list my ulterior motives so that the public could decide.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo
    # 46 Sri Lanka Divakar Goswami on Nov 25th, 2006 at 5:46 pm edit

    Donald, you can pretend to be someone who wants to promote the use of Sinhala across platforms. But in reality all you are interested in is to promote your narrow self interest–your clunky, non-working solution.

    Why do I say this?

    Every time someone talks about the work they have done to make Sinhala language more accessible and usable on electronic platforms, you are the first person to pour cold water and spew out your negativity. If you were really interested in promoting the use of Sinhala, you would encourage these efforts warts and all. But instead you end up promoting your “notional” solution as the end all to all of mankind’s problems.

    You should be happy when Microimage or anyone else develops a product that makes Sinhala language more accessible on the mobile and they even win international awards and recognition for it. But no. Your jealousy, pettiness clouds your reasoning. The loss of potential revenue from failing to market your version of Siddhalepa for all ailments is probably what makes you blind to reasoning. You can’t hide your motives behind the fig-leaf of the Constitution.
    # 47 Sri Lanka Donald Gaminitillake on Nov 25th, 2006 at 6:47 pm edit

    Quote
    You should be happy when Microimage or anyone else develops a product that makes Sinhala language more accessible on the mobile
    Unquote

    Why should I be jealous. I pointed they are on the wrong track. The Sinhala SMS data is not compatible across the mobile system. Neither the Sinhala SMS data is not readable on a computer.

    Why? They are not using a correct character allocation table.

    Sinhala character allocation table is done by Donald not anyone else.

    If the SLSI listen to my objections and did the correct allocation table for Sinhala this copyrights issue would not have come. I gave SLSI in a platter but the DINO declined it.

    Quote
    they even win international awards
    Unquote

    They can win awards it is good for them but the people who offers such awards has to be tested in a hospital.

    Quote
    fig-leaf of the Constitution.
    unquote

    Great you think our constitution is a fig leaf. Why not try to change it with the Dino.

    When the latin script falls into several pages and all the other languages other than the indic languages can be use as the “Siddhalepa” across all platforms. Why cant we use Sinhala across all platforms. Who has the ulterior motives not to educate the Sinhala speaking public to use a computer in Sinhala across all platforms? Not me it is the Dino’s group incl you

    Do you want
    to use Sinhala across all platform like any Latin Script Language or restrict the use of Sinhala to a specified application SOLD by an award winning company or companies and a specific OS? Why you want to restrict Sinhala to a specific application? Which is a MONOPOLY.

    Only my proposed system will permit Sinhala to use across all platforms.

    The present SMS (Dialog , Mobitel , Nokia ) Sinhala input methods SOLD by Awards winning Companies – the TEXT DATA is not compatible across all platforms.

    THEY get “awards” for the text data being not compatible across all platforms.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo
    # 48 Sri Lanka Focus on Nov 25th, 2006 at 7:05 pm edit

    Donald, Diwakar,

    Can you please move into relevent thread please!!! It is very irritating to even visit this blog now. This was such a useful website which gave us a wealth of knowledge and insight into ICT issues but has now become a one man show.
    # 49 Sri Lanka Divakar Goswami on Nov 25th, 2006 at 8:09 pm edit

    Donald, you’ve just proved my point. You are still working away like a cheap salesman above trying to sell your product. Companies like Dialog, Mobitel etc pay for products that are useful to their users. Your solution isn’t beyond concept stage and has no chance of seeing the light of the day as long as you waste your time here going from one thread to another polluting it with your cheap salesman pitch.

    You remind me of the beggars that get on the bus and make such a racket that passengers give them a few ruppees so they can get off the next stop. Since you are retired and have a lot of time on your hands, I would suggest you work on a proposal to get funding for your “Siddhalepa.”

    Focus, is right and after Donald’s next post on this thread, our exchange will be moved to the “Software Issues in Sri Lanka Thread.”
    # 50 Singapore donald gaminitillake on Nov 25th, 2006 at 10:48 pm edit

    This is the BPO page and research proved that a language is a must for BPO. You all are twisting words. BPO’s for export do have its own problems as discussed on the research paper published by the ICTA and Lirna Asia

    For BPO to use in Sri Lanka in Sinhala and Tamil is not possible as both do not have cross platform compatibility on text data.

    Divakar is uable to understand the differance between Latin script BPO’s and Sinhala BPO’s.

    Also the incompatibility of Sinhala TEXT.

    Restrict this page to Latin script BPO’s. For Sinhala and Tamil related BPO we can discuss in the “Software Issues in Sri Lanka Thread.”

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo
    # 51 Singapore donald gaminitillake on Nov 25th, 2006 at 10:58 pm edit

    Quote
    Companies like Dialog, Mobitel etc pay for products that are useful to their users
    unquote

    A mobitel SMS is not readable by Dialog.or v.v. Similary a NOKIA Sinhala SMS is not readable either by Dialog or Mobitel. It is readable only by the same Nokia Sinhala compatible phone.

    You promote this type of business that fools the public.

    How long can these companies will be able to fool the public and win awards. Only country is Lanka. More you fool the public you get a better award.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo
    # 52 Singapore donald gaminitillake on Nov 25th, 2006 at 11:01 pm edit

    Quote
    I would suggest you work on a proposal to get funding
    unquote

    Why proposal. Facts are exposed. I should be invited to solve the problem.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  178. Donald, whatever you write doesn’t change the fact that you are salesman trying to peddle your product on this website. You’ve been at it for at least a year. All you’ve managed to do is to attract ridicule. You’ve burnt all your bridges with the various stakeholders. May be it is time to move on…go to another platform where you will get a more sympathetic hearing.

  179. WHAT A WASTE OF TIME!

    It is sad to see the conversation here that goes like the blind men and the elephant. It is none of your fault. It is the heartbreaking tragedy that vast knowledge is available cheaply but due to some reason I cannot fathom, Lankans don’t have access to.

    For me none of that is discussed here is as important as the need for access to the Internet. Technology is moving too fast for you guys to be arguing here. I’d rather we all get together and ask the government to provide access to the internet to as many people as possible without restricting according to access time or megabits etc. Flat rate access is catching on in Europe too.

    It is inexpensive to do, if we stop asking the foreigner how.

    Anyway it is good that you are again discussing something new than ‘hooða hooða maðee’. continued in the next post…

  180. TAMIL SHOWS ON SCREEN. WHY?

    Unicode compliant applications remember text in two layers. The bottom layer has the codepoints (numbers) lined up. The font displays the glyphs corresponding to them. Why we can see the Tamil letters is because of Arial Unicode OpenType font (ARIALUNI.TTF) is in our systems. They say Monotype Corporation took 12 years to write it. They put almost all scripts while we were sleeping. When the French guy put up the page and certified it, we got up and said, we too! But, too late to get into the font or Windows.

    In this application we use here, we see the Tamil letters but question marks for Sinhala because Sinhala is not in the font. If you copy the question marks and paste it into something that shows Sinhala, it would show.

    Showing letters and rendering them properly are two things. This application we use here cannot process Unicode. Therefore, we see the Tamil pulli displayed to the right of the letter over a place holder dotted ring. But, if you copy the text and put it inside MS Word you’d be able to read it (except for an occasional rectangle) because MS Word understands Tamil (not Sinhala). With Windows Vista and many millions of dollars paid to MS, Sinhala would be Ok too, limping with deficiencies, though.

    Now everyone is feverishly making fonts for Unicode. In the meanwhile, Kaputa.com’s hack font KAPUTA_0.TTF is reportedly able to show most Sinhala newspapers except Lankadeepa. Kaputa is practical and innovative – did not wait for the government or the grand, powerful gentlemen here to tell them what to do. They had things to do and they got them done! My viirayaa is Kaputa.com.

    What’s the difference between Kaputa and Unicode? Kaputa is single-byte and Unicode is double-byte. Why doesn’t Kaputa use double-byte? They have to do real things, not dream in the sky. One byte equals one letter is the fundamental basis for all off-the-shelf programs and **most significantly** for network servers and routers. Once we get to the state when Sinhala shows like Tamil, will begin the next stage of the debate: Some computers can show Sinhala and others can’t. That problem will **never** be solved, and exactly the way the West wants. (Remember that in 1992 Paul Wolfowitz – the architect of US policy in ME, said that development of India and China should be looked upon as a threat. This is the President of the World Bank, note those with beggar mentality among us). The dabate in India has been going on for some time now. Sri Lanka is though, a bit different and worse. Our people have a greater social mobility. In India, there are two permanently separate societies: the west leaning urbanites and the rural people. Ours is highly literate equal to the developed countries. This means as the gap grows here, the situation is going to be much hotter that you’d like it to be.

    I have two hard drives dual-booting with Wondows XP. One has Unicode Sinhala and the other doesn’t. This second one cannot show Unicode Sinhala anywhere. There are many people that use dual-script Sinhala now because it is practical. It either shows in romanized Sinhala or real Sinhala to its pristine glory: Notepad, Adobe programs, SIL’s WorlPad etc.

    Now, look away. Here’s the link where they get the font from. If you are brave enough, download the PDF samples to see what romanized Sinhala does to Pali (and Sanskrit!) I recommend 01-Khuddakapatha-p1-S.pdf – read the red print at the end. these PDF files are not graphics. They have the OpenType font Theodore:
    http://www.sinhalaheritage.com/smartfont

    The world’s first Smart Font with Open Type programming supports **three** languages, Sinhala, Pali and Sanskrit **without compromise**. Mature technology does not compromise but enable, Mr. Paranawithana.

  181. Quote
    whatever you write doesn’t change the fact that you are salesman trying to peddle your product on this website. You’ve been at it for at least a year. All you’ve managed to do is to attract ridicule. You’ve burnt all your bridges with the various stakeholders
    Unquote

    Still no one ever answered any of the technical question posted by me including you.

    1.Why Sihlala SMS text is not readable among the providers?
    2. Why Sinhala Text is not readable across the all platforms?
    3.Why Sinhala code points are not published except for very few in the SLSI 1134 and Sinhala unicode?
    4.Why we cannot do trilingal BPO’s in Srilanka which has to be readable across all platforms?

    Answer is no correct Sinhala allocation table is published.

    Only Donald Gaminitillake has done it and no one has the courage to admit this fact.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  182. Donald, how many times do you want people to answer the same questions you pose repeatedly? The folks who have developed the software to support Sinhala sms have themselves come on this forum and addressed the issues that you have raised. You have deliberately made it a point not to understand so you can keep peddling your clunky product.

    I was going to suggest that you go through the threads and understand what other people have written, but it is futile in your case. Unless you can add new knowledge or post something other than this tripe: “nobody has character allocation table but Donald. Donald has the courage, Donald owns the cpyrights…” please do not post. you are clogging up every other thread with what is increasingly looking like spam.

  183. For argument’s sake let us assume Donald and JCA are 100% correct.

    Still, what the users of this forum can do about it?

    If they want to get anything done these are some of the things Donald and JCA can do instead of wasting his time any everyone’s time in this forum.

    (a) Simply write to Unicode and see what they have to say

    (b) If you ever plan to do anything with other Indic languages, please write to the respective governments and authorities. (I am sure people like Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadev will take you very seriously.)

    (c) Start a fast unto death in front of ICTA in the true Ghandian fashion

    (d) If everything lese fails, Donald and JCA can start a naked protest in front of ICTA carrying two large Sinhala letters over their heads. (So everyone will notice them.)

    Neither Prof. Samarajiva nor his team nor the users of this forum are the authorities that can take any decision on these matters.

    So now please leave us alone.

    There are so many other issues we want to discuss.

  184. Tuk Tuk,

    What is this about me and ICTA? I have nothing against them or for them. What is there to protest? As far as I know, it is the agency of the government that advises the government on IT matters. Originally, this place sounded like one that was set up to bash its management. A past time of people in forums today in Sri Lanka seems to be attacking people in the most lowly manner even without logical reasons. They do this by hiding. vyaaja namak ðaraagena sæGavena biyasulu nindiþayek lesayi oba mata penennee, tuk tuk. kaata bayeeða nuBa sæGavennee?

    Mine is just a solution for Sinhala users. So, I announced it. Obviously, there are Sinhala people in this forum, and some quite influential too. Specially those who are technically inclined would benefit from looking at it. I am sure they appreciate it.I know they are there but do not waste time writing. I feel the same way too.

    I just said that there is something to look at, if you care. Obviously, you have not done that. Isn’t it better to know every side of an issue. It only makes you a better judge. Grow up Tuk Tuk Abdul.

  185. Tuk Tuk,

    I forgot to tell you. Yes, Unicode knows about my solution and they have nothing against it. Thanks for reminding me to tell you guys. It is fully Unicode compliant.

  186. Quote
    (a) Simply write to Unicode and see what they have to say
    Unquote

    Unicode accept any National Standard. Sri Lanka gave the List. Not any one else.
    So the problem has to be solved within ICTA SLSI

    Quote
    (b) If you ever plan to do anything with other Indic languages, please write to the respective governments and authorities
    Unquote

    First I will have to solve Sinhala That is why I am addressing the govt of Sri Lanka and the ICTA and the SLSI

    Quote’
    The folks who have developed the software to support Sinhala sms have themselves come on this forum and addressed the issues that you have raised.’
    Unquote

    Answer the compatibility issue not SInhala SMS. No body answer the question of compatibility because it is a NOT DONE using a correct Sinhala character allocation table. THE ALLOCATION TABLE is done by DONALD.

    Quote
    Neither Prof. Samarajiva nor his team nor the users of this forum are the authorities that can take any decision on these matters.

    So now please leave us alone.
    Unquote

    UNTIL the standard is made I will not leave this forum or any forum that links to the Language issue. (Sinhala & Tamil) I know it is very hard for you guys to get funding when Sinhala is not compatible across all platforms for the simple reason that the SLSI 1134 and Unicode Sinhala is incorrect and incomplete.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  187. Divakar I know you have been pressured by someone. The world Bank is preparing a report on IT I too have written to WB head office giving all these links. They do read the contents.

    The truth is exposed.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  188. I was told not to post language issues in the “in shoring” BPO blog as they have more important topics to discuss. I have not seen any posting in that site for the past few days. This clearly proves the intentions of the people.

    Sinhala & Tamil (technically trilingual) Language is not a “”pet issue”” this is a major issue.

    They be the elite educated group in our country. Even though we all respect their knowledge their attitude towards Sinhala Language the mother tongue is very low.

    Nobody ever answered the following question posted

    1.Why Sihlala SMS text is not readable among the providers?
    2. Why Sinhala Text is not readable across the all platforms?
    3.Why Sinhala code points are not published except for very few in the SLSI 1134 and Sinhala unicode?
    4.Why we cannot do trilingal BPO’s in Srilanka which has to be readable across all platforms?

    Are these questions are “PET ISSUES””???

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  189. Dear Donald,

    Your points are valid. Though many here try to show you are wrong, none of these people have been able to create an error free solution. We see funny Sinhala charactors in websites and in printed papers. When they use an English word within brackets in a Sinhala newspaper, what we see is funny Sinhala characters which doesnt have any sense. (Donald can show an example in his site to prove what I say.)

    Donald,

    There is a problem. But this is not the right place. This blog exposed Dino’s malpractises. But what happened. Only Manju got axed!! Dino gained even bigger powers. So, you can only expect King Kekille type answers by writing to this blog. It has nothing to do with Prof Samarajiva. It is the fault of the rotten system in this rotten country.

    All what you have to is to be diplomatic to people rather than slapping them in the ear. It is very dangerous to promote you or your system as we will be at the receiving end. Now you must be 40 or 50 plus. You cannot be an ‘angry young man’ anymore. Don’t act like an inexpereinced radical university student. Be diplomatic and first win diplomatic battle. If you cannot handle that part, assign someone else for it like Velupillai does. You can still be the angry young man in that way.

  190. Asterix,

    I have seen you in cartoons. Very strong, little French man.

    My pet subject:
    May I say that the proper spelling would be
    kækille rajjuruvoo?

    Well, if you want to see that in real Sinhala letters, just download Theodore.ttf from
    http://sinhalaheritage.com/smartfont

    You would be the first Lankan who had the guts to try it and you’d be my hero:
    magee viirayaa

  191. Donald,

    Yes, as Asterix says you are no more an angry young man. You have to look at problems in a more mature way.

    You point out a problem. Sinhala (and may be Tamil) usage in Computers is at a level anyone of can be complacent about. Only Dino, GD and few other govt. sector players are happy about what we have now. Everyone else wants to change the status quo.

    So we all agree with you there.

    The issue is, I am afraid, we do not agree with you on the so-called “solution” you have to offer.

    We do not believe just because SLSI accepts your “Character Allocation Table” things will improve overnight.

    We do not believe just because SLSI approve your “Character Allocation Table” we all will have Sinhala in our computers next day morning.

    In addition to that even if you accept your “solution” it will not solve the problem of the lack of Sinhala content. That is an entirely different issue.

    You have never explained your strategy to sell your “solution” to companies like Microsoft, Apple and Nokia.

    I am sorry to say this, I am convinced now whatever the issues it has Unicode crowd are far ahead of you in every respect.

    So any practically thinking man (or woman) will support them than supporting you.

    It is not a question of which is correct and which is complete.

    It is a question of which is practically feasible.

  192. Donald,

    I also agree with the above comments.

    You are not a bad guy. You wanted to do well for the country and you have raised a vice against the malpractices of that sob VKS, when everyone else was afraid to do so.

    You should be commended for that.

    (I have heard that VKS makes an excuse to go to the rest room everytime he hears your name, to prevent his pants getting soaked.)

    However, it will do a lot of good for everybody, if you broaden your scope and start talking about other issues in the ICT field too, rather than concentrating only on one single issue.

    You have to realize your potential.

    You will never achieve anything just by posting hate mails in this forum.

    Please do not waste your energy. Use it for some constructive work.

  193. I have previously stated in public postings and in private communications what LIRNEasia is, what its priorities are, and what the ground rules of posting on OUR website are.

    It appears the Mr Gaminitilake is not pleased.

    Yes, Mr Gaminitilake, you cannot impose your issues and the priorities you place on various things on other people. We have our priorities, you have yours.

    You can try to persuade others to agree to your priorities, but you won\’t get far if your approach is to attack their motives. You tried this when we were working in early warning and you backed off when told to.

    We have early warning trials running in coastal villages right now as reward for the fact that we focused on doing a few things well without dissipating our energies.

    We have not only not questioned the priorities of the participants of this thread; we have provided a platform for them to pursue their interests. That does not mean that we have to drop everything that we\’re doing and join them, or that we have an obligation to provide answers to Mr Gaminitilake\’s questions.

    If Mr Gaminitilaka wants to write about his pet issue in every single thread, he should start his own blog.

    I have repeatedly stated that this is our blog and we expect civilized behavior from guests. If guests start casting aspersions on the hosts, they may find themselves outside the house.

    We have not barred anyone yet and we have not censored anyone. We do not want to start.

    I suggest that apologies may be in order, but if that is too much to ask for, just ceasing to cast aspersions on the LIRNEasia team will suffice.

  194. Quote
    your strategy to sell your “solution”
    Unquote

    Nothing to sell. It has to be given to the public free. This is where the other parties are not happy because of the new developers. I need the funds to cover the costs.
    There are funds available for R&D but nobody care to give

    Do not think about my solution does any one has a different one?

    If Sinhala unicode is correct why do we have all the problems that I have posted and accepted by you.

    Hope you have been to Maldives. You need a boat to travel around. If you take a BMW and talk about the problems of traveling from one island makes no sense.

    I ask you another question. Unicode can have several pages for Latin script.

    Why cant they use O and / to represent “Ø” . Why do they have one code point for “Ø”.?
    It will be the same reasoning for Sinhala (Tamil and all Indic languages)

    We got to save the Language Sinhala

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  195. Quote
    We do not believe just because SLSI approve your “Character Allocation Table” we all will have Sinhala in our computers next day morning.
    Unquote

    There will be so many young developers who will do the needful in no time. Give them the chance. They only need a correct allocation table.

    Quote
    In addition to that even if you accept your “solution” it will not solve the problem of the lack of Sinhala content. That is an entirely different issue.
    Unquote

    Content development too goes hand in hand with the language.
    Once the Language problem is solved everything will fit into the places.

    There is a problem and only I have given a solution to it. Why not give it a try.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  196. I assume that Dino will be having a Big Show at Trans Asia Hotel
    I saw one actor having Lunch hosted by this Hotel and moving round to see the facilities with the Hotel Staff
    Have a good day!!!!

  197. If Donald’s so called book can be digested by Microsoft alone, he will win the battle. Why not they contact MS Colombo office and try convincing them. After all if Japan has done it Donald’s way (vice versa must be the reality) MS will accept Donald’s solution. MS has no reason to entertain idiots like VK Sam and Gihan D who ride on someone else’s work. Donald, please present your case to MS. Others will follow suit. for the moment forget Apple and Linux. Fight your war like Prince Gemunu did. Apple will listen to you since you have been (unsuccessfully) promoting them in this thread and whereever you go. I don’t know about Linux.

  198. The Microsofts “IME” and Apples “Kotoeri” are similar copies.

    Quote from Microsoft ___ see 88 —
    “This kind of an IME is similar to a Japanese one, though of course much simpler.”

    I want to do a better one for Sinhala. Then into Tamil.
    Once I do it for Sinhala the other young people will take over with the other Indic Languages.

    I will be doing for both Microsoft and Apple.

    End product is a free ware for non commercial use. Since I am doing with a grant.

    Give me the opportunity

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  199. Why don’t you ask Microsoft or Apple to fund you????

    How much do you need? You never answer this question. Give a sensible breakdown in ruppes and cents. Not a vague answer. Then we can see what really you need.

  200. You can be a partner for the Joint Venture.
    If you need the cost breakdown lets meet.
    Lot of work involved.

    Part has to be developed in Sri Lanka part out side Sri Lanka.
    I have to pay some royalties to other developers.

    Quote
    Why don’t you ask Microsoft or Apple to fund you????
    Unquote

    Sri lanka is not a market for them. They cannot recover the costs. They may sell 10 cd’s rest will be copied.

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  201. I think above posts reveal how narrow Donald’s thinking is.

    He foolishly assume that he puts pressure on Dino from writing here, and one day Dino will accept his solution and fund him through ICTA funds to do whatever he wants.

    A good dream to live on.

    JCA too has a similar mindset, but he is a bit ahead of Donald on two aspects.

    (a) JCA, unlike Donald has something to sell
    (b) Instead of trying to put pressure on Dino, he tries to sell his solution to the users here. (a better approach, but still not very effective.)

    When I ask how Donald plans to “sell” (market) his solution to companies like Microsoft, Nokia, Apple etc, he does not even understand the question I ask. He thinks when I say “selling” I mean selling for money.

    He thinks the govt. approves his patent the next day we all have enough Sinhala content in the net, Sinhala in all our PCs and every problem under the sun is solved.

    Wishful thinking.

    There were so many people who tried to show some sense to Donald, including myself, but all those attempts were in vain. Reminds me the Sinhala saying “Modakamata beheth netha” (There are no medicines for stupidity)

    Unfortunately, Dino will have the last laugh.

  202. I have requested you to meet and talk.

    When can I meet you?

    Not Dino the country will have to suffer the consequences

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  203. JC Your font doesnt work. We cannot download it. it gets stuck.

  204. Asterix,

    Thanks for trying. You are still my hero.

    It gets stuck where? You sound like tried, failed and abandoned. Not much confidence in me, eh? That’s alright.

    You shoud have Windows XP or 2K and files for complex scripts from the Windows CD. Maybe you simply have Sinhala Unicode, which should have been all you needed.

    In Win XP, you need to go to the Control Panel, take Regional and language Options, click on the languages tab, then place a check mark against the item that says,
    Install Files for Complex script… It might ask for Windows CD. This actually installs the Uniscribe font renderer and a bunch of unnecessary fonts. (You could remove the fonts by unchecking the box later to get rid of the fonts.)

    I think the poblem is with the Uniscribe version you have. The name of the file is USP10.dll. Place it in the Windows directory (where Notepad) is and try again. Thank you!

    Get the font:
    Go to the web site, right-click the name of a font and select to download it to your desktop. Then simply copy it to the Fonts folder.

    After that, open the Notepad and select that font and type something like
    æstarisk.

    This font was tested by Microsoft in their lab and verified to work. Actually, they tested in my network and theirs for two weeks and tried several versions of Uniscibe. It works on every machine I know that it was tried on. may be you are trying a Linux machine. I have not gone that far yet. It should work in the Mac too inside programs by Adobe.

  205. Hey Gamage!

    Good to hear from you again. (unless you used a pseudonym on and off).

    A good dream to live on?

    Yeah. That’s all I have. But you never answered my last question. How much are you willing to pay me, or do you want the font for free.

    Asterix, of course, not being so caring, just went up there and downloaded it.

    May be I should tell you that you are welcome to download it for no charge, if that is okay by you.

  206. Asterisk!

    Apparently I was thinking French when I read your message. You could not download it!

    I sent a CD to a gentleman by the name Suriyakumara Gunasena at Modern Book Company at Nugegoda. You migh be able to borrow it from him if he did not trash it.

  207. Asterisk,

    Please take a print out of above so you don’t confuse Mr . Gunasena. Otherwise, make a fake email address (so that we won’t know from which French province you come) and write to smartfonts@charter.net. Jan would gladly send you a copy. It is 600 kb in size, so you know to warn your ISP.

    Thank you again.

  208. As good old Donald always says, using a Sinhala font desnt need to learn ‘rocket science’ your confounded fonts needs a series of complicated process which a non IT expert like me doesnt want to undergrow. Using a Sinhala font in a computer environmnent cannot be as painful as sitting on a cactus tree. So, I have other heroic deeds than using my magic potion’s strength to ‘install a bloody font.’ I have got other things do. Vanished::::::::…………

  209. Quote
    As good old Donald always says, using a Sinhala font
    Unquote

    This is where you all have gone wrong. I talk of a character allocation table.
    Latin Script across several pages of Unicode is a character allocation table for Latin script.
    I talk of a character allocation table for Sinhala and Tamil (later other indic languages)

    Font is just one segment of a character allocation table

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  210. There were two good articles in Sinhala News Paper Maubima. (Sunday Dec 3, 2006)

    One was about the our National anthem printed in School text books.

    Other one was about the computers at the Registrar of Motor Vehicles.(RMV)

    The following link is for the RMV (It is in Sinhala Language) article

    http://www.akuru.org/images/full-rmv.jpg

    Donald Gaminitillake
    Colombo

  211. This thread is too long and has been closed. Please continue discussions in the new thread:

    http://www.lirneasia.net/2006/12/software-issues-in-sri-lanka-part-6/