Ariaratnam Gobikrishna MD
Dear Tamil Political Leaders,
With the presidential election behind us and the parliamentary elections on the horizon, it is time for us, as representatives of the Tamil community, to act with clarity and purpose. Our people have endured decades of hardship, their basic rights eroded, and it is now our responsibility to ensure that these rights are restored. To achieve this, we must speak with one voice, unified under a common goal, to represent the needs and aspirations of the Tamil population.
In the past, we have allowed ourselves to become fragmented—split into various groups with disparate agendas. This has weakened our collective voice, and the end result has often been failure. We cannot afford to repeat these mistakes. Now more than ever, our people need a clear and unified leadership to negotiate with the central government. Splintered groups with incoherent demands will only continue the cycle of disappointment and missed opportunities. Our strength lies in unity, and we must act accordingly.
We must rally under a single, strong leader or party—one that is free of corruption and is committed to the betterment of our people. This is a time for serious reflection and for coming together under a banner that can credibly represent our interests to the newly elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and his government. His administration has already signaled a commitment to uprooting corruption and addressing the grievances of the Sri Lankan people. If we fail to unite and present a coherent platform, we risk being marginalized yet again.
Wholeheartedly supporting President Disanayake’s party is one approach, but we must also be prepared for the possibility of a coalition government. Should such a scenario arise, it is essential that we have a strong, united Tamil bloc that can negotiate from a position of strength. This will not only ensure that our legitimate demands are heard but will also provide an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the country’s progress.
This is a rare opportunity for our community—a moment when we can align ourselves with a genuine leadership that appears committed to addressing the grievances of all Sri Lankans, including the Tamil minority. The political climate may be more favorable now than it has been in years, and we cannot afford to let this moment slip away. It is time for us to wake up, to come together, and to make the most of this opportunity.
The future of our people depends on the actions we take today. Let us not be divided or complacent. Let us stand united, with a clear, strong, and focused voice, ready to work with the new government for the betterment of our community and for the upliftment of Sri Lanka as a whole.
Yours sincerely,
Ariaratnam Gobikrishna
RBH59 / October 1, 2024
A Call For Unity: Seize This Rare Opportunity For Tamil Representation
History Informs Our Voting Decisions
They say, “Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t,” but in the U.S., the “unknown devil” seems to be doing well for the country.
In our case, however, the defaulters who led the nation into crisis were seldom questioned until it was too late and bankruptcy became inevitable. Despite the looming financial collapse, no warnings were raised, nor was there any forecast signaling where the country was heading. Instead, resources and time were used to organize divisive, religiously charged activities.
Why is it that the IMF has only option to recover its loans, yet little has been done to recover stolen national assets? Leaders like Ranil failed to take decisive action on this front. Now, it is future generations who will bear the burden of repaying the IMF. Who will ultimately be held accountable for this? People to decided looking at the history.
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Lasantha Pethiyagoda / October 2, 2024
Communal politics was a last resort by the minorities, as a response to sustained marginalization and discrimination. It was also the precursor to a long separatist war that ruined the country. These were results of selfish and evil political elements instigating communities against each other (divide and rule, which comes from Roman times). What is needed is not voting along sectarian, ethnic or language lines but on a collective, unified national identity as Sri Lankans. Otherwise, we will yet again be playing into the hands of opportunistic elements including the now redundant political class.
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SJ / October 3, 2024
LP
” It was also the precursor to a long separatist war that ruined the country.”
Not as simple as that.
There were also vested alien interests that were involved in the secessionist agenda. State sponsored communal violence since 1977 played into their hands.
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Ajith / October 4, 2024
LP,
“State sponsored communal violence since 1977 played into their hands.”
What a response from a responsible educated Tamil Professor of China ? His memory always forget the state sponsored communal violence of SWRD Family ran state terrorism. This educated professor advise on Sinhala only Act and special status to Buddhism are great outcome which enhanced by Rajapaksas guided by China.
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Ajith / October 2, 2024
“To achieve this, we must speak with one voice, unified under a common goal, to represent the needs and aspirations of the Tamil population.”
The purpose of the common candidate policy or strategy of the Tamil Civil society is to reach the same goal as you suggested. Unfortunately, Tamil political parties are divided into many groups similar to the formation of over 30 militant groups which is now turned into several political parties which all say they are for devolution of power sharing but they say are the leaders of the Tamils but in real they divided the people through getting benefits from the Sinhalese politics. Even Sinhalese have changed lot now to get rid of all their traditional politics but it is the People have to make changes to the politicians. It is time for People to make their political leadership to change before this parliamentary election to join the common approach to elect maximum number of Political representatives through the common principle with strong approach to reach the equality, devolution of power sharing and economic development for all. Give all the support to good things to the government and steadily make progress in the devolution of power. It is an opportunity for Tamils because the NPP is against to corruption, bribe, misuse of power.
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SJ / October 3, 2024
“The purpose of the common candidate policy or strategy of the Tamil Civil society is to reach the same goal as you suggested. Unfortunately, Tamil political parties are divided into many groups similar to the formation of over 30 militant groups …”
What a pathetic excuse for making an ass of one’s self by proposing something that was rejected wholesale.
All Tamil nationalists but the Tamil Congress led alliance and a section of the FP opposed the idea. The vote gathered by the common candidate was less than what could have been gathered by the total gathered by these parties and dissenting FP MPs. The entire northern media and even Internet journals canvassed for the common candidate.
The monkeys could not even decide on a plan on how to vote. The simplest and easily agreeable would have been no. 1 for the common candidate and nos 2 and 3 as one may wish. This would have pushed the FP to agree to no. 2 for their favourite.
No wonder that Tamil nationalism was stillborn.
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SJ / October 3, 2024
All Tamil nationalists but the Tamil Congress led alliance and a section of the FP SUPPORTED the idea.
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Ajith / October 4, 2024
“What a pathetic excuse for making an ass of one’s self by proposing something that was rejected wholesale.”
What was rejected by the people are the Buddhist Sinhala Fundamentalism lead by SWRD Family, Rajapaksa Family (sponsored by China) and and JR Jeyawardena family racism and fundamentalism (sponsored by West) of 75 years with a unitary system. SWRD Family and Rajapaksa Family robbed the country with the advise of this gentleman and sponsored by China.
Tamil Nationalism is nothing to do with the politics of Sinhala nationalism or Tamil Political parties. Yes the approach to unite by the Civil society may not be successful as expected during this election but will not undermine the fact that Tamils belong to Tamil Nation.
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SJ / October 4, 2024
Cannot you even see what the Tamil voters in the N&E did to the common candidate? Or pretending as usual to indulge in drawing red herrings as usual.
Don’t be pathetic.
Tamil nationalism as marketed by the LTTE is stone dead. Versions tried by others are choking.
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davidthegood / October 5, 2024
Ajith, cannot the Tamils live as comfortable neighbors with the Sinhalese in this one island like what is happening in the heart of Colombo. I have several such. It’s when they start demanding a minority state that all the opposition comes from the Sinhalese.
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Ajith / October 4, 2024
“Tamil nationalism as marketed by the LTTE is stone dead. Versions tried by others are choking.”
You Sinhala Buddhist Sinhala Fundamentalists with the militarisation of Buddhist Sinhala Fundamentalists by giving ministerial posts and some other benefits to some of the Tamil Politicians. You tried your maximum with Buddhist Sinhala Fundamentalism to kill innocent Tamils using various techniques over 75 years but everything now your masters SWRD Family, Rajapaksa Family and JRJ family was chased away by the same Buddhist People.
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