19 March, 2024

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In Talks With Sri Lanka, Only The Sovereign Tamil People Can Provide Democratic Legitimacy

By Lorenzo Fiorito and Sowjeya Joseph –

On September 19, 2021, speaking to UN Secretary-General Guterres, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa offered negotiations with the Tamil Diaspora, to help resolve ongoing tensions in Sri Lanka. Stating that an “internal mechanism” would deal with “internal issues,” Rajapakse nevertheless appeared to have made an about-face from a recent Gazette (released February 25, 2021), which banned certain Tamil Diaspora organizations and individuals.

There can be no doubt: Rajapaksa’s call for engagement is an attempt to draw the Tamil Diaspora’s foreign investments into Sri Lanka. This seemingly desperate move is due to economic pressure placed on Sri Lanka. All three major ratings agencies (S&P, Fitch, and Moody) have downgraded Sri Lanka’s creditworthiness. As a result, the country is also facing a food emergency due to the depreciation of the currency value, inflation, foreign debt burdens and low tourist activity during the pandemic. These credit downgrades are, in turn, the result of effective and meaningful Diaspora advocacy.

Sri Lanka’s problems with debt, and lack of investment inflows, are not new. A 2009 US Senate Foreign Relations Committee report entitled “Sri Lanka: Recharting US Strategy After the War” stated that, after its recent military victory over the Tamil people:

“The [Government’s] budget suffered from the high cost of fighting the war….it has been harder to lure foreign investment into the private sector. The overall defense budget has yet to see any sort of ‘peace dividend.’ Longer term contracts with foreign suppliers of military equipment, particularly China, continue to weigh heavily on the budget, and the military has pushed for an expansion of bases and personnel in the North.”

So, Sri Lanka’s cycle of debt can be traced back to borrowing for military spending on its war against Tamils.

As “Sri Lanka’s import regime is one of the most complex and protectionist in the world” – one that allows the government to intervene in a wide range of potential investments – it will be very difficult to attract foreign investors unless the government alters the terms on which foreign direct investment (FDI) can enter the country. This puts Tamils in a position of relative strength towards the government, compared with a few years ago: foreign investors can now demand economic and political reforms as a condition of entering Sri Lanka.

There are indications that these two approaches, Tamil Diaspora FDI (the carrot) and international economic pressure (the stick), might crystallize into two distinct streams of

Diaspora thinking. Norwegian MP Kamzy Gunaratnam appears to promote this split approach.

Sri Lankan media quotes her as saying: I don’t believe in boycotting. There need to be investments. Only that will ensure employment.”

This would be a mistake. These two approaches supplement each other, and they must be seen as interconnected, if either one is to be effective in promoting Tamil interests.

* Investments need to be tied to economic conditions, such as development and employment opportunities for Tamils in the Northeast.

* Investments must also be conditional on political change, such as Constitutional reform that will permit Tamils to exercise their right of self-determination.

Economically driving Sri Lanka to its knees is desirable, but only insofar as it gives Tamils greater power to negotiate for and achieve concrete demands. In the same way, the demands placed on the table during these negotiations are meaningless, unless the Diaspora holds both an incentive and a sanction: a carrot, and a stick. Simply feeding carrots to an opponent does not win a negotiation.

The term needs to be defined: who is the Tamil Diaspora?

Democratic Legitimacy and the Sovereignty of the People

Ascertaining the Tamil people’s will, and deciding who will represent Tamils in talks, is fundamental to the exercise and continued practice of sovereignty. Forgetting our sovereignty is part of the awful heritage of 2009: there is no more place for it among Tamils.

We believe that the following arguments are fundamental to determine the will of the Tamil sovereign.

1. The Diaspora should not ignore President Rajapaksa’s invitation to talks – that would be a public-relations coup for Sri Lanka. Rajapaksa can rightfully claim to have offered negotiations to ease the suffering of Tamils in the Northeast, which a tone-deaf Diaspora snubbed.

2. Any decision arrived at with President Rajapaksa, without a Tamil plebiscite to affirm it, may rightfully be portrayed as a back-room deal. This does not mean that such a deal would necessarily be bad for Tamils; rather, it would be tainted by a lack of ratification.

3. The Tamil Diaspora and the Tamils living in the Northeast homeland form one indivisible people. This Tamil people has the right of self-determination under international law.

4. No one party, organization, or group can currently claim legitimacy to represent the whole of the Tamil people. Nevertheless, mass elections to choose authorized representatives can confer such democratic legitimacy on more than one group.

5. There are political parties in the Tamil homeland through which Tamils express their aspirations within the confines of the Sri Lankan Constitution, based on electing party representatives to the Sri Lankan Parliament. The only organization in the Diaspora that is structured for mass elections is the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE).

Through a mass voter registration drive, followed by a round of nominations and a ranked voting ballot, the TGTE’s mechanisms can provide the platform of democratic legitimacy to any organization or individual who wants to represent the Diaspora in negotiations. An organization that has acquired such legitimacy may then pass judgement on the outcome of any attempt to negotiate without it. Facilitating democratic representation is the role of a government-in-exile.

We then put forward a final thesis.

6. Without a united front in negotiations, and a plebiscite to ratify the outcome of those negotiations, Tamils will be scattered and easily played off against each other.

Parties and organizations who wish to form part of the Tamil side in negotiations should not approach the Sri Lankan government separately, but form a united front, with each participating organization bolstered by democratic legitimation: much like the Thimpu talks.

Placing Conditions on Tamil Investment, While Maintaining the Threat of Economic Pressure

With democratic ratification in the Diaspora, as well as for elected Tamil leadership in the homeland, a united front of democratic organizations would be in a strong position to negotiate.

Similarly, since Diaspora investment is so important to Sri Lanka, Diaspora financiers who back Tamil entrepreneurs in the Northeast homeland are in a position to demand terms of trade with businesses in the South. Tamil investors and democratically ratified Tamil representatives should coordinate between each other to maximize benefit for both.

If President Rajapaksa wants to reap the benefits of Tamil Diaspora investment from abroad:

* He should offer a trade agreement, on equal terms, between the South and the Northeast of the island. Tamil leadership should have veto power, with respect to foreign investment in the Tamil homeland.

* He should offer the withdrawal of all troops and dismantling of all settlements in the Tamil homeland. He should freeze the colonization schemes that take the guise of archaeological research, development schemes, and forest preservation.

* He should ask the UN Human Rights Commissioner to put the evidence it has compiled against Sri Lankan personnel at the service of an international criminal tribunal.

* He should abolish the Sixth Amendment to Sri Lanka’s Constitution, and set a firm timetable for a referendum that allows the Tamils to decide their political destiny. The referendum should have various options, including an independent and sovereign state of Tamil Eelam.

The Tamil people will be happy to engage in reconciliation with the people of Sri Lanka, if and when the people of Sri Lanka recognize Tamils as sovereign equals. In this bid for recognition, Tamils hold both a carrot and a stick. They should sacrifice neither one.

*Lorenzo Fiorito (LL.M) and Sowjeya Joseph (LL.M) are lawyers and activists for Tamil human rights. They argue that economic pressure on Sri Lanka is essential to achieve respect for international law, in the post-conflict environment. Both authors are members of the Tamil Diaspora.

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Latest comments

  • 10
    8

    “The referendum should have various options, including an independent and sovereign state of Tamil Eelam.”
    .
    YES.
    .
    For ALL Tamils ( Tamil speaking people ) across the island irrespective of their religion or the date of arrival.
    .
    Right at the start of the referendum process Tamils living outside the proposed Ealam should be made to understand that an YES vote for Ealam will entail their physical relocation.
    .
    IT IS OBLIGATORY ON THE AUTHORS TO START THAT CAMPAIGN NOW.
    .
    Sinhalese should reject the HOLIDAY RESORT MODEL OF TAMIL EALAM being proposed by the Tamil political class since independence.

    Soma

    • 12
      3

      Chomapalan or Chomiah will also need the relocation of all Chingkallams and the disbanding of all illegal Chingkalla settlements from the northeast, the north west Puttlam/Chilaw/Negombo coasts. Chingkallams will also need to relocate from greater Colombo that is Thamizh majority and was once historically part of the Thamizh homeland. We will also claim the Nuwraeliya district as part of Thamizh Eezham , as it has an 80% Malayaga Thamizh population and they are the ones who developed the district from virgin jungles and have now lived for over 200 years continuously. Chingkallams hardly live there, Only visit there for holidays. You cannot have the cake and eat it. What is good for the Chingkallams is also good for the Thamizh people. Eezham, Malayaga and Thamizh Muslim. You cannot have the cake and eat it. The new Chingkalla capital can be relocated either to Hambantota or to Kandy. Hope you are now happy will all these relocations.

      • 6
        10

        Don’t worry Angoda will be opened for all as a charitable measure. I recommend you get admitted now.

        Soma

        • 9
          3

          Angoda? Where t is this place? Is it where you live ? Is that why you recommend this place to others? Hope you are very happy there.

          • 5
            7

            PK
            I can’t blame you. Someone near to you should take you there.

            Soma

            • 4
              1

              Why did someone decide that this was the best place for you to live and take you there? No, I will not blame them or you. Maybe you are not happy living there. This is why you keep on repeatedly post the same bull shit and lies, demanding Thamizh to relocate and if they do not or ask for justice threaten violence against them. Pretend to be concerned but in reality nasty racist and violent.

      • 7
        10

        Pandi Kutti,
        Don’t wake up. Keep on dreaming. You see the same dream that Dravidians who invaded Sinhale from 3rd Century BC and Prabhakaran in 20th Century dreamt. Rest assured that your dream will never come true.

        • 1
          3

          LTTE and Tamil dreams will never come true. Sinhalese Aryans country with 74.9% Sinhalese people. Out of 225 MPS 200 Sinhalese lawmakers in this Sinhalese Aryans country. Live and let live.

    • 5
      12

      Soma, as you see from the replies to your comments on this issue, Tamils almost lose their grounds and start making all sorts of excuses and reasons for not moving into their damned “Tamil Eelam” if it ever gets established. Although there’s absolutely no legal room for a relatively recent diaspora like the Tamils in Srilanka to be granted self-determination, as they already have a homeland in Tamilnadu, Tamils like to assume and act as if they have a right to self-determination in Srilanka.
       
      Anyways such a referendum should include all Tamil speaking groups in Srilanka, i.e. Muslims and Plantation Tamils too, and have an obligatory requirement that any Tamil who votes for secession, should move to the new Tamil state, in the event a separate Tamil state is established here. Only Tamils born in Srilanka and who are citizens should be allowed to vote. Srilankan born Tamil citizens of Srilanka living abroad should be allowed to vote only if they can reasonably prove that they intend to return to the island and live here. Also, they should pass a proficiency test in the Tamil language, so as to avoid future conflicts in the Tamil community.

      • 9
        3

        We all know that you are a Chingkalla extremist and never punch any point but making stupid silly comments.

      • 3
        7

        Muslims are not Tamils. Muslims are a distinct ethnicity and a community.

        Muslims have their own right of self determination and will never surrender it to Tamils.

        Trincomalee and Amparai districts have a Muslim majority and must be converted to Muslim Elam. If Tamils allow a passage through Batticaloa, Muslims can consider a passage through Trincomalee linking Vanni and Batticaloa. Up to the two nations Muslim Elam and Tamil Elam.

        Similarly Sinhale will be for Sinhalas only.

        • 9
          1

          Thullkans are largely descended from low caste South Indian Thamizh Hindus who converted to Islam and migrated to the island a few centuries ago. They are ethnic Thamizh whose religion is Islam. They are the only South Asian Muslim people who still keep the incorrect name Moors given by the Portuguese to all South Asian Muslims. The only Muslim people the Portuguese encountered prior to their travels, were the Moors from North Africa who ruled the Iberian peninsular for 1000 years. Therefore they used to term Moor to describe every Muslim people whom they met. This term Moor had nothing to do with their ethnicity or origin but only denoted to their religion. The Portuguese used the term Moor in a very derogative way, as they hated and looked down on Muslims and this is one of the reasons they persecuted them. All other Muslim people in South Asia quickly discarded this term, Moors, as they were not Moors of North African origin and they knew that the term was used derogatively by the Portuguese to describe Muslims. Only these Sri Lankan Muslims badly wanting to be Arab to hide their actual low caste Thamizh origin, kept this name to incorrectly claim that they are of western Asian Arab origin. An origin that only a few hundred families partially have. Even these families are of predominant Tamil Dravidian heritage.

          • 7
            1

            There is no such thing called a Muslim ethnicity, It is a religion. People following Islam are called Muslims and they belong to various races, ethnicities, linguistic groups and cultures. Islam even has many sects the two main ones are Suni and Shia, Sufism is also a form of Islam. Muslims belonging to different races, ethnicities and languages fight and kill each other in the name of their race , ethnicity and language. Arabs hate Turks and Iranians, and vice versa and they all hate the Turks. Sunni Arabs fight with Shia Arabs in Iraq. Malay Muslims discriminate and treat the Tamil and other Indian Muslims in Malaysia. Please do not post rubbish.

            • 6
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              Thamizh are the largest community in the east and the east is their land. Not Chingkallam who only arrived here after independence due to state-aided colonization schemed on ethnically cleansed Thamizh lands and Muslims who arrived here a few centuries ago as refugees, fleeing Portuguese and Chingkalla persecution. Everything ancient about the east if Thamizh. The east was ruled by Thamizh chiefs until European colonisation and Trincomalee was part of the Thamizh Jaffna kingdom. They were the outright majority everywhere in the east until the early 1950s when state-aided Chingkalla settlement in the east started to deliberately change the demography of the east. Muslims are not the majority in the Trincomalee or Amparai but the largest community. Thamizh were the largest community in Trincomalee but many have been deliberately forcibly chased away from this strategic ancient Thamizh district, Their percentage is just below the Thamizh Muslim and they occupy the entire coastal strip including Trincomalee town. Muslims are concentrated in highly populated enclaves like Mutur. The only area in the east that has a continuous Muslim majority in the east is the small coastal strip belt starting from south Kalmunai to Pottuvil. You can have your Islamic homeland there. As the other Muslim majority enclaves in the east Kattankudi in Batticaloa and Mutur in Trincomalee are not contingent but are surrounded by a sea of Thamizh Hindu or Chingkalla Poutha villages

            • 2
              6

              Muslims have always been a separate ethnic group. Check the census from 1881.

              If Tamils don’t recognize Muslim right of self determination, how can you expect Sinhalas to recognize Tamil right of self determination???

              • 5
                0

                Yes, the British incorrectly or deliberately to divide and rule stated the Chingkallams were Aryans and the Muslims in the island are not Thamizh but of Arab descent. Now everyone is aware this was a blatant lie. Neither are the Chingkallams Aryan nor the Muslims are of Arab descent but both are Dravidians with izty bitzy Aryan or Arab. Further unlike the Eezham Thamizh and the Chingkallams, the Sri Lankan Muslims did not evolve in the island but are descended from South Indian largely low caste Dravidian Thamizh converts to Islam, who started to arrive in the island a few centuries ago but most arrived from what is now modern Thamizh Nadu, during the early British rule. They do not have an ancient history on the island, just like the Sri Lankan Malays or Burghers. Nor have ever had a history of even ruling a village or a homeland. They migrated and spread across the island and lived amongst the Chingkallams and Eezham Thamizh, most of them amongst the Chingkallam.

                • 4
                  2

                  Like the West Indian and South Asian immigrants and other non-European immigrants in Europe, they have a right to live in dignity, peace and with equal rights amongst the island’s native Chingkallams and Eezham Thamizh but do not have a right for a homeland/nation or self-determination as they never had one. Thamizh on the other hand, have a very ancient history in the island and have had theirs. the homeland that was ruled by them until European colonization. The recently migrated South Indian origin fake Arab converted Tamil Dravidian Muslims, who never had homeland or history in the island now trying to compare themselves to the island’s ancient indigenous Eezham Thamizh with an ancient history and homeland and demand self-determination and a homeland, that too only in the Thamizh areas, despite 72% of them living amongst the Chingkallams is absurd. These like migrants in Britain trying to equate and compare themselves with the native Scottish and Welsh population and demand self-determination and a homeland for them too. Go and take a hike We know who is behind this clamour for this fake Arab Islamic homeland for converted immigrant Thamizh Dravidian Hindus from South India.

              • 2
                0

                Jadam the southern Muslim who is agitating for an Islamic State in the Thamizh east for the fake Arab South Indian Dravidian Tamil converts. So what were these so-called Muslims classified prior to the 1881 census, when the British deliberately create mischief and to divide and rule, declared the Sri Lankan Muslime are not Tamils but Arabs/Moors. Before 1881 the British and everyone counted them as Tamils of the Islamic faith. Even after 1881, despite declaring them as not Tamils but Moors, the British still did not take this Arab origin seriously but lumped with the island’s Tamils for everything else.

              • 3
                1

                GATAM,
                “Muslims have always been a separate ethnic group. Check the census from 1881.”
                —-
                Simply because British recognized Muslims as a separate community in their game of ‘Divide and Rule’, indigenous Sinhalayo are under no obligation to abide by their decision.

        • 4
          0

          Jadam a southern Sri Lankan Muslim, please explain why the island’s Muslims or the so-called Sri Lankan Moors descended largely from immigrant Tamil converts from South India are a different ethnic group from the Tamils? They speak the same language as the Tamils and originate from the same Tamil Dravidian ancestry. Granted a small minority amongst them have partial Arab, Sinhalese, Iranian, Afghan or other heritages amongst them. However, this does not make them a different ethnic group. They are still Tamils. Even many Tamils Hindus, Christians and Jains have a partial non-Dravidian origin. We all are mixed. There is hardly anyone who is racially pure unless you go to some remote part of the world that has been untouched. Like PK stated, deliberately now trying to discard your Tamil Islamic culture that had naturally evolved amongst the Tamil Muslims for centuries and pathetically adopting an alien Gulf Arab Islamic culture forms or worship to justify a separate ethnicity will not work. Very sad and pathetic. Even the Arabs have stated that the Sri Lankan Muslims are not of Arab descent but converted South Asians, meaning Tamil Hindus who converted to Islam. DNA also proves this.

          • 4
            0

            Strange all this clamour for a separate ethnicity for the converted immigrant Tamil Muslims originating from South India and an Islamic homeland to be only established in the Tamil areas of the island, where only 28% of the island’s Muslims live and agitate the Muslims living in the Tamil areas, are all coming from these Southern Muslims who live amongst the Sinhalese. They want to live amicably with the Sinhalese but agitate radicalize and want the Tamil Muslims, who are 100% Dravidian living in the Tamil areas, sharing the same language and ethnicity as the Tamils, to fight with the Hindu/Christian Tamils and claim a separate Islamic homeland in the enclaves where they are in majority. Why don’t they do the same in the Sinhalese areas where most of the island’s Muslims live. They will never. Know what will happen to them, too scared. Tamils are now fair game.

          • 3
            0

            After the 1983 riots, the same tactic of further dividing and ruling the island’s Tamils was adopted by the J R Jayawardene government. The Colombo Chetties and the Western coast Tamil Bharathas( Paravans) , two Tamil castes, just like Sri Lankan Muslims who migrated from South India, petitioned to the JR Jayawardene that they do not want to be identified as Tamils anymore and to declare them as separate ethnic groups from the Tamils. The JR Jayawardene government just like the British before them, jumped at this request, as it was an opportunity to further fracture and divide the island’s Tamils and declared them as two non-Tamil ethnic groups. Tell me does this mean these people are not Tamil anymore and the Chettiars and Paravans living in India and NE Sri Lanka also are not Tamil anymore? Stop being ridiculous. The Chettiars and Paravans are two castes amongst the Tamils and so are the Sri Lankan Moors, who are ethnic Tamil Muslims.

            • 3
              0

              Just because the British who are the cause of a lot of problems for the island’s Tamils and the JR Government to deliberately divide and rule the island’s Tamils gazetted and stated that a section of the Chetty and Paravan castes amongst the Tamils on the island are Tamil no more and the Tamils who practise Islam on the island are not Tamil but Moors or Arabs and all these people now belong to a separate, does not mean they are. Go and opportunistically demand from a colonial power or an anti Tamil government that wants to divide rule an conquer that you are religion or caste is not Tamil anymore but something else like a duck that quacks or cow that moos and they jump and oblige and hey presto from a Tamil you are nomore a Tamil but a Moor, a quacking Duck or mooing Cow. Only in Sri Lanka, this happens Tamils practising a certain religion are not Tamils, Tamils belonging to a certain caste or not Tamils. Soi Tamils practising Islam in South India and the ancestors of the Sri Lankan Tamils are still Tamil but their close relatives in Sri Lanka are not but now Arabs. Colombo Chetties are not Tamils but the Sea Street Chettiars belonging to same caste and origin from Tamil Nadu are Tamils.

    • 2
      5

      Fully agree with Soma on this one.

      All Tamils outside north and east must be relocated back to the north and east – Tamil traditional homelands.
      All Sinhalese including the army in the north and east must be relocated back to the areas outside the north and east.
      Muslims also must be relocated to suit their legal, religious, Sharia, etc. needs in a safe geographical space of their very own equitable with their population percentage.

      The solution must be fair not just for Tamils but also Muslims and Sinhalas. Muslims and Sinhalas also want their very own mono ethnic nations.

      Give and take.

      Otherwise nothing will change. In fact, otherwise it will be a repeat of what happened in Pakistan in 1971, Turkey 1920, Serbia 1998, Germany 1939, etc.
      No one wants that. We all want peace, justice and equity.

      • 7
        1

        The so-called Sri Lankan Moors or Thullukans as they were known in their original Thamizh homeland in South India, are ethnic Thamizh Dravidian converts to Islam. Only arrived here a few centuries ago. Most of them during the early British rule in the island. Have no ancient history of owning land or ruling even a village on the island. Not even a house to call their homeland. Are spread across the island living amongst the Chingkallams and Thamizh. Most of them amongst the Chingkallam. Creating all sorts of stories about their ancient history just like the Chingkalla Poutha Fascists. Trying to create a fake ethnicity based on their religion and itzy bitzy Arab found amongst a few hundred families and call themselves Moors, a name that was incorrectly given by the Portuguese to all South Asian Muslims not just them.

        • 8
          2

          To justify this they also have discarded their Thamizh Islamic culture that had gradually evolved over the centuries in their original South Indian homeland, dress, names, and even their form of Sufi Islam and overnight started to become pathetic carbon clones of the Gulf Arabs. Started imitate their dress, cook Arab food, give Arabic style names, culture and now even follow extremist Arabic forms of Islamic cults. How pathetic. The culture and heritage of a people evolve with them over centuries, this is only them not something that is pathetically imitated and borrowed from an alien people just in the name of religion.

          • 6
            1

            Arabs and other western Asian traders only came to the shores of South India, not in their thousands but just a few hundred spanning a few centuries and these were single men, never travelled with their wives or kids. Only a few amongst them would have taken local Thamizh low caste women, as their comfort women. They could have never produced the current 16.5 million Thamizh/Malayalam speaking Muslims now found in South India and Sri Lanka. Not even 1 million amongst this 16.5 million will have any Arab ancestry. 95% of these people will are Dravidian converts to Islam and only 5% of them will have some Arab heritage. Muslims of Kerala and Thamizh Nadu identify themselves as Thamizh and Malayali respectively. Only the 2 million Thamizh Muslims of Sri Lanka, who are descended from these converted Thamizh Dravidian Muslims from South India, now for political and economic benefits disown their Dravidian Thamizh origin and heritage and claim an Arab heritage that only a few families partially have. Also, an Islamic homeland is only carved from Thamizh areas where only 28% of them live, sharing the same language and ethnicity as the Thamizh. As they think they can get away with this and outsiders and the Chingkallams are deliberately putting them up to this, to muddy the waters and deny the indigenous Thamizh justice.

            • 1
              4

              Does not matter how anyone came to SL.

              Muslims have always been a separate ethnic group. Check all census from 1881 onwards.

              If Tamils do not recognize Muslim Elam, how can you expect Sinhalas to recognize Tamil Elam?

              Learn to give and take or forever live under Sinhala rule.

              • 2
                0

                Gadam or Jadam, there has never been a Muslim Eelam or homeland anywhere on the island at any time in history, however, there has been a Tamil kingdom and Tamil chieftaincies that had been ruling the Tamil areas from ancient times until European colonization. Moreover, most of the kings and aristocrats or noblemen who ruled the so-called Sinhalese kingdoms were Tamils. Lastly, the Sri Lankan Muslims are not native nor did their identity evolve on the island. They are ethnic Tamil Muslims from South India, with a little bit of Arab or whatever amongst some families, who migrated to the island. Some migrated around the 14TH century onwards with the fall of the Islamic Delhi Sultanate in Madurai. They migrated to escape persecution and fled on wooden boats named Marrakalam and settled along the then Tamil North West Puttalam/Chilaw coast that was part of the Tamil kingdom of Jaffna. However, the vast majority of them migrated from South India during the early British rule and spread and lived amongst the island’s Sinhalese and Tamils. Mostly amongst the Sinhalese.

                • 1
                  0

                  Most of the ones who migrated earlier are the ones who later moved to the east, fleeing Portuguese persecution, or at least the ones who were not killed by the Portuguese, mostly men. The island’s Muslims have a right to live in peace and dignity with equal rights, however, they have no right to a homeland or self-determination, as they never had a homeland or self-determination, as they never had one and are fairly recent immigrants to the island. Trying to compare them to the island’s indigenous Tamils from the northeast whose identity evolved here and have an ancient history with an ancient homeland is absurd. Who the hell are you or the Sinhalese and their supporters to twist history and deny the island’s Tamils justice and their homeland by deliberately trying to muddy the waters and claim an Islamic homeland for a fairly recent immigrant people, who are in reality ethnically Tamil and never had one.

      • 8
        8

        GATAM,
        “Sinhalas also want their very own mono ethnic nations.”
        —-
        Sinhalayo who are the indigenous people in Sinhale had a mono ethnic nation for thousands of years but the situation changed as a result of accommodating Muslims who faced persecution by Portuguese and Tamils who were brought to Sinhale by colonial rulers as coolies and abandoned in this country. Sinhalayo cannot understand why Tamils and Muslims are trying to grab land belong to Sinhalayo who accommodated them in their country. Is it because they are too greedy or is it because their religions do not teach to be grateful to people who help?

        • 6
          3

          Blind eye,

          you have missed Salagam, Durava, Karava .. where did they come from?
          Have you done the DNA?

        • 1
          2

          EE,

          Does not matter how anyone came to SL. We have to find solutions today.

          Do not be so greedy. Give 15% of the island to Tamils, 10% of the island to Muslims and take 75% of the island for Sinhalas as per the 2012 census. Fair and equitable. They all deserve their share. Remember equal rights for every person (every person). That is the world recognized convention.

          • 0
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            This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.

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          • 1
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            Keep on dreaming. You will never get an Islamic homeland on the island. An immigrant South Indian converted population, most of whom migrated to the island from South India during the early British rule, now trying to equate themselves to the native Eelam Tamils from the northeast, who have a very ancient history and homeland on the island and demand an Arab Islamic Salafist or Wahhabi homeland, that too strangely in the Tamil areas, where only a minority of them live, on the basis of Islam and a fake Arab origin. Will never happen. This is a deliberate move by certain nations and parties to muddy the waters and deny the Eelam Tamils justice.

            • 1
              0

              We already have three Islamic nations, that were created on the basis of religion in South Asia that are basket cases and exporting Islamic terrorism and fundamentalism to the world, now we need a fourth one to be given to an immigrant population who never had one and do not deserve one but an aggressively clamouring for one only in the Tamil areas, as they think they can get away with it. At the time of independence, the Tamils were 28% of the population and the Sinhalese were 66% and Muslims around 5%. Tamils own 30% of the land and Sinhalese the rest. The proportion is correct. The Muslims who are ethnic immigrant Tamil converts from South India and have traditionally lived spread amongst the Tamils and Sinhalese with no homeland. Will not have one, as they never had one.

              • 1
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                This is the percentage of the population that should be taken into accout. The percentage of Tamils at the time of independence, and the percentage of Tamils in the north and east then. As soon after that Tamil lands were ethnically cleansed and settled with outside Sinhalese and Muslims from the south. One million Indian origin Tamils who lived on the island for over 200 years and earned most of its foreign exchange were deliberately made stateless and with then Shastri government in India’s cooperation forcibly deported. Thankfully all other Indian governments that came after them, refused to take any more and correctly stated it was illegal. This was deliberate ethnic cleansing of Tamils of Indian origin on a large scale. Later during the war, another million native indigenous Tamils were forced to leave the island largely to the west. Another large scale ethnic cleansing of Tamils. Within 70 years of independence, the Tamil population on the island reduced from 28% to 15.4%. Sinhalese increased from 66% to 75%. Muslims increased from 5% to 10%. These increase in percentages of Sinhalese and Muslims largely due to large scale deliberate ethnic cleansing of Tamils cannot be recognised. The UN does not recognise deliberate ethnic cleansing.

        • 0
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    • 8
      2

      Why is it that Buddhist monks can insult other religions , but Buddhism can’t be criticized?
      Why is a Muslim MP charged for the rape of a 16 year old in his house while he was already in prison?
      When a Muslim rapes a 15 year old, his name is all over the papers. But when a monk and a Navy officer rape the same girl, nobody knows. Why?
      There are lots of Tamils in prison waiting for trial, with no evidence. But Sinhala politicians and soldiers convicted for murder and sentenced get released by the President. Why?
      If all citizens were treated equally without regard to ethnicity/religion, we wouldn’t be in this bankrupt situation. We fought an unnecessary war which we couldn’t afford. We are afraid to demob the soldiers, and so we have to still spend more on them than on education and health 12 years later. That’s the long and the short of it.

      • 5
        10

        old codger,
        “If all citizens were treated equally without regard to ethnicity/religion, we wouldn’t be in this bankrupt situation.”
        —-
        Let me remind you that Sinhalayo who accommodated Tamils and Muslims in their country when they faced a desperate situation and gave them citizenship with same rights enjoyed by indigenous Sinhalayo paid a very heavy price for their decision. Looking back, Sinhalayo are wondering whether they did the right thing. It is high time that Tamils and Muslims who resorted to terrorism and ruined this country ask from themselves ‘Didn’t we betray the people who helped us?’

        • 6
          2

          Eagle,
          ” Sinhalayo who accommodated Tamils and Muslims in their country when they faced a desperate situation and gave them citizenship with same rights enjoyed by indigenous Sinhalayo “
          What indigenous Sinhalayo? Why don’t you go read the Dutch Tombos and see if there were any “indigenous Sinhalayo”?

          • 2
            1

            Hi OC,
            ” Sinhalayo who accommodated Tamils and Muslims in their country when they faced a desperate situation and gave them citizenship with same rights enjoyed by indigenous Sinhalayo “
            So very Kind hearted, Meritorious act and Merciful intention Indeed, without compare, todate.
            That contention proves or implies that Sinhalayo were in existence, long before their language – Sinhalese’ was in usage!
            If that is so, what was the language used by Sinhalayo, before the commencement of usage of Sinhalese? Whether it was, Prakrit, Pali, Sanskrit or Tamil, other Indian languages?
            Historically, they had an affinity for Indian – especially Pandyan – Princess as their consorts or queens.
            Or, were they (Sinhalese) used and developed a sign language? May be who knows?
            Surely, they could not have consummated their nuptials without a common passage of communication for consensus in marriage!?
            Else, are we to assume, in the absence of a workable communication medium, they proceed to do so at the point of threat from the ‘Sword’?

      • 2
        1

        OC,
        .
        Buddhist monk and BUDDHGAMA monk are two different definitions.

        I respect buddhist monks but I would not respect buddgama monks since Kelaniya Viharaya cheevaradhariya insulted that temple with that ” nagaya-carried- fake relics” story.
        .
        With all what you have added being the reality – incumbent president has the audacity to say ” I have set examples being uncorrupted and unlawful “.. hik hik…..
        .
        with no many from MEDIA men come anything against to NANDASENA S SPEECH ….. how come ?
        .
        Media minister is believed to be a former JOURNALIST….. see after becoming minister of media liliput – SEEMS to have changed his coat right ?
        .

  • 7
    2

    “There can be no doubt: Rajapaksa’s call for engagement is an attempt to draw the Tamil Diaspora’s foreign investments into Sri Lanka. “
    ========
    No! This was made to fool the International Community …..it seems the authors have fel i to the trap

  • 8
    1

    soman

    Forget your political solution for TAMIL PROBLEM for a second, do you know how to forge Bitcoins on computer?

    • 4
      4

      I thought of asking diaspora help. Now that Gotabaya also want their money.

      Soma

    • 4
      4

      By the way NV, where are those Federalists on this page?

      Soma

    • 5
      1

      Native,
      I don’t think think Soma can afford a computer which needs its own coal power station to do that.

      • 3
        2

        You seem to be an expert in Bitcoin mining.

        Soma

        • 1
          1

          Soma,
          Alas, there are so many things about me that people don’t know.

          • 2
            1

            May be they are just being charitable to you.

            Soma

      • 1
        0

        old codger

        “I don’t think think Soma can afford a computer which needs its own coal power station to do that.”

        Not to worry, his comrades (in saffron brigades) can organise mini riots if and when necessary.

        Please listen to the following discussion on Brain and its functions:
        https://www.closertotruth.com/series/how-do-brains-function?gclid=CjwKCAjw8KmLBhB8EiwAQbqNoLLuT_BCp6Pl1eFas5Mx0kMePqXOytcqIktBD-bDgkmDy78JKCABahoCNpIQAvD_BwE

        I find it very interesting.

        Warning
        Nationalists, Patriots, Smart patriots, Religious fanatics, Racists, Bigots, Eagle Blind Eye, ………………… Prince of Darkness Sarath Weerasekera, all those members of Saffron Brigades, Politicians, Weerawansa, Gota, Udhaya, Ranavirus, …………………. should avoid this website at all costs.

        It will reduce your stupidity and harm you.

  • 2
    5

    Only way forward for SL is to divide the island equitably into 3 mono ethnic independent nations and relocate people based on ethnicity. There will be Tamil Elam, Muslim Elam and Sinhala Only Elam.

    It recognizes the grievances and aspirations of all 3 ethnic groups. The perfect democratic and sustainable solution.

    Until then it will be regular riots, wars, war crimes, bomb blasts, human rights abuses, sexual violence, corruption, discrimination, superiority claims, poverty, environmental destruction, etc., etc.

    • 6
      2

      Sri Lankan Muslims claim an Arab origin and heritage and now even dress and behave like the Gulf Arabs. Good they can claim their homeland in the Arabian Gulf, where they now belong. The only two ethnicities, other than the native Vedda that evolved in the island are the Chingkallams and Eezham Thamizh. The Muslims of Sri Lanka or Moors as they love to call themselves, are converted Dravidian Thamizh immigrants from South India. True some families have a little bit of Arab, Iranian, Afghan, north Indian Muslim, however even these people are of predominant Thamizh Dravidian heritage. Lots of non-Muslim Thamizh also have Arab, Greek, Roman, Iranian, North Indian European, Chinese and Australoid heritage but they are all still Thamizh. A little bit of this and that does not make you that this and that, just because your Thamizh Dravidian ancestors converted to Islam. You are still a Thamizh whose religion is Islam.

      • 1
        3

        Does not matter how people came to SL. Now everyone is entitled to equal rights.

        Muslims are a separate ethnic group. Check all census from 1881.

        In fact Ceylon had Muslims as a seperate ethnic group 30 years before Ceylon Tamils. 1881 census recognizes Muslims as a separate ethnic group.
        Only from 1911 census Ceylon Tamil are recognized as an ethnic group!!!
        Check it out.

    • 1
      1

      This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.

      For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2

  • 9
    7

    “The Tamil Diaspora and the Tamils living in the Northeast homeland form one indivisible people. This Tamil people has the right of self-determination under international law.”
    —-
    Northeast has been an indivisible part of Sinhale, the Land of Sinhalayo and Vedda Eththo for thousands of years. NE was inhabited by indigenous Sinhalayo for thousands of years until Dravida invaders from Hindusthan carried out ethnic cleansing by adopting scorched earth policy. Historical and archeological evidences provide proof that indigenous Sinhalayo lived in NE before Malabars who came after 12th century and Dravidians brought by Portuguese and Dutch as coolies to Yapanaya occupied Sinhala land. These Dravidians were confined to Yapanaya peninsula until British settled them in the East. Dravidians who came from Hindusthan and occupied Sinhala land after 12th century talking about right of self-determination under international law is hilarious.

    • 8
      3

      Eagle,
      “Dravidians who came from Hindusthan and occupied Sinhala land after 12th century talking about right of self-determination “
      An inscription in Tamil Brahmi and Chinese was found under the Kotahena Temple saying that the land was donated by the Ariya Chakravarti in 800 AD.
      Do you even know how stupid you sound?

      • 1
        2

        Old,

        LOL! There is no such thing!

        • 2
          0

          Gatam,
          I have as much solid evidence as Eagle has, you see. 😆😆😆

    • 3
      0

      As per historical records after the 10AD there was hardly any migration or invasions to the Thamizh areas of the island, from South India. However, it still continued on a very large scale to the Chingkalla areas and became a huge sea, when the Portuguese and Dutch started to import hundreds of thousands of low caste /untouchable Thamizh from South India to do menial service work or to work as indentured labour in the huge southern spice estates. Their present-day descendants are the Chingkalla Karawa, Salagama, Durawa, Hunu, Hali and many other communities who now make up half the present-day Chingkalla population. Many of the so-called Chingkalla aristocrats and upper castes are largely descended from Thamizh and Thamizh speaking Telugu origin Nayakars from Thamizh Nadu. Stop lying. Sri Lankan Thamizh dialects are very ancient and archaic and predate even Tolkappiam and have many Prakrit loan words, that are unique to them. Generally, Indian Thamizh cannot easily understand Sri Lankan Thamizh dialects if they are spoken properly. Lots of the younger generation especially down south and in the diaspora are now mixing their dialect with the Indian Thamizh dialects from the movies and TV shows. Which is a shame. As proper Jaffna Thamizh or other Sri Lankan Thamizh dialects like even the Batticoloa variant that has many unique vocabularies are beautiful to listen to, as they are very polished and refined and very close to old classical Thamizh.

    • 2
      1

      EE,

      Please stop this bigotry. Be reasonable. Why are you so greedy?

      Give Tamils share of the island to Tamils, Muslims share of the island to Muslims and take Sinhala share of the island.

      Create 3 equitable mono ethnic independent nations at least now.

      Think before you type. Do you really want to share the same nation with people like this? Think. Isn’t it better for you to have a Sinhala only nation in part of the island? Imagine the advantages. Disadvantages are very little and all nations have those disadvantages.

      Greed to have the entire island as a one nation is the root cause of all the problems.

      Verse 248 Dhammapada : Do not let greed and ill will subject you to prolonged misery.

    • 3
      1

      Dravidian Blind Eye

      “In a statement in Sri Lanka’s parliament, highlighting the 30th year anniversary of Black July, the TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran, spoke of his own experiences during Black July when he was shipped to the North for his safety by the state, asserting that it was the actions of successive governments that had confirmed the North and the East as the homeland of the Tamils.

      He said:

      “We ourselves took shelter in a Muslim house nearby, who gave us shelter, and subsequently, Sinhalese friends, kept us in their house for four days and we were put in a ship and transported to Jaffna.
      That was the second such incident in my life. The first being, in the year ’77, when there was violence unleashed against Tamils in Colombo. Then too, I was transported that time by air, from Ratmalana airport to Palali, by the government of Sri Lanka.

      So twice in my student days I was taken away from the capital city, once by air and once by ship, totally at the cost of the government of Sri Lanka, to the North. The government being unable to protect me, in its own capital, thought that I’d be safe in my home, and sent me to my homeland.

  • 6
    9

    “* Investments must also be conditional on political change, such as Constitutional reform that will permit Tamils to exercise their right of self-determination.”
    —-
    Didn’t Ranil Wickramasinghe give self-determination when he handed over almost one third of the country to 11% Tamils? Prabhakaran ran a de-facto State in that area but refused to accept that as a solution and continued to massacre Sinhalayo to create Eelam. In 2009, the Government and Sri Lanka Armed Forces buried separate State demand at Nandikadal. Instead of accepting the defeat and live peacefully with Sinhalayo in a Unitary State, Tamils are coming with a carrot and asking for something in return because they may be thinking ‘something is better than nothing’.

    • 7
      3

      Eagle,
      “Dravidians who came from Hindusthan and occupied Sinhala land after 12th century talking about right of self-determination “
      Didn’t your ancestors arrive only in the 16th century? Did they have Canadian passports?

      • 5
        7

        old codger,
        “Didn’t your ancestors arrive only in the 16th century?”
        —-
        No. My ancestors came 125,000 years ago.

        • 5
          4

          When did your grand father come blind eye?

        • 3
          1

          Eagle,
          “No. My ancestors came 125,000 years ago”
          So, they must have had tails. How do you hide your own?

          • 0
            0

            OC
            Our ancestors, the apes, parted with their tails long ago.
            He could be a descendant of cavemen, hardly a few of whom seem to have survived the assault of ‘civilization’.
            They made noises but had no language, and even less religion.
            I am not sure that the SB public will be happy with such prospect.

  • 7
    3

    “The referendum should have various options, including an independent and sovereign state of Tamil Eelam.”
    Actually, that is an extreme position. More than 80% of Tamils resident in Sri Lanka will be happy to settle for the full implementation of the 13th Amendment as per the Indo-Lanka Agreement, including full Police and Land powers. In other words, meaningful Devolution of Powers!
    Not offering a reasonable deal to the Tamils now may eventually lead to the establishment of the long-awaited “Democratic Socialist Republic of Tamil Eelam” in the not too distant future!

    • 6
      6

      Captain Morgan,
      “…full implementation of the 13th Amendment as per the Indo-Lanka Agreement, including full Police and Land powers.”
      —-
      Have you forgotten that Tamils rejected 13th Amendment and wanted nothing less than a separate State and went on massacring Sinhala Buddhists to get Eelam after Ranil Wickramasinghe handed over almost one third of the country on a platter to Prabhakaran in 2002?
      Moreover, Dalit Tamils in Yapanaya have told the Government not to give Land and Police powers to NPC because they know what will be their fate if NPC get land and police powers.
      You are asking the Government to do something that the Tamil community has rejected.

      • 4
        4

        Eagle Eye: The Tamils did not reject the 13th Amendment, Prabhakaran did.
        In this country both the Tamils and the Sinhalese have had to put up with bad leaders.
        Anyway, there is no harm in offering the full 13th Amendment to the Tamils once again with some modifications as necessary. I am sure a settlement is possible if there is a will.

        • 3
          1

          Part II
          Are we seeing a juxtaposition of roles!! What a tumultuous turn around! Ofcourse the change in the Paymaster which must be satisfied at all costs!! be it loathsome, never mind, all in the course of survival!!
          Prabhakaran was the perceived, “Blue eyed boy” of R Bros., Inc., to come to power in 2006.
          Without his muscling NE Tamil voter, by accepting the “swindled RDA” money as Bribe, MR would never won Election 2006. RW would have been President of SL “Hands down”
          If not for the,
          I. traitorous singular act of “money donation for election” as a Bribe, and
          II. The 1990’s “Arms and Ammunition Donation in eastern SL Jungles” the Terror War would have ended so long ago.
          III. This would have saved a lot of ‘bacon’, for the future of the nation (so poor people need not go hungry now),
          IV. Singularly and importantly, the saving of the lives of thousands of soldiers and civilians, and not forgetting maiming of many incidentally!
          V. If not for the “Gun Totting” Prabhakaran Terrorist, accord with the R Bros., Inc., perceived as the “sole representative” AND not because of the peace accord that terror awaited cessation until 2009!!

      • 3
        0

        Part I
        EE,
        Your reference,
        1. Have you forgotten that Tamils rejected 13th Amendment and wanted nothing less than a separate State and went on massacring Sinhala Buddhists to get Eelam”
        2. Ranil Wickremasinghe handed over almost one third of the country on a platter to Prabhakaran in 2002?
        3. Moreover, Dalit Tamils in Yapanaya have told the Government not to give Land and Police powers to NPC because they know what will be their fate if NPC get land and police powers
        You are convoluting history and arriving at this fallacy of a conclusion. Far-fetched and inaccurate.
        Ofcourse, Prabhakaran (Not the Tamils per se) rejected
        a) 13th amendment. as much as,
        b) The ‘Peace accord’ in 2002.
        By implication, you are posturing Prabhakaran as “sole representative (Sun God) of the Tamils” of Sri Lanka!
        In the 1990’s heyday of Ceylon Daily Noise (News) and Observer (Unofficial government gazette) under the spell of an Editor-in –Chief, sole representative was claimed as absurd he has no mandate, decried as intentions of Terrorists leader, Post failed ‘Hilton Peace talks’!!

        • 0
          2

          Mahila,
          “By implication, you are posturing Prabhakaran as “sole representative (Sun God) of the Tamils” of Sri Lanka!”

          Tamils in the North and Tamil politicians accepted Prabhakaran as their sole representative and had high hopes that Tamils will win the war and will be able to have a separate State Eelam
          After the whole thing backfired at Nandikadal, now Tamils are trying to put the blame on Prabhakaran and pleading the Government to give something because something is better than nothing.

      • 3
        1

        Part III
        MR would have been history by now and so would Chamal, Gota and Basil, and don’t forget Namal Baby’s future too!!
        So, in the circumstances, is it deceitful to conclude that R bros Inc., was the one and singular entity instrumental in rejecting the 13th amendment implementation in full, by implication?
        They also deceived the People of all hues and shades Tamils, Muslims, Sinhalese and in addition UN Secretary General, Indian PM and the west by promising to implement 13th Amendment + (meaning additional devolution) immediately at the end of war in May 2009!
        All gas and No substance! Now sing a different song, about native Sinhalayo accommodating the others. All talk and No action.

    • 3
      4

      Captain
      Did you consult the Tamils in Sinhala majority provinces who will to pack up their bags?

      Soma

      • 6
        3

        Soma: The Tamils in the Sinhala majority provinces can choose to live in these provinces as second class citizens like they are doing now or they can migrate to the North-East Province and live there as first class citizens. The choice is theirs. But no one can evict them forcibly though!

        • 3
          2

          Captain Morgan

          Why can’t the Tamils, Sinhalese, Muslims, ….. and others live as equal citizens in any of the provinces if they chose to call their home?
          What seems to be the problem, is it anything to do with land scarcity, unemployment, cultural differences, religious differences, ……. or simply brain deficit?

          • 2
            1

            “Why can’t the Tamils, Sinhalese, Muslims, ….. and others live as equal citizens in any of the provinces if they chose to call their home?”
            .
            Why can’t the Tamils, Sinhalese, Muslims, ….. and others live as equal citizens in small Sri Lanka which is half the size ofTamil Nadu with one third the population if they chose to call their home?

            .
            That is why I always beg behind the Tamils to choose the option of right to live anywhere. ( Tamils have two options: A SEPARATE Homeland ‘OR’ the right to live anywhere)

            Soma

            • 0
              0

              S
              There are other options of devolution which people avoid discussion.
              We are a divided people.
              No one-liner slogan can show the way for reuniting the people.
              Most of what one reads here by way of comment on the subject is poison.
              Any sane comment is drowned in mindless jeering.
              Before we prescribe anything, let us be cautious not to hurt the sentiments of communities. If we cannot we will do no good.

              • 1
                0

                SJ,
                “There are other options of devolution which people avoid discussion.”

                Please tell us what these options are?
                Tx

        • 1
          2

          Captain morgue,

          Choices do not have further choices. If Tamil Elam is created all Tamils will be living there. End of story.

          Until then the army will remain in the north and east. No one can evict them either in that case.

          When the army leaves the north, they will be deployed into new Palali defences created in all of Colombo-6, Colombo-13 and parts of Nuwara Eliya, Maskeliya, Kandy, Negombo, etc.

          In 1983 August Indian navy ships transported all Tamils from Colombo to KKS.

        • 2
          0

          Captain M
          There is no choice. We don’t want them once the Ealam is established.
          If you give them free choice none will go.
          Can you explain why
          1) Despite intense, unrelenting propaganda of discrimination, violence, loot, rape, murder or even genocide not a SINGLE TAMIL FAMILY who lived among the Sinhalese in the South during or after the war has relocated the residence to Jaffna.

          2) When arrangements were made for the Tamils in the upcountry to relocate themselves to India so that they can live as equal citizens among their own kith and kin in an environment of their own language, religion and culture they protested and demanded to continue that pathetic life in Sri Lanka. To this day they are happy here than going back to super power India.
          .
          Therefore you may kindly acknowledge that compulsory physical relocation will be part and parcel of establishment of Ealam.

          Soma

    • 1
      3

      Captain morgue,

      No need.

      Just split the island into 3 mono ethnic nations and relocate people.

      Any other solution will be arbitrarily retracted by SL rulers. Look what is left of the 13 amendment? It is nothing what it was in 1987. In 2010 18th amendment made 13th amendment a joke. Those provisions still stand.

  • 6
    2

    Last time Mahinda Rajapakse gave millions to LTTE Prabaharan to stop Tamils from North and East voting which resulted in Mahinda’s win. This time Gotabaya wanting to talk to Diaspora Tamils while not talking to Tamil Politicians in the country clearly shows he too wants to bribe the LTTE supporting Diaspora Tamils.

    • 2
      2

      Tamils in the north and Batticaloa might again boycott the presidential election in 2024.
      LNTTE (liberation new tigers of tamil elam) might make threats to Tamil voters against voting at the Sinhala only election.
      Presidential elections since and including 1988 have been Sinhala only elections. Only Sinhala candidates are serious candidates.
      Why should Tamils vote in such elections? Makes no sense.
      Is Ranil the sole representative of Tamils?
      Is Fonseka the sole representative of Tamils?
      Is Sirisena the sole representative of Tamils?
      Is Sajith the sole representative of Tamils?

  • 3
    0

    We don’t need referendum to solve the ethnic issues in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka no longer belongs to Sinhalese. Rajapaksas have already sold part of Sri Lanka to China and other part to India. Sinhalese have no more control over this island. Rajapaksas and those who made them as the sole agents of Sinhalese have admitted that they have no power over India or China. Within the past seven decades of Buddhist Sinhala rule Sinhalese again sold this country.

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