Prior to Saturday’s clash, the Sinhala Society of the University of Jaffna had been exposing a series of racially motivated incidents launched against the Sinhala students by unknown groups in the university and their unresolved grievances via its official Facebook page.
According to several posts by the Society on their Facebook page, there have been various clandestine moves by unknown groups to incite hatred and anger against the Sinhala students. In one such incident, a poster had been in circulation where it had said that the Sinhala Students had demanded for the construction of a Buddhist Temple in front of the Jaffna University. However, the wordings in the poster drew suspicion due to the spelling errors.
The poster which said ‘We need a Buddist Temble in front of University of Jaffna’ and was signed by ‘the Buddist Student’s Union of the University of Jaffna, SriLanka’ had contained glaring mistakes in the words ‘Buddhist’ and ‘Temple’ and even ‘Sri Lanka.’
Subuddhika Illukkumbura, member of the society who shared an image of the post on the society’s Facebook page said,” We don’t want a temple in front of the university. One temple in Jaffna is adequate for our worship….If we need we will ask for a place inside the university to do our worship…”
“Firstly, the people who wrote this stupid poster have to understand that…..”BUDDHIST” word in English has a “H” and secondly, Sinhalese never misread the sound of “P” and “B” because we have separate phonetics for P= ප and B=බ but in Tamil you don’t have separate phonetics for “P” and “B”. That means you have only P=ப and B=ப… so any person who has a brain can understand the word “TEMBLE” instead to “TEMPLE”, Illukkumbura said.
In another incident in June, the poson lantern that was put up at the entrance of the Science Faculty had also been damaged by an unknown group.
The Society also revealed that all university notices were sent to the Sinhala students in Tamil, which they cannot read or understand. Even though for almost six years they have been requesting the authorities to send them the notices in English in case they are unable to draft them in Sinhala, the authorities have claimed that the person who drafts the notices doesn’t know English.
The Society also claimed that when Sinhala students visit the university’s library, they are banned from taking any note papers into the library, while this rule does not apply to other students.
Meanwhile, sharing their views on the most recent incident that happened over the weekend, the Society said that if the country had a strong leadership, today this situation would not have occurred to the students. “We are ashamed about what happened to us. If our leaders were suitable this situation would not have happened to us. We know you assaulted our girls and boys because you’ll are jealous of us, but we won’t be discouraged by this,” the society said in its page.
Despite the hatred incited incidents in the recent past, the society had also held a series of Sinhala-Buddhist cultural events included a Buddhist sermon and dansals without any issues.
gamini / July 19, 2016
The Sinhalese students are forwarding their grievances now. These are the very grievances the Tamils forwarded then which were ignored by the Sinhalese. I believe both the Sinhalese and the Tamils should respect each other genuinely helping to build trust between them. In the long run intermarriage is the lasting solution for both parties. There are more commonalities between the Tamils and the Sinhalese than differences. Therefore without allowing the Racists to make capital of the situation on both sides, the genuine should take the lead to live and let live. What a mountain of a molehill some are trying to make on trivialities.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / July 19, 2016
Thanks Gamini.
We suffered worse discrimination during our days at the university, but suffered in silence as we knew that government will not take any action. Problem with Sinhalese is that they are unable to get rid of the supremacist mentality which had been inculcated into them from their young days. They must follow age old principle “If you are in Rome do what the romans do”. We are also told “Comply and complain”. If these Sinhala students adhered to these there would have been no problem. This could have been sorted out amicably with all government institutions following the set guidelines of having both Sinhala and Tamil in thier functions. The fault with Jaffna university is that they should have allowed Sinhala request and put Sinhala extremists in the south to shame. I would bet that even if Jaffna University allows Sinhala music and dancers, hardly any Sinhala institutions in the south will follw suit even if the government makes it compulsory.
I will bring to your notice what is happeneing in UK. None of the functions of Srilanka government has displayed Tamil music or dance in their opening ceremonies. Recently Srilankan airlines flew a number of Sinhala artistes for a cermony for Srilanka cricket team, but no Tamil artistes were to perform. How many societies in UK except Royal OBA have substantial number of Tamil songs sung in their events. In 2013, when I was President of festival of Cricket in UK, my request to have Tamil music and dancers in the procession was turned down. I did not create trouble or get Sinhala extremists assualted. In none of the events of Srilankan societies, national anthem is sung in Tamil. In 2006 when three doctors sang national anthem in Tamil, they were taken to task by Sinhala racists who called it a disruptive behaviour. There is Sinhala racism in UK albeit as covert and subdued and thus it is no surprise that Sinhala racism in Srilanka is overt and vibrant.
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srinath.gunaratne / July 19, 2016
Could you please let us know specifically, what you suffered in the university?
Also, there is plenty Tamil racism in UK and why do not you comment about how some Tamils discriminate their own based on their caste?
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gamunu / July 20, 2016
Guna,
Am I to understand that all Tamil school OBAs pulled out of the competition some years ago. They have still not come back. I was told they organise a separate Tamil Cricket Festival separately. My question to you is. Does that festival permit sinhala songs and dances? Answer simply is NO!.
So let us not get into this area. There are numerous Tamil celebrations with songs and dances with the participation of sinhala folks. So your statement is far from truth. I have attended one such event.
So let us get out of this straight jacket where people bring out the history and accuse the sinhalese. If you continue in this path we will never become a One Nation People”.
Sinhalese would not have attacked as they did at Jaffana Uni if the Tamils celebrated with Tamil cultural material. Do not continue to accuse the sinhalese as the aggressors. There are multitudes of incidents in the past to portray otherwise.
I respect comment but beg to disagree.
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jim softy / July 20, 2016
YOu should describe what discrimination you faced in words. Otherwise, you are cheating.
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Lanka Watch / July 19, 2016
Gamini – That was an excellent and unbiased comment you made and hope you are a true Singhalese and the comment not written under a pseudo name. The Sinhala society at the University is making a mountain out of a mall hill, under pressure from the communal forces, over the incident as there was certainly foul play by the Sinhala students to introduce Kandyan dancing at the last moment to upset the programme, like a bull in a china shop situation. Where were they when elaborate arrangements were made to welcome the Sinhala & Tamil freshers to the science faculty of the Jaffna University and date of admission would been notified well in advance. This was a unique event as the senior Tamil students wanted to show unity, between the two major communities
in conflict, which is what the President and the PM are crying for,
but turned out to be an ugly incident, unfortunately.
However, boys are boys, they say, and these incidents do happen in
Universities in SL and what is to be condemned is the action of the communal forces, mostly politicians, who wait like hawks to induce communal hatred among the major communities on a slightest incident
like this and always have the unfortunate black July (1983) riots at the back of their minds. This is what is disgusting.
Pls read the statements issued by Minister Champika Ranawake and Mr. Sambanthan TNA leader on the incident and you will see be the differ
-ence on the class of politicians we have in our midst.
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gamunu / July 20, 2016
Lanka watch,
What is your real name? Then I can judge you and give a respond to your misinformation. I too have first rate information of the incident through a party who was at the venue. So identify yourself like Gamini. You got my name.
You rightly quoted the calibre of politicians the we have. If not nip at the bud this may become a massive issue. Do not take sides and let the law takes effect. After all CJ is Tamil national isn’t it?
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Lanka Watch / July 20, 2016
I did not know that you can judge a man’s character or ability
by his real name. This is a forum for discussion and if you have 1st rate information other than mine, pls go ahead and publish it
so that the readers can get the other side of the story.
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Amarasiri / July 20, 2016
gamini
“The Sinhalese students are forwarding their grievances now. These are the very grievances the Tamils forwarded then which were ignored by the Sinhalese. “
Yes. The Para-Sinhala ignored it.
The Para-Sinhala burned the Jaffna Library. The Para-Tamils carried out ethnic clensing etc. Both Paras have committed war crimes.
This was good for a change, for the Para-Sinhala to know that others have been at the receiving of of the Para-Sinhala “Buddhist” abuse for a long. long time. Now the Para-Tamils are returning their favors to the Para-Sinhala.
Welcome to the Land of Native Veddah Aethho occupied by the Paras.
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gamunu / July 20, 2016
gamini,
Totally agree but with one exception. It is the duty of the Govt to take this responsibility. By shying away from taking firm decisions only make matters worse. To prevent disharmony and people taking law unto themselves Govt must act decisively. This may upset some parties in the Govt who prop them up, but this has serious consequences.
My advice to the Govt is ” you do not have to be reasonable but try to be seen to be reasonable”. Leaving the matter in the hands of the uni admin is the first such wrong, cowardly move. This will only move the majority towards the despotic Rajapaksas and BBS to wreak havoc. Can we afford that?
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Tamil from the north / July 20, 2016
Thanks Gamini. This is what happened to the Tamil students back then and now it is happening to the Sinhalese students. Very unfortunate this sort of nonsense still goes on in the country. Racists from all sides will never let this country move forward until someone steps forward and puts a stop this to this stupid behavior.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / July 19, 2016
A rotten can of worms has been opened subsequent to the Kandyan Dancing incident or is this an opportunity to sort out issues with foresight and wisdom. I remember the years 1966 -1970, when I was an undergraduate at Peradeniya. We built the Murugan temple on the hill under the leadership of Prof. Kanagasabapathy and the untiring efforts of K.Krishnanandasivam, now a senior Veterinarian and entrepreneur. On the day the statues for the temple were brought in procession from Jaffna, all students joined in to welcome them with devotion. Even the Muslim students joined. Sinhala students participated in events at the temple and part-took in the Annathanams (dhanes). We climbed the hill to the temple on Fridays and festival days, bare bodied and clad only in our verties. The temple yet functions and is the first place I visit on passing Peradeniya town. It was of course damaged in the 1977 riots and the peacocks I had introduced to the temple also killed! The temple was repaired and re-consecrated. Regular cultural events – Classical and light music shows were held regularly without any interference or objections. While at Wijewardene hall, the resident student meetings began to be conducted in Sinhala and most Tamil students had no clue as to what was being said ( this happened due to the influx of Sinhala only and Tamil only educated and students in large numbers). At the second or third such meeting I stood up and said in Sinhala that most Tamil students were unable to understand what was being said and decided. The Sinhala students who were on the dais, apologized and called any Tamil student capable of doing so to join them to translate proceedings. One Tamil student stepped forward to do so. Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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Eru / July 20, 2016
I really appreciate your reminiscence on conflict resolution. What’s disappointing above all is branding deeds of mere convenience as racism in this country. I can see many Tamils have complained of their ethnic identity being neglected at Sinhalese majority functions which admittedly is true since for organisers it’s more of a matter of convenience than targeted ethnic exclusion.
However, I do not believe the authorities would decline a request to include tamil cultural item in principle, if such a request were to be made. Unfortunately ethnic rivalry and mistrust have been cultivated to the extent among all ethnicities that even such a request could possibly be seen as a racial advancement so they suffer in silence citing racism when in fact it’s not.
Let’s be realistic, if you’re merely 5% minority in any gathering you can’t expect you to be represented everywhere as we don’t have the capacity or the resources to endorse cultural harmony to that extent even in a racism free environment.however language disparity needs to be given precedence where again practices of convenience have led to immense hatred.
The compartmentalised religious upbringing is the mother of all confusion here and as long as mixed marriages are looked down upon and religion/race based education systems are in place this shall continue. And we all irrespective of race or religion are equally responsible for not doing our part to bring lasting harmony.
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Priya / July 30, 2016
Yes degree of ignorance has played a part in all these incidents.When I see these face book posts I can recognise only one thing.Sinhala Buddist culture and nothing else.I grew up in South but had a multicultural up bringing .Some of these kids who went to Jaffna may not have been from such back ground and possibly they
may have felt isolated in strange alien environment .They probably have grouped together to enjoy Sinhala Buddist traditions just to keep it going.On the other hand,it is possible to presume the possibility of majoritarian mentality.Now the war is won and we can do anything in this land kind of an attitude.
Uni students are the cream of society .Like Dr Narendran I have experienced the bliss of Uni life in Sri Lanka and it transforms your out look completely.Could some one guide these naive students to act more proactively with national reconciliation.Can they do something to heal the wounds.I have seen pictures of armed forces in their pages.True enough their sentiments as sountherners can be understood .But will it help to build bridges between the two battered nations.There is nothing to impress for a Tamil student in those FB pictures.Though they serve their own personal interests when it comes to the bigger picture of reconciliation they mean absolutely nothing.
Can I kindly and lovingly ask
My fellow Sinhala students.Try to identify the sentiments of native Jaffna students .You may feel marginalised in their own territory .They are equal citizens of our country as well.We cannot move forward as a country ignoring them.They should be a part of main stream activity and if you could create a FB page demonstrating the relationship and activities between two communities of the Uni it will be more meaningful and praiseworthy.This will not be a easy task initially considering the trauma both communities went through .However do not give up .Overcoming the communication barriers is a must and I hope and belive Tamil students will respond positively to this gesture.You can demonstrate your maturity and wisdom to the whole country and can set an example to others how attitudes can be changed.
All the best for a brighter peaceful future together as one strong nation.
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Parker / July 19, 2016
Regarding the language issue there are concerns for tamil students as well.
Under the same post by UOJ on facebook, one sinhala student of subragamuwa uni wrote ‘In sabaragamuwa university all the notices are published in english.this is unfair’
But one tamil came and gave a photo evidence of the letter or notice given in singala in subragamuwa uni.
But tamil face more language issues when come to circulars sent in government institutions. Not long time ago, It must be less than a year, One of my step brother who got a letter from srilanka railway authority in sinhala. It was a huge mistake from authority because he was invited for an interview at railway headquaters. What if he miss that interview without understanding it ? He sent it to me I took a photo of it and sent it to one of my sinhala friend. Then we got the information written on it.
Interview place,time,and documents needed to bring when coming for the interview. Look how much important information were on that document.
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Senthil / July 19, 2016
If Singhalese claim that they are superior and our government, why they are afraid of Tamil culture. Why they can’t ignore Tamil’s culture and celebration. You do not have to have a moustache to prove you are a man and you do not have to establish Buddhist statue and celebrations to prove anything – I think it is stupidity. If majority Hindu north will not respect Buddhist statue, then why punishing God by establishing in an isolated place. In the west, how many churches are being closed or converted into Hindu temples due to lack of fund for maintenance. Do we need that situation to Buddhist statues. Stupid MR poisoned younger generation and they are wasting their life without enjoying multicultural food etc.. Looks like we srilankans born to suffer- stupid, modias.
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punchinilame / July 19, 2016
[Edited out]
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srinath.gunaratne / July 19, 2016
What are you talking Senthil, We went to see veil, we went to kovils,
All we could afford thosai and sambaru.
Have you ever lived in Sri Lankan South?
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sach / July 19, 2016
It is not the sinhalese in south who reject others’ culture but the tamils in north who are used to live in a mono ethnic enclave
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sach / July 19, 2016
really MR poisoned? It is the inherent nature of tamils to look down upon others’ culture. Sinhalese always respected others culture they even absorb such practices. There is no Sinhalese who will miss Nallur ( built by Sapumal) when they go to north
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sumathy / July 19, 2016
Itis important for jaffna univ. authorities to initiate a series of discussions with teh students, look into their grievances, and also help build dialogue. student associations can also do that.
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Common Sense / July 19, 2016
I have read the article and the comments. While some of them indeed help amity amongst a population of diverse beckgrounds, others don’t. As far as possible our messages must reach to all sections of the society and learning a few languages (say 3 to 4) can be helpful in this regard. Mutual respect for each other helps a lot. Though Tamil students can be a minority in other Universities and the language spoken, notices displayed can be predominantly Sinhala there were no instances in the recent past where Tamil students were physically assaulted on a racial basis, presumably by fellow students. It is singularly unfortunate and bad news that a fight between the students in the University of Jaffna on racial lines.
What is wrong in having several types of cultural, religious, ethnic societies within a University to foster a culture and religious practises? Although I am a non-Hindu, I attended a Hindu cultural society presentation when I was a University student in South Sri Lanka 40 years ago and I learned the real meaning of Nava Rathri. Isn’t that education, which you don’t necessarily get in ordinary book reading? I think it is a sustainable long term solution to make Sri Lanka a trinligual society. After all we are not unfortunate like in our neighbouring country to have 870 different languages and learning that amount of languages is practically impossible.
The fear is this type of incident can catch fire. The last thing that should happen is another July 1983. If there is evidence that this fight was not spontaneous but a calculated one then the law enforcement must investigate.
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roger / July 19, 2016
what is highlighted here is very important in the reconciliation process. If we are unable to sort out our differences at university level you cannot expect anything from the society.
UGC has a mojor role to play to ensure equal rights to all students and to build programs to enhance mutual respect. The cultural context of the place where a university is situated needs to be considered, respect to the regional culture is important. All races and religions should be able to express their views and indulge in their cultural practices.
UOJ authorities should take steps to send circulars in English.
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gayathri / July 19, 2016
Common university problems – save free education, fight against sustandarsustandardised private institutions, fight against politipolitical influences… DOesn’t jaffna uni face above? We do not see them appearances against those issues..
I met tamil people only during my uni.. in colombo, there was Hindu society, Islam..Catholic brotherhood… but no issues.
We made good friends, enjoyed different food, celebrated different cultural events..most of all had arguments which ended with good understandings and tightr bonds…
ish jaffna could be the same..
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Plato. / July 19, 2016
There must have been a similar welcome of Freshmen in the previous years.We did not hear of a clash.One would have expected similar or worse clashes,no sooner the Sinhala students entered the Science Faculty outnumbering the Tamils;Why only now?
This is the month of July.The Rajapakses are also getting their just desserts.
They are also organising a March later this month,from Kandy.The earlier march of JR against the BC PACT IN 1957 was from Colombo to Kandy!Of-course terminated at Imbulgoda by S.D.Bandaranaike.
There are also stories to the effect that Army types in Civvies were also seen.
The UNHCR Resolution emphasising Foreign Judges is also being touted.
There is much more to this than meets the eye.
Gota is not just an Army Colonel. He has read The Prince by Machiavelli!
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K.Pillai / July 20, 2016
The grievances of the Buddhist Student’s Union must be addressed. We must learn from history. The present infamous Lankan predicament can be traced to the obdurate refusal to address grievances of minorities by successive GoSL since independence.
Also to be looked into is the brutal suppression of the Jaffna University undergraduates and staff by the former Governor of Northern Province Major General GA Chandrasiri – the man even had soldiers monitoring lectures.
By the way, the Buddhist temple Naga Vihara (corner Palaly Road & Stanley Road) is a brisk walking distance from Jaffna University – certainly cycling distance.
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Saroja / July 20, 2016
TNA timely responded and plainly sent a positive invitation without any delay to Sinhala students and delivered without any ambiguity for reconciliation.
The 1977 and 1983 nationwide anti-Tamil pogrom were fanned by rumours started in the name of returning Sinhala students of Jaffna Uni. The new age and access to information in addition to abhorrence to ethnic violence by both parties to the ethnic divide had saved the day.
I would like to bring attention of other incidents that is causing inevitable restrain in campus. It is the involvement for the shadow characters and intelligence officers presence that kill the atmosphere of fellowship of students. All restrain must be made on the presence of state intelligence community in the campus which contributed to the incidents in Batticaloa university where the victim is vilified even after hospital treatment.
It would be good if all the perpetrators are identified as the rumour has it that not all have been identified. If the clashes were spontaneous how come they were able to arm themselves at the unexpected event?
Secondly for the Jaffna people who preserved Buddhist stupa like Kantharodai have found that sudden invasion of Buddhist intervention is uncalled for and undesirable in occupied areas. Though there is an established hindu temple in Peratheniya university, it is the uncontrolled invasion of Buddhists stupas that is prompted the animosity to manifest to this level. This issue is to be given proper attention while promoting multi-ethnic character of universities and tolerance of other beliefs.
Muslims’ worshipping place in the Jaffna university is also desecrated with engine oil. The muslim interest must be respected and protected.
In addition to violent disposition within the student community has been on the rise after the bitter war. Altercation within Sinhalese students had taken place before and Tamils were no exception. Student arbitrary reconciliation or similar body must be in place to diffuse the situation in time before it surpass the breaking point.
N&E must be multi-ethnic and multi-religious secular administration and if we want to establish a democratic rule. It is a governing criteria and unwritten prerequisite expected of a new nation that is seeking self-determination. If we cannot observe values of secular and democratic society, the neocolonial masters will be invited by our weakness.
Rather than having Bharatha Natya dances of Thelungu origin, Kandyan dance is more to do with SL Tamils
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Sound / July 20, 2016
When you in Rome act like Romans.You all are like the Moslems when you give a slight space you want everything.
Do you treat minorities the way you want you to be treated by them. Grow up Sinhala nation. It is bizarre when the politicians say that they will rule the country according the advice given by Bikkhus. If they are so clever why don’t they run the country. These monks do not know to read and write in most cases.
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Mathy / July 20, 2016
While the clash between Thamil and Sinhalese students has received much publicity, attacks on Thamils elsewhere in the south go unreported. Not long ago Thamil athletes from the North who competed in a sports meet organized in Galle were assaulted by Sinhalese. The Thamil students were forced to withdraw from the event. Only last week Thamil pilgrims to Kataragama were assaulted by Sinhalese. As pointed out majority of Sinhalese have a supremacist mind-set. The Science faculty in the Jaffna University is 60% Sinhalese. I don’t think there are any universities in the south whether Thamil students are anywhere near 5%. After May 2009 the army is building Buddhist Viharas and erecting Buddha’s statues in cities where there are no Buddhist worshippers. The army thinks that it conquered the north and south and therefore it can do whatever it pleases. Even there is a memorial built to honour Denzil Kobbekaduwa (there are plenty of other war memorials as well) in Jaffna, villages have been named after Army Commanders. A new Asst. Government Agent office (Divisional Secretary) in Mullaitheevu consisting of 3,000 Sinhalese settlers has been created. This area was earlier part of Anuradhapura District. There is no doubt in the minds of Thamils that this government like the previous ones is also bent on Sinhalising the North as was the case with Eastern province. The occupation army is actively engaged in ethnic cleansing. So all talks about reconciliation will be meaningless unless the government assures the Thamils that it will demilitarize and reverse all Sinhala colonization in the North and East.
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Rohan / July 20, 2016
/While the clash between Thamil and Sinhalese students has received much publicity, attacks on Thamils elsewhere in the south go unreported. Not long ago Thamil athletes from the North who competed in a sports meet organized in Galle were assaulted by Sinhalese. The Thamil students were forced to withdraw from the event. Only last week Thamil pilgrims to Kataragama were assaulted by Sinhalese. /
Well, in 1983, few weeks before the July riots, Tamil students were beaten up in Peradeniya. The University was close and ALL Tamil students were asked to go home. There were no voices there to ask why the Tamil students had to go home, or cant the government protect Tamils in Peradeniya. If it is on me it is my blood, if it is on you it is ketchup mentality!!!!
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jansee / July 20, 2016
Need not have to read in-between the lines. The praise they heap on the previous regime seems obvious that it is all staged to create chaos. Most of these students have been whipped-up with the superiority complex that the previous regime had been practising just like often said, winning the war but losing the peace.
If as much as Tamils can be accused of writing the posters to incite with words like “Buddist”, that is actually a very cheap shot indeed. Why can’t anyone point the finger at the Sinhalese students who may have done this to create trouble? You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure that out. After all, SL has earned an infamous reputation as a land of deceit and lies.
I believe this may be bottled-up/suppressed emotive reaction, nonetheless inappropriate but allowed to fester for far too long. Expecting anyone to believe that this spontaneous is to run away from the truth.
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bruno / July 20, 2016
I know this is unfair. But if I’m the president, I will eradicate all the Muslims and Tamils. And a proud pure Sinhala Country will be established. :D
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gamini / July 20, 2016
bruno,
Think on the other hand if the Tamils numbering over 100 mil from all corners of the world decide to annihilate the Sinhalese and the Muslims, this country will be free of ethnic strife. So which do you prefer a tolerant society for all to be happy or a singular race as you envisage?
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PROUDMAN / July 21, 2016
bruno thats why you are NOT the president, you mentally retarded racist pig you must be a close relation of HLDM.
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Funlover / July 20, 2016
It is a shame that Sinhala and Tamil creatures live in separate groups being unable to communicate with one another in a small country of 25,000 sq miles. In this modern internet day and age when learning a language has been made so easy (even Chinese, if you so put your mind to it) isn’t it fair to say only a moron will be unable to learn a new language like Sinhala or Tamil. So the morons in Jaffna Uni whoever they are, let them perish. No damage done.
J.O. and the Jarapassa Clan, this is your work – you will perish with those whom you seek to prop up for selfish reasons. Bangaveva.
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චන්න / July 20, 2016
[Edited out] we are sorry, the comment language is English – CT
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Aaks / July 20, 2016
Jaffna University Sinhala Society’s statement on Tamil phonetics is really funny. For those who DO NOT know how different phonemes are associated with Tamil letters (depending on the previous letter, etc) there is no ‘ba’, ‘ha’, ‘cha’, etc in Tamil. But those who really know Tamil would understand Tamil language has all these sounds.
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sekara / July 21, 2016
Tamil has the main sounds all right, but the sounds are often not available where it is needed to write a non-Tamil name.
Also, it lacks the ten ‘mahaapraana’ sounds like kha, gha etc. It lacks a few vowels that Sinhala has. It also lacks the ‘sh’ that occurs in Shrii, although the special letter Shrii exists as a borrowing.
The point made about misspelling is valid and it is less about what Tamil lacks than about where a Tamil slips.
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Nimal Wijetunga / July 23, 2016
After going through main article and the comments, I have a question. Are tamil students in particular or Tamils in Jaffna want the path where Prabhakran has took and and with him took masses to the hell?
Underlying factor appears to be so considering the incidents happened proceeding to the Jaffna University incident.
Hope that somebody would clear this question.
If the students in particular and Tamils in general cannot get rid of this mentality, there will not be any reconciliation.
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somasri / July 23, 2016
Very sorry.I heard this jaffna uni incident.There were many incident happened different matters.We dont need to create this problem.This sinhala students please come back joint with uni.I believe north need more political settlements.why this new govt.Ranil and My3 did not do nothing?
so sorry we dont need again.
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