By Savithra Jayasekara –
It is said that when Vijaya – the mythical founder of Lanka’s Sinhalese – decided to abandon his native queen – Kuveni – in favor of new queens from the Tamil kingdoms of South India, the native queen in her righteous anger placed a curse on the island such that no one would ever ‘own’ Lanka, or that no one people would ever rule the island. Indeed, centuries of intermittent war since then have seen the island’s rule tilt back and forth between the Sinhalese and Tamils, not to mention the centuries Lanka was under Portuguese, Dutch, and British occupation. This back-and-forth rule between the Sinhalese and South Indian Tamils prevented the coalescing of the island’s peoples into a homogenous society. As a result, the North and East is home to Tamils who identify strongly with the notion of Tamilakam, despite there also being a significant number who continue to intermarry with the Sinhalese to this day. On the other hand, exist Lankan Muslims who have contributed greatly to the island’s prosperity and security in the east ever since being driven from the west of Lanka by the Portuguese. Recent and historical grievances aired by the Lankan Tamil and Muslim communities have meant that a need has always existed for their interests to be represented in a more meaningful way on the island. The events of Black July, however, continue to divide Sri Lankan society on the best way to make such representations a reality and for the nation to move forward.
Black July 1983
Black July is easily the biggest tragedy faced by the island even to this day. It was a tragedy that led to the destruction of thousands upon thousands of Sri Lankan Tamil, Muslim and Sinhala lives. As a further consequence, the island not only lost decades and billions worth of economic development, but it also gained lasting enemies in the Tamil (both Lankan and Indian), diaspora even though in reality, centuries of inter-ethnic relations have meant that Tamil blood has always run deep in the veins of the Sinhalese. Despite the stark reality that Tamils, Muslims and Sinhalese continue to intermarry, attend school together and live amongst one another peacefully and enjoyably, the stigma of Black July has meant that there remains a strong movement that goes out of its way to ignore the existence of such relations and press upon the world stage that non-Sinhalese are continuously disenfranchised. The existence of such harmonious relations – covering Raja Rata, Maya and Ruhuna alike – are why this author feels that the vast majority of Sinhalese feel that there is no need for a separate ‘anything’ in the island based on the notion of race or religion.
With the interplay, however, of the North and East being considered Tamil homelands on the one hand, as well the island itself being considered as the Sinhala homeland on the other, what options does Sri Lanka as a state have in alleviating the Black July curse? For some, an option would be to allow for the creation of the new nation of Eelam, but that would likely be opposed by the Sinhala majority, Muslims as well as Tamils who were targeted by the LTTE. The next option would be to go for a federal option wherein a ‘Tamil’ portion would operate as a separate entity to a ‘Sinhala’ portion. This, however, would likely be opposed by those in the majority as well as certain sections of minorities on the basis that this too, would be akin to ‘dividing’ or creating a ‘secede-able’ portion of the nation.
What option then is available wherein bastions of Lankan-Tamil and Lankan-Ummah excellence can exist within an undivided and indivisible Sri Lanka? Before the island’s colonization by European powers, there existed the three administrative regions of Raja Rata, Maya and Ruhuna. The author believes that reverting to these administrative regions as new provinces, would go far in allaying any fears amongst the Sinhala-Buddhist majority that the creation of ethno-districts would lead to secession. At the same time, the creation of a northern ethno-district for Lankan Tamils, along with an eastern ethno-district for the Lankan Ummah would allow for the three major Lankan ethnicities to move forward as one people.
These ethno-districts would encompass the northern part of a reestablished Raja Rata province, as well as the eastern part of a reestablished Ruhuna province. The former would serve as a permanent stronghold of Lankan-Tamil might, a ‘Dravida-Hela’ if you will, whereas the latter would serve as a ‘Mohammedian-Hela’. The reason for the reestablishment of the ancient provinces would be for there to be historical continuity for the island’s Sinhala population. The establishment of ethno-districts within those provinces would also ensure historical continuity of the island’s Tamil and Moorish citizens.
Would this, however, solve the aspirations of the island’s faith-based communities of Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians? The author feels that so long as there is strong reason for the center to exist (such as retaining security functions for the island), as well as there being dedicated, historically relevant ethno-districts for the island’s large and small minorities to retain their faith and culture based on constitutionally protected and guaranteed lands, then we would have quite a workable solution to the national question.
Peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka would ideally guarantee the return of Lankan-Tamils to their island. It would also be important to note that the reestablished provinces would see the return of the respective Sinhalese and Muslim populations evicted by Cankili in the 1500s and by the LTTE in the 1990s. This would ensure the historical continuity of the diversity of those areas.
In terms of language, Sinhalese, English and Tamil would continue to be the official languages. Indeed, even the so-called ‘Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam’ – the remnant of the LTTE celebrated by Tamil diaspora – mentions that Sinhala would also be an official language in any Tamil Eelam.
At the end of the day, Lanka must serve as a nation where all peoples (majority and minorities alike), can thrive on the island without feeling that they need a separate area of land to preserve their culture, faith, and language. However, given the circumstances of there being (a) a lack of accountability and reconciliation vis-a-vis LTTE and government atrocities, (b) a powerful Tamilakam movement that stymies Lankan development abroad, and (c) minorities being targeted by past governments, the necessity of preserving the historical continuity of Lanka’s major minorities has arisen. For the Sinhala-Buddhist majority to be able to save face – given the occurrence of Black July – and for the nation to move forward, the establishment of ethno-districts without violating the island’s sovereignty and territorial integrity seems a small price to pay.
chiv / January 17, 2023
All it takes is, to treat every citizen equal, with respect, enjoy their rights, not to be abused or discriminated so that they all feel with pride, as citizens of Lanka. Since independence, none of the SB governments was genuine and willing to provide that basic need to minorities.
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SJ / January 17, 2023
How can it happen in any society which is grossly unequal and accepts inequality as the norm?
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chiv / January 18, 2023
That may be the case in Lanka. Even then, governments are NOT expected to treat societies unequal, make it a norm by denying their basic rights to live.
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chiv / January 18, 2023
Are you trying to normalize black July which the author thinks as “biggest tragedy” ??? or systematic race discrimination and human rights abuse ???
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / January 18, 2023
Only handful of Sinhalese are prepared to share land and power with Tamils in a meaningful and effective manner with Tamils. This author is beating round the bush to deny this right to Tamils. He is talking of going back to Maya, Pihiti and Ruhunu days. You cannot cite history for your own convenience. When Portuguese arrived, there were three Kingdoms : Jaffna, Kandy and Kotte. Why not resort to this type, where Jaffna kingdom consisted of Trincomalee district north of Mahaveli, entire northern province, northern areas of Anuradhapura district and coastal areas of Puttalam district which was called Demala Hatpattu. Originally there were no kingdoms. Archaeological evidence says that those who lived in the land in pre-historic times were Veddhas to south-eastern parts bounded by Mahaveli to the north, circling central hills and Walave to the west, and Dravidians who occupied rest. Veddhas living in eastern province have become Tamils and those living in other areas have become Sinhalese. Similarly Dravidians in north have become Tamils and Dravidians in the south have become Sinhalese.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / January 18, 2023
Solution should be based on these universally accepted principles :
1. Land belongs to the first nation : Veddhas and Dravidians and not to anyone who claims to be Aryan or Arab. Genetic evidence show that both Sinhalese and Tamils have the same genetic make up of Dravidian core with input from Bengali and Veddha. Therefore Sinhala claim to the entire land as owners and rulers is racism. Muslim claim to eastern province is worst racism. How can those who went as refugees say that the land belongs to them over the heads of those who gave refuge. Census done since 1881 show that eastern province had Tamil preponderance.
2. Law should be equal without double standards : If Srilanka cannot be divided, Tamil homeland also cannot be divided. Indo-Lanka accord of 1987 states that northern and eastern provinces are the areas of historic habitation of Tamil speaking people. This has been corroborated in the Oslo Accord of 2002. Thus Tamil homeland has been internationally accepted. Sinhalese and Muslims can say that their areas should not be attached to northern province, but under what justice can they prevent Tamil areas joining with northern province.
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Rohan25 / January 19, 2023
Muslims arrived in the eastern province and were given refuge there by the local Tamil Vannimai chieftains on the basis that they were of Tamil ethnicity and needed somewhere to live and settle as no one wanted them. The Portuguese were persecuting and killing them, after the fall of the Jaffna Kingdom, in the then Tamil north-western Puttalam/Chilaw coast, which was part of the Tamil kingdom of Jaffna, where they first settled when they arrived from their original South Indian Tamil homeland. They first fled for safety to the neighbouring Kandyan Sinhalese areas and were grudgingly allowed to settle there by local Sinhalese. However, when more and more of them started to arrive, the Sinhalese got alarmed and started to attack and kill them too. In desperation, King Senarath of Kandy asked the Tamil Vannimai Chieftains in the east, who came under his loose control, after the fall of the Jaffna kingdom, to settle them in the Tamil east, as these people were ethnically Tamil and the Sinhalese do not want them in their lands and they had nowhere else to go. They obliged and settled them in certain areas, gave them land and Hindu Tamil Mukkuva women to marry and start a family, as most of these Muslims who had fled were men.
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Rohan25 / January 19, 2023
Most probably the Portuguese had killed the old, women and children or they could not stand the rigours of fleeing and running away.
Again I state they arrived in the Tamil east and were given refuge solely on the basis, that they claimed to be Tamils belonging to the Islamic faith, being persecuted, killed because of their faith and trade rivalry by the Portuguese and later by the Sinhalese, as they did not want more of them in their lands, and had nowhere else to go and were seeking refuge and asylum from fellow Tamils in their lands, despite the native eastern Tamils being Hindu. This is because to Tamil people generally the Tamil ethnicity takes precedence over everything, caste or religion. They are generally very secular and regard religion as something personal between oneself and god. Now after nicely establishing themselves, for perceived political and economic benefits and due to Islamic extremism are now denying their Tamil ethnicity and heritage, which was the reason they were given refuge in the Tamil east, and claiming to be Arab or Moor and with the encouragement of the Sinhalese and other people, claiming the ancient Tamil east, as their homeland over the heads of a large native Tamil population who gave them refuge.
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Rohan25 / January 19, 2023
If they are not Tamils but Moors or Arabs, then let them claim their homeland in the Arabian Gulf or in North Africa, where they should belong and not in the Tamil east. As for the Sinhalese who deliberately encourage this nonsense and rubbish, 72% of them live amongst the Sinhalese, so why not give them their Arab/Moor Wahhabi Islamic homelands in the Muslim majority areas in the Sinhalese south, why only demand it in the Tamil east only. Strange.
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Savi / January 20, 2023
Thank you for your comment Rohan.
Since Lankan Muslims were here since the 7th century AD, belong to the global Ummah and have been primarily based in the East, why not provide a Muhammadian Hela for those folks? While they may have significant Tamil blood – as the Sinhalese do – they feel more kin to the Islamic world and their Arab ancestry.
Thanks in advance for your input!
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Mahila / January 20, 2023
R25,
Very good, pertinent and incisive question!!!
unfortunately, in reality almost ‘UNWORKABLE’, because the Best use of the Sri Lankan Muslims (SLM) to the mainstay of Sinhala Buddhists (SB) is to use them as Spies, instigators in committing atrocities against other minorities, and incite the villains to commit carnage on other minorities such as Catholic and Christian Tamils!!!
If they are confined to South, their (SLM) use to SB is limited! Can’t create maximum carnage desired!!!?? So they want to ensure Muslims (Tamil or Arab) are domiciled within the Northeast SL!!
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Savi / January 20, 2023
Thank you for the continued discussion, Dr!
The main purpose of what i say has to do with ensuring historical continuity for the island’s 3 predominant ethnicities. Constitutionally guaranteeing cultural and linguistic rights in specific parts of the island would ensure that Sinhalese, Tamils and Moors can continue as one nation till the end of the sun and the moon.
On another point, given that the Sinhalese also derive considerably from Dravidian stock, why is it taboo for sinhala-speakers to settle in the North and East when there has been millenia of intermarriage with ancient Pandyans who supported the islands intermixing as well?
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Siva Sankaran Sharma / January 20, 2023
Savi. The important fact is the Tamils Muslims of the east or Moors or Arabs or whatever identity that they now want to call themselves, are not a native Indigenous population, like the eastern Tamils or the Tamil Veddha of the east, they are an immigrant refugee population whose origins are from South India, who migrated to the island from their original South Indian homeland, a few centuries ago initially to the northwest Puttlam/Chilaw region then part of the Jaffna Tamil kingdom and then fled to the east, fleeing Portuguese killings and persecution, due to their religion and trade rivalry. They initially fled to neighbouring Kandyan Sinhalese areas but were not welcome so sent and settled in the Tamil Hindu east, as they were of Tamil ethnicity. This was the only reason they accepted there and settled there. That they were of Tamils, not because they were Muslims, Arabs or Moors
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Siva Sankaran Sharma / January 20, 2023
This was the reason the eastern Tamil Vannimai chiefs willingly gave Hindu Tamil Mukkuva women to these Tamil Muslim refugee men and gave them land to settle and start families and the local native Tamil Hindus accepted them and allowed them to settle in their lands. This was also the reason they were accepted and allowed to settle along the then Tamil northwest coast that was part of the Jaffna kingdom, when they fled their South Indian homeland, as they were fellow Tamils. Otherwise like the Kandyan Sinhalese, they would not have accepted them. Now for various reasons perceived advantageous to them, they are denying their Tamil origin and heritage and want to closely identify themselves closely with Islam and the Arab/Islamic world and not with the Tamils or India their actual origin and heritage. This is fine it is their wish, you have the right to do what you want and identify yourself with whom you want and deny who are. The strange thing is the Arabs have classified the Sri Lankan Muslims as South Asians who converted to Islam and not of Arab descent, meaning Tamil converts to Islam, as if there is any Arab or another ancestry it is minimal.
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Siva Sankaran Sharma / January 20, 2023
However they have no right to claim large parts of the ancient Hindu Tamil east as their homeland, as first of all, they have declared they are not Tamil and they are not a native Tamil population that converted to Islam, like in the case of Pakistan or Bangladesh, as someone else has already pointed out, but an immigrant refugee population, of South Indian origin, who arrived in the east, a few centuries ago claiming to be Tamil and obtained refuge but now refuting this truth and in the name of Islam and Arabism, want huge chunks of the Tamil Hindu east as their homeland to which they have no right.
They have the right to live in dignity, and peace and practice their religion, as they have done for centuries but have no right to join to claim a homeland over the heads of the native Tamils and Tamil Vedda, who are the original people of the east, at the instigation of Islamic extremists both local and overseas, opportunistic Muslim politicians and elite and Sinhalese hardliners, who are deliberately instigating them to do this to muddy waters, deny the native Tamils their rights, their homeland and steal as much as possible of the Tamil homeland in the name of Islam and Arabism.
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Pandi Kutti / January 20, 2023
Nice. So they feel very close to the global Ummah ( meaning community) in the Islamic world and the Arabs but now not to their own Thamizh ethnicity, culture, language or heritage. Then why claim a homeland in Thamaizh east and arrived there as refugees claiming to be Thamizh? If there was such a big global Islamic Ummah consisting of around 61 Islamic nations and 21 Arab nations, to whom they feel very close. They should have gone there or still can go there to be very close and be in their homeland, instead of trying to steal our small Eezham Tamil homeland, after falsely claiming to Thamizh, when in reality felt very close to the global Islamic Ummah and the Arabs, the only homeland we have. Let’s see if the global Ummah and the Arabs welcome them. They may feel close to them but the global Ummah and the Arabs may not feel close to them at all and not welcome them. We know how the Arabs treat Muslim guest workers from Africa, the subcontinent and SE Asia, even from poorer Arab countries. No feelings of global Ummah. We know how they treated the poor 16-year-old Sri Lankan Muslim Thamizh housemaid Rizanna Nafeek from the east.
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Savi / January 19, 2023
Thank you for your comment, Dr.
When you say meaningful and effective manner, do you mean a federal system as is found in Switzerland or more like Belgium?
I am still struggling to understand as to whether the end game is still a separate Tamil Eelam.
Thanks in advance for the discussion!
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Mahila / January 19, 2023
Savi,
I am aware this question is to the learned Dr. S., however, I have a thought on the same, which I am expressing.
If I were to answer this question, I would dare say the Swiss constitution is favoured!! It’s a rigid constitution (written)!!
Though, with a SIMPLE CAVEAT, IN RESPECT OF ANY CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, the Referendum (which is integral in Swiss constitution) should be conducted by each state individually in “their territory” but needs final unanimity and concurrence of all federated states to be enacted as an amendment to the country’s, “Primary Law”!!
That should ensure there aren’t repetitions of similar nature of ‘local learned constitutional experts’, UNIQUE to Sri Lanka to strip “parts and pieces from time to time” to make federation, become a ‘Monolith’ of WASTED PRINTED PAPER!!!
Example, SOULBURY constitution which was very liberal by the British after consultation with all communities, prior to independence (1948) was systematically and self-servingly amended by removal of the 2nd Chamber (Senate – House of Review), thereafter removing section 29(C!!!
Quick reference and relevance, Privy Council ruling is cited,
(TBC)
)
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Mahila / January 19, 2023
(PART II)
QUOTE
On May 5, 1964 the Privy Council held that Section 29-2 of the CEYLON (CONSTITUTION)
“ORDER-IN-COUNCIL, 1948 EMBODYING GUARANTEES OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND THE EQUALITY OF ALL RELIGIONS REPRESENTED, “the solemn BALANCE OF RIGHTS BETWEEN THE CITIZENS OF CEYLON, THE FUNDAMENTAL CONDITIONS ON WHICH THEY ACCEPTED THE CONSTITUTION, AND THESE ARE THEREFORE UNALTERABLE under the Constitution.”
UNQUOTE
The Cloaked, Sri Lankan gentry, MANOEUVRED to remove Privy Council, the highest appellate court of then Ceylon soon thereafter by an Appellate High Court, to deal with review and appeals of Sri Lankan SC decisions locally, thus obviating the Privy Council (PC) appeals altogether!! We had Master Minds (MM), then too, long before Easter Sunday chaos!!?? 1970/71 JVP uprising!!!
Thereafter, the miscreants wearing the legal cloak did it with impunity by parliamentary majority and no referendum to remove the section 29 (C), pretext, ALL CITIZENS ARE EQUAL and particular provision was unnecessary PAVING THE WAY – ENACT BUDDHISM HAS PRIMACY AND/OR STATE PROTECTION!!! Allows impunity to CAJOLE OTHER RELIGIONS!
LOGIC and RATIONALE EMINENCE FO CRAFTY POLITICAL MANOEUVRES!!?
Which some smart aleck with a wig and cloak could so do it again!!??
HENCE, SAFEGUARDS AS PROPOSED ABOVE, IN RESPECT – REFERENDUM!!!
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Rohan25 / January 20, 2023
Savi thanks for your reply. The ancestors of the Sri Lankan Muslims never arrived on the island 7AD. Islam only originated around the 7AD in Mecca/Medina and it took further centuries to spread, so how can Muslims be here from the 7AD? Another fairy tale concocted by them. A few Arab emissaries /traders to the courts of Sinhalese and Tamil kings on the island have nothing to do with this South Indian Tamil origin Sri Lankan Muslims or Moors, who started to arrive from South India very much later. Many of these earlier Arab traders and emissaries were Christians. Read the history of the Syrian Christians of Kerala. In 1881 there were 185000 Moors in Sri Lanka, who were divided into Coast or Indian Moors and Ceylon Moors. The coast Moors, whose descendants now largely live along the western northern and southern coasts from Mannar to Hambantota, are from the Coromandel coast or inner districts of South India as traders or labourers, continue steadily to maintain relations of amity and intermarriage with their friends in South India; and that such “Coast Moors” are Tamils. They only started to arrive during the early British period.
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Rohan25 / January 20, 2023
The Ceylon Moors are the ones who had been here for a few generations starting to arrive from South India, after the fall of the Madurai Islamic Delhi Sultanate, first settled in Tamil North West coast and them moved to central and eastern parts with the arrival of Portuguese.
This is what British colonial officers have observed and written The “Ceylon Moors,” numbering about 92,500 out of the 185,000, we have ample reasons for concluding that they too are Tamils,—I mean the masses of them; for, of course, we meet with a few families here and there—say, five per cent, of the community, or about 5,000 out of the 92,500—who bear the impress of Arab or other foreign descent. Even this small coterie of the Ceylon Moors, who claim for themselves and their co-religionists an Arab descent, candidly admits that on the mother’s side, the Ceylon Moors are exclusively Tamil. Considering their social customs, I have pointed out how closely they are a copy of Tamil institutions. I have also touched upon their physical features and called attention to the opinion of some of our leading doctors of medicine and surgery, that the skull of a Moorman cannot be distinguished from that of a Tamil. In complete confirmation of the inference drawn from these arguments is the evidence afforded by language.
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Rohan25 / January 20, 2023
The vernacular language of the Moors is, as I have said, Tamil, even in purely Sinhalese districts. This is not what I state but what European, colonial officers have observed and written and stated the Ceylon Moors are Tamil by race a little bit of Sinhalese or Arab ancestry does not change this fact. As someone already stated we all have a little bit of something.. No one is racially pure
If they feel very connected to the Arabs and the Islamic world due to their religion and now feel more Arab, than to their own Tamil ethnicity. heritage, language and the rich 1000-year-old Tamil Islamic culture, that they brought from their original South Indian homeland, in my opinion, thanks to the petrodollars, aid and extreme Wahhabi religious indoctrination that is now being pumped into them, especially in the Tamil east by certain countries, organisations, extremist and being deliberately being indoctrinated by their politicians and elite, who have another agenda, that they are Arabs and not Tamils, then they should claim their homeland in one of these Arabic or Islamic nations and not in the ancient Hindu Tamil Eastern Sri Lanka.
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Rohan25 / January 20, 2023
They arrived in the Tamil east a few centuries ago seeking safety and refuge claiming to be fellow Tamils. Not as Arabs or Moors, If they did why didn’t they run to these nations, stating they were Arabs/Moors and Muslims, claim kinship and refuge? The reason is they are not Arabs, Moors, or anything else. This is why no one wanted them not even the Sinhalese. They were Muslim Tamils and the Tamils took them in and gave them refuge. This is a stubborn fact. Now trying to claim all sorts of kinship and origins for political and economic benefit does not work. What Global Ulamah when Arabs fight amongst themselves, Arabs kill and oppress Kurds, Turks Arabs and Iranians fight with each other. Malay Muslims discriminate against Indian Muslims in Malaysia. This so-called Islamic Ulamah and global Christian brotherhood are all imaginations. When 72% of the island’s Muslims live amongst the Sinhalese and only around 20% live in the east, that too along a small highly populated coastal belt starting from southern Kalmunai to Pottuvil in the Amparai district, where they live continuously, then along the Muttur enclave in Trincomalee and Kattankudi pocket in Batticaloa, How can their centre be in the east?
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shankar / January 20, 2023
savi
“When you say meaningful and effective manner, do you mean a federal system as is found in Switzerland or more like Belgium?”
what is the point of talking about federalism now.That could have been got when prabahharan was at his zenith.Now why should sinhalese gve federalism to the tamils.What is the point of talking about switzerland now.
The best that the tamils can hope for is the full implementation of the indo lanka accord.For that to happen too india has to push for it.The tamils have no cards to play now in the bargaining table.The sinhalese will just ask why they should give federalism when they have defeated the tamils in the war.
The only card that the tamils can play is that if the people in the north and east are restless and unhappy like the russians of the donbas region,then india could one day attack the north and east just like russia attacked the donbas.If the ukrainian government had given the donbas region and the crimea federalism then the seperatists there would not have had much of a chance.
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shankar / January 20, 2023
cont
When the ukrainian foreign minister was asked why they did not do that he said that the russians there are a brainwashed people who listen the the russian news which is controlled by the kremlin and no point in giving anything to them,ukraine has to first take control mlitarily of the lands and control the russian people there.This kind of hardline position has only resulted in suffering .
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SJ / January 19, 2023
A twisted mind can read the weirdest meaning into any text.
Please yourself, C– keep being your normal self.
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chiv / January 21, 2023
A twisted mind can type the weirdest comments to justify , Black July, biggest human tragedy in Lankan history. What can be more weird than, you typing both above and below comments on the same day.
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chiv / January 21, 2023
A twisted mind can type the weirdest comments to justify , Black July, biggest human tragedy in Lankan history. What can be more weird than, you typing both, above and below comments on the same day. Please your self Retired and keep being your normal self, “incapable of discussing even a human tragedy without finding excuses, all around the world”
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SJ / January 22, 2023
To read weird meanings into straightforward comments takes some effort besides lack of linguistic skills.
Get some help on that front.
BTW
I read very interesting comments on these pages that crudely abuse people as a whole.
Must be a very healthy mind at work.
Keep it up.
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chiv / January 22, 2023
Retored , first learn to discuss domestic issues without quoting other countries, totally irrelevant to the discussion. Rather than going around calling people names and giving advise. If you couldn’t do in 75 years , I doubt you will , just like our SillyLanka..
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Savi / January 20, 2023
Hi Chiv,
Absolutely not trying to ‘normalize’ Black July as such is an event that cannot be normalized whatsoever. Its one of those things that will constantly lurk in the minds of Sinhalese.
I would be interested to hear about the real Sinhalese who sheltered Tamils while the dreaded mobs were lose. Ive only heard in passing such stories and the media doesnt seem to give much insight.
Thank you for your comment!
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chiv / January 20, 2023
Savi, I am sorry, that comment was addressed to SJ and not to you. His intention was to generalize, that, inequality exist in all parts of world , people (including victims ????) and governments accept that as a norm. Obviously you do not agree with such twisted comment. You can verify his intentions by reading his comments below. His conditioned mind makes him to deflect, deny, enable, distract / “point here and there”, stereotype – – – – a typical Lankan way of normalizing all the wrongs.
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SJ / January 22, 2023
Isn’t he pathetic?
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SJ / January 19, 2023
It is more the case in countries that accumulated their wealth by slave labour, slave trade and colonial plunder using local bonded labour.
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Mahila / January 22, 2023
SJ,
Why not include countries who promoted unsustainable, economically non-viable projects to developing countries to make them future-dependent on their continued financing to upkeep repayment of commercial loans, by inveigling corruption and promoting nepotism, which in the end make citizens of the recipient countries “poor, deprived and starved to death”!!!???
They use, virtually SLAVE LABOUR OF THE DONATING COUNTRY – PRISONERS – TO CARRY OUT MOST MENIAL TASKS IN THE GRANT AND DEVELOPMENT AID!!!??
Why the differentiation between the two?? Slaves are also custodial and so do the Prisoners!! Both had to fed and clothed with upkeep by the countries involved!!!???
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SJ / January 19, 2023
C
It is more the case in countries that accumulated their wealth by slave labour, slave trade and colonial plunder using local bonded labour.
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Mahila / January 22, 2023
SJ,
Why not include countries who promoted unsustainable, economically non-viable projects to developing countries to make them future-dependent on their continued financing to upkeep repayment of commercial loans, by inveigling corruption and promoting nepotism, which in the end make citizens of the recipient countries “poor, deprived and starved to death”!!!???
They use, virtually SLAVE LABOUR OF THE DONATING COUNTRY – PRISONERS – TO CARRY OUT MOST MENIAL TASKS IN THE GRANT AND DEVELOPMENT AID!!!??
Why the differentiation between the two?? Slaves are also custodial and so do the Prisoners!! Both had to fed and clothed with upkeep by the countries involved!!!???
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davidthegood / January 19, 2023
Chiv, You are absolutely right. All citizens are meant to be in the creator’s image and there are no minorities except in people’s minds. Tamils and muslims are connected worldwide with large populations and have rights as equal citizens. Need to tell SB to fly a kite. No inferiority here.
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SJ / January 19, 2023
“Need to tell SB to fly a kite.”
dtg, is that not a racist remark?
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Mahila / January 20, 2023
SJ,
“NEED TO TELL SB TO FLY A KITE.”
“DTG, IS THAT NOT A RACIST REMARK?”
Abundance of social media reports – 14th January 2023, were ceremonial ‘KITE FLYING’ contest in Jaffna, Northern Province to commemorate, THAI PONGAL DAY (signifying Harvest celebrations)!! Significant of all, were ‘KITES’ flown, was as reported “4 wheeled, Massey-Ferguson Farm Tractor with a Trailer in tow” apparently ‘LIFE SIZE’ – probably 24 to 26 feet (8 meters) long – with music, by a taught wire strung on it, prime of the displays, significant call to all, “put their shoulders to the wheel” in increasing food output and bountiful harvest – signified by THAI PONGAL!!
Point trying to make is “flying a kite”, could be productive cause!!?? ERASE STARVATION IN SL
Hopefully, someone from Matara, Batticaloa and Galle face, Colombo would positively, promote agriculture!!??
KITE FLYING IS AFTER ALL BY ABOVE EXAMPLE VERY PRODUCTIVE EXERCISE TO ACCENTUATE “THE NEED OF THE HOUR”!!! Kite flying not abounding on RACISM!!!???
Who knows, like the TRACTOR TRAILER to promote agriculture, we have SB’s flying ‘UNITY’ Kites then Sri Lanka WOULD WAKE UP TO “UNITE PURPOSEFULLY”, with a ‘BOOMING ECONOMY’!!!!
Change STATE OF RECEIVER’S MIND – PERCEPTION RESULTING PURPOSEFUL ATTITUDE!!!
Presume DTG’s Intent!!!
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davidthegood / January 20, 2023
SJ, They call themselves SB. I would call them humans or citizens
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SJ / January 22, 2023
dtg
SB will refer to a people, unless followed by a qualifier.
I thought that you would know better.
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Shan Shanmugavadivel / January 18, 2023
Until Sinhalese ( a heterogenous group) shed the position that they are the sole natives of the Island meaningful devolution is only an illusion. .
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Mahila / January 18, 2023
Day Dream!!?? When will that happen!!??? They have 2600+ years’ heritage, civilisation, culture and Sinhala Buddhism to boot!!!?? Never!!!
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davidthegood / January 20, 2023
Mahila, Sinhalese have only 2600 years. Humans have at least 6000 year history
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old codger / January 20, 2023
DTG,
“Humans have at least 6000 year history”
That’s a curious number. 6000? Why?
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SJ / January 22, 2023
OC
Numbers belong to a category that give us more choice than any other.
You could have framed your question differently, like: “Why not 6001?”
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Leonard Jayawardena / January 18, 2023
SS
The meaning of “native” is “a person born in a specified place or associated with a place by birth.” I do not know of any Sinhalese who deny that the Tamils are natives. What they–most of them at least–would not accept is that the Tamils of the North and East have special rights and privileges over that area by virtue of it being their “homeland,” which is the sense I get from listening to /reading advocates of an Eelam or federal state.
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Mahila / January 19, 2023
LJ,
Thanks for your comment.
“The meaning of “native” is “a person born in a specified place or associated with a place by birth.” I do not know of any Sinhalese who deny that the Tamils are natives. What they–most of them at least–would NOT ACCEPT IS THAT:-
1. THE TAMILS OF THE NORTH AND EAST HAVE SPECIAL RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES over that area
2. by virtue of it BEING THEIR “HOMELAND,”
3. Which is the sense I get from LISTENING TO /READING ADVOCATES OF AN EELAM OR FEDERAL STATE.
A. In respect of 1 above, a MYTH, as none, especially victim of inequality would propose the reverse!!?? No party proposing federal form of state/government has to the best of my knowledge entertained such thoughts!!?? Whimsical!!??
However, could recall very many DETRACTORS OF FEDERATION PROMULGATED THAT EFFECT claiming, that federated form of GOVERNMENT OR STATE!!! That clearly, to meet their own POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY!!?? THERE IS NO BASIS OR ELEMENT OF TRUTH!!!
B. In respect of 2 above, the term ‘HOMELAND’ has been attributed to “habitual residence” of respective parties in perpetuity!! No special privileges, is sought or intended be awarded!!?? Like “Veddha”, for instance!!! THAT’S A MYTH!?
(TBC)
“
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Mahila / January 19, 2023
(Part II)
C. Federal state, seeking equality of status, Equality of Law/Statute as equal citizens of the Republic, – which is non-existent now!!?? Become applicable (expectation) being managed by their own community elected representatives in the Federal Republic!!!
Contrary views are confined to people promoting one’s own political persuasion, enhance prospects, to be elected by ‘POLITICAL ELECTORATE’ of this UNITARY STATE/REPUBLIC, which has predominantly SINHALA BUDDHISTS and TO INVIGLE THE INNOCENT RURAL VOTER, WHO ARE NOT WELL EMANCIPATED TO DIFFERING FORMS OF GOVERNMENTS ,in this world!!!
Some of these detractors (or so called advocates as you term), have even promulgated to boost their own cause of “re-election or electability”, claiming that if federated, the citizens would require a “PASSPORT AND SPECIAL VISA TO TRAVEL FROM MATARA OR HAMBANTOTA TO KEERIMALAI (BATH) IN KKS OR HOLIDAY IN PASIKUDA”!!??
These views and advocacy is by ‘DIMWITS’, who don’t understand the concept of federation and equally bad, electorate with LOW EMANCIPATION!!
Simple question, “Does Gota and Basil, residents (adopted home) in California, get a passport and Visa to go to attend UNO in New York or Boston or Miami, Florida!!??
Sri Lankans, blame the British colonials of “DIVIDE AND RULE”!!
(TBC)
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Mahila / January 19, 2023
(Part III)
May be true!! Nevertheless, what OUR OWN POLITICIANS DO, IS NOTHING BETTER!!? There are enough and more Sinhalese working/living in Switzerland and do they get a Passport and VISA to travel from, Geneva, Bern, Zurich all in federated Switzerland!!!??
Emancipated electorates significance is to test the information from political parties, rationally from their own kith and kin who are experiencing the good and bad of the new form of government, than be emotive and carried over to misery!!!
These lies are spread by “Looters Knaves, Villains and Plunderers” to win election, to further their VALUED HOBBIES – not serving the masses as proclaimed, but solely for aggrandisement!!
POLITICIANS ARE GRANDIOSE SALESMAN FOR PROPELLING THEIR CAUSE!!! DO EVRYBODY BELIVE A “SALESMAN ON THE FIRST PROPOSITION”, ACCEPT AS GODSEND!!!??
NOT AT ALL, UNLESS SEEKING TO BE FOOLED!!
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Pandi Kutti / January 18, 2023
First of all the native indigenous Eezham Thamizh are not of South Indian origin but are native to the island and are largely descended from the Dravidian Naga who migrated to the island from South India, during prehistoric times, long before a so-called mythical Prince Vijaya arrived from somewhere in Northeast India. There is South Indian invader, especially 10Th century Chola blood in them but this is a minor element. There is more South Indian invader and immigrant blood running in modern Chingkalla veins, than in the Eezham Thamizh and DNA has also proven this. Sri Lankan Thamizh shares 17% DNA with Indian Thamizh whereas modern Chingkallams 50-70% depending on which study. Half the present-day Chingkallams both low and high born are purely or predominantly descended from the South Indian Thamizh immigrants(modern-day Kerala and Thamizh Nadu) who migrated to the island only a few centuries ago. From the 10Th century onwards migration from South India to the Thamizh parts of the island was just a trickle but a huge sea, in the Chingkalla south, especially in the Chingkalla lowlands. Read the history and origin of the Chingkalla Karawe, Salagame, Durawa, Hali, Hunu, Berewa, the low and Kandyan Chingkalla aristocracy and upper castes.
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Pandi Kutti / January 18, 2023
Dravidian Naga and Yakka, the tribe to which Kuveni is supposed to have come from, Thamizh or semi-Thamizh-speaking tribes have been living on the island from prehistoric times, and their identity and Hindu or ancient Saivite religion was well established long before Buddhism or mythical Prince Vijaya arrived. As seen by the five ancient prehistoric Ishwarams of which four are still existing and Kathikammam. If someone knows the Thamizh language well you can see the vast majority of the coastal town and village names, in the so-called Chingkalla west and south, including Colombo ( Kolumpu, Kallapu or Kollam) are of Thamizh origin. The Dravidian Naga elite on the island adopted proper Thamizh as their mother tongue 3000 years ago, whilst the masses still spoke semi-Thamizh, Elu dialect. Since the native Thamizh Dravidian Naga population, in the north and east, largely did not convert to Buddhism or converted and reconverted back to Saivism, their identity remained intact and they did not evolve as Chingkallams, like it happened in the rest of the island.
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Pandi Kutti / January 18, 2023
Their homeland was already and they were a hundred per cent majority there, however, the 10th-century invasion by the Chola, who captured and ruled the island for the next century, firmly and formally established the north and east as the homeland of the native Eezham Thamizh and Saivism. After this Chola invasion Buddhism amongst the North East Thamizh died out and these areas became bastions of Saivite Hinduism and the Thamizh language. The Cholas further strengthened this Thamizh identity by sending many immigrants from Chola land who assimilated with the local Thamizh. By the 12th century, the north and east were firmly established as the land of the native Eezham Thamizh and Saivaism, where they were a 100% majority and the rest of the island was Chingkalla Buddhists. Anyone who wanted to be Hindu or Thamizh moved to the NE and anyone who wanted to be Buddhist or Chinkallam moved South. The formal establishment of the Thamizh kingdom of Jaffna in the early 13th century and eastern Vannmai Thamizh chiefdoms in the east strengthened this.
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Pandi Kutti / January 18, 2023
There is no history of Thamizh from South India, Chakilli or any other Thamizh king or chief chasing away Chingkallams from the north and east. These are all fairly tales now created by Chingkalla Buddhist extremists. The Thamizh population in these areas are native and have been there and the Chingkallams who were there assimilated as Thamizh and vice versa down south. No one chased anyone out. When the Europeans arrived they found two nations one the Eezham Thamizh nation in the north and east ruled by a Thamizh king in the north, north-west and northeast and Thamizh chieftains in the east. The Chingkallams in the rest of the island. Ruled by their kings, most of whom were of South Indian Thamizh origin. There was no Rajarata, Ruhuna or Maya rata. There were three kingdoms. The Thamizh Jaffna kingdom and the eastern Vannimai chieftaincies and the Chingkalla Kandyan and Kotte kingdoms and other minor kingdoms. This is a historic fact.
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Pandi Kutti / January 18, 2023
Even your part fairy tale anti-Thamizh diatribe Mahavamsa stated that the lands to the north and east of the island were Thamizh lands. and describes when Dutta Kaimunu, who was actually a Thamizh Naga Buddhist from the south, fought Thamiuzh Hindu King Ellalan in Anuradhapura 2300 years ago, he had to fight with more than 40 Thamizh chieftains and the area was full of Thamizh settlements and villages in the area, which even British traveller Robert Knox describes, in the 16Th or 17Th century, stating Anuradhapura area was full of Thamizh settlements and villages. The King who converted to Buddhism was a Thamizh Naga his title was Thevanai Nambiya Theesan ( meaning Theesan who had great faith in the god in Thamizh). He was the second son of king Mutta Sivan ( meaning the great Siva in pure Thamizh). After he got converted his title was Prakritized to Deva Naam Piya Tissa meaning the Tissa who loves the name of god, more or less the same meaning in its original Thamizh form. Theesan was a very common Thamizh name during this era as seen by the Keeladi excavations.
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Pandi Kutti / January 18, 2023
Lastly, the east is ancient Thamizh Hindu land and not Islamic or Chingkalla land. Everything about the east is Thamizh Hindu or Thamizh Buddhist, history place names, culture everything, Not Islamic or Chingkallams. The Chingkallams were only a very small minority in the east before independence and were deliberately settled in their hundreds of thousands on ethnically cleansed Eezhan Thamizh lands, especially in the Trincomalee and Amparai districts to deliberately change the demography and make the Thamizh a minority in the east. The so-called Sri Lankan Moors or Muslims, are actually ethnic South Indian origin immigrant Thamizh Muslims, who first settled along the then Thamizh north-west coast and then fled to the Thamizh east, fleeing Portuguese and later Chingkalla persecution. They were given refuge in the Thamizh east, as they claimed to be ethnic Thamizh Muslims feeling persecuted and were also given local Thamizh Hindu Mukkuva brides to start the family on this basis, also given land. Now trying to claim the east as theirs over the heads of the larger indigenous Eezham Tahamizh, who gave them refuge, on the basis of Islam and a fake hardly existent Arab origin, is a joke. The Chingkallans are deliberately encouraging this as seen by this article as they want to muddy the waters and deny the Thamizh, their homeland, by encouraging these Thamizh Muslims to claim huge chunks of the east as theirs.
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SJ / January 19, 2023
So, here we have the Tamil Mahavamsam!
Arohara!
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Savi / January 19, 2023
Thanks for the comment, Pandi.
My understanding was that the Yakkha, Deva and Naga tribes spoke Elu as their first language and the northerners were bilingual by way of knowing Tamil. I am aware of the Tamils who came to Lanka and became Sinhalized such as the Karawe, Salagame etc.
My thoughts concern how to address the overlap with Tamils considering north and east as homelands and Sinhalese considering the island as the homeland.
Is there no other way besides the creation of Tamil Eelam?
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Pandi Kutti / January 19, 2023
Elu was a simple semi or proto-Thamizh Dravidian dialect, that was the mother tongue of the island’s Dravidian Naga and Yakka masses but the Naga elite on the island had already adopted proper Thamizh as their mother tongue around 3000 years ago and used it for formal purposes. Hela or old Chingkallam is Elu+ Prakrit= Hela. Whenever Thamizh gets Prakritized the original Thamizh word starts with an H B or G. You can see that in the Kannada Language. Thamizh Penn ( female) Kannada Hennu. Thamizh Pokkai( smoke) Kannda Hogga. Thamizh Kallu or Kall( stone) Kannada Gallu Gal. Thamizh Paal ( Milk) Kannada Haalu. I can go on. Therefore with the arrival of Buddhism, the simple semi-Tamil dialect Elu dialect of the masses down south got Prakritized with the Pali and Sanskrit of Buddhism and Elu became Hela or old Chingkallam. Thamizh words like Eezham became Hela, Chingkallam ( the red/copper land) became Sinhala( nothing to do with north Indians, lions, that was another myth created to explain Sinhala) Ilankai from the ancient Thamizh world Ilangu meaning knowledge, shining or resplendent, the root word for the Thamizh words Illakanam( grammar) Illakiyam, became Lanka. The resplendent Island.
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Pandi Kutti / January 19, 2023
Only a person who knows the Thamizh language well will understand this. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the white colonial Europen archaeologists were so racially biased and Aryan based that they were looking and trying to justify everything through the prism of Sanskrit and Aryanism, forgetting the fact that Sanskrit vocabulary has a lot of Dravidian/Thamizh and Munda words and its grammar, syntax and lexicon is entirely derived from Dravidian/Thamizh. Elu and Hela( old Chingkallam) were very close to their Thamizh mother in grammar, structure, and pronunciation, unlike modern Chinkallam which has now been deliberately Sanskritized, just like modern Kannada and Malayalam to distance them from their Thamizh roots. Hale Kannada or Old Kannda is very close to Thamizh or basically Thamizh and Malayalam spoken and written in the Thamizh Vatteluthu script before 1820 was the western Chera Thamizh dialect. What is now passed off as Malayalam is the highly Sanskritized Grantha Bhasha of the Namboothiris, written in the Tilgari script, that was imposed by the British in the 1820s as the official language of Kerala, as they were their allies.
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old codger / January 20, 2023
PK
“Eezham Thamizh are not of South Indian origin but are native to the island and are largely descended from the Dravidian Naga who migrated to the island from South India,”
Aren’t you shooting yourself in the foot in your enthusiasm?
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Mahila / January 20, 2023
Enthused Overdrive!!!!???
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Pandi Kutti / January 21, 2023
Hi old codger, thanks for the comment. Yes, everyone on this island, more or less arrived from India, especially from South India, including the ancestors of the Veddha, however, it depends on when they came. What the author of this article is implying like most Chingkallams is that the so-called native from the north and east, are purely descended from 10Th century and post-century South Indian Thamizh invasions and migrations and there was no Thamizh homeland before that. This is a blatant lie. Yes, there is an element of this, 7th- 10Th century., Pallava, Chola and Kalinga invasion and immigration ancestry amongst the native Eezham Thamizh and no one denies that and there is even around 27-30% North East Indian or Bengali ancestry in them, proving that these immigrants from North East India, were not the leading cause of the Chingkalla people evolving, as they migrated and intermarried, got brides from South India and then got assimilated into the local Naga, Yakka Dravidian population. However, the core ancestry and origin of the Eezham Thamizh are the Dravidian Naga who migrated to the island from South India, during prehistoric times and adopted proper Thamizh as their mother tongue around 2500-3000 years ago. This is the reason they share 55% DNA with the original Chingkallams and are very closely related to the Kandyan Chingkallams.
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Pandi Kutti / January 21, 2023
It was the arrival of Buddhism, together with the Pali/Sanskrit languages associated with this religion and the large-scale conversion of the Dravidian Naga and Yakka population down south to the Buddhist religion and then mixing their local Tamil or semi-Tamil dialects with the Pali and Sanskrit of Buddhism caused the gradual evolution of the Chingkallams down south. In the North and east of the island, where the Naga population predominated more than the Yakka, the conversion to Buddhism was far less, therefor the Thamizh language and identity were maintained in these areas, proximity to Thamizh South India, trade and later invasions, especially the 10TH-century invasion of Rajah Rajah Cholan, clearly established the North and East as the homelands of the Saivite Eezham Thamizh. Even the minority of Thamizh who were following Buddhism in these regions converted back to Hinduism during this period. Actually, post 10Th Century migration from South India to the Thamizh parts of the island became a trickle but became a huge sea in the Chingkalla parts of the island, especially during the Portuguese, and Dutch eras.
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old codger / January 21, 2023
PK,
“What the author of this article is implying like most Chingkallams is that the so-called native from the north and east, are purely descended from 10Th century and post-century South Indian Thamizh invasions”
The author is young, and probably swallowed everything that the hamuduruwo in the Daham Pasala said. Can’t blame her, it takes time for all that compulsory brainwashing to wear off.
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SJ / January 22, 2023
OC
What about the brainwashing that Muslims and Sinhalese were low caste Tamils at one time?
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Pandi Kutti / January 22, 2023
Thaatha read this. This is from a Bohra
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/sri-lankan-muslims-are-low-caste-tamil-hindu-converts-not-arab-descendants/
Please also read the origin of the Chingkalla Karawa, Salagama, Durawa and many other castes now making up 50% of the Chingkallams. The Dravidian Yakka on the island were largely boorish peasants and it was the Naga who were the elite, traders etc. Where ever the Naga predominated the population remained largely Hindu and maintained their ancient Thamizh identity,. in the Yakka predominating areas, they converted to Buddhism and evolved as Chingkallams. The Chingkalla ruling castes and aristocracy are descended
largely from upper caste Thamizh and later some Telugu South Indian immigrants, however, most of the migration and imports from South India are from the lower and artisan castes. Of course, you know all this but as usual trying to nit pick and be nasty,
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Rohan25 / January 21, 2023
It depends on when they arrived from South India. Almost everyone on the island has a South Indian/Indian origin, however, being called a native or an immigrant from South India is when they arrive. The Vedda arrived first most probably when the island was connected to the Indian mainland through a land bridge more than 30000 or more years ago. Most probably long after that these Dravidian Naga, Yakka and other tribes, speaking some form of Dravidian/proto or semi-Tamil dialect would have arrived through the shallow seas, separating the island from the Indian mainland. This may have been 5000-6000 years ago and not recent. This is why most probably PK called them natives, who arrived from South India during prehistoric times. Whereas the author in my opinion was deliberately and mischievously implying that the island’s Tamils are solely descended from medieval South Indian immigrants and invaders, which is not correct, as there were Tamils on the island from ancient times, as even seen by Mahavamsa writings. By trying to show the island’s Tamils do not belong and are from invaders from South India, it only proved the opposite, that the island’s Tamils have been there since ancient times and are largely not descended from recent or medieval South Indian immigrants or invaders.
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Pandi Kutti / January 19, 2023
Lastly, if the north and east are the homeland of the island’s native Thamizh and have been locally and historically recognized as the homeland of the Eezham Thamizh, that has been largely ruled by local Thamizh kings and chieftains until the arrival of European colonists, how can Chingkallams claim that the whole island belongs to them, or the recently arrived fake Arab South Indian Thamizh Muslims, with a dash of Arab in some of them, claim large parts of the east belongs to them, where they sought refuge, a few centuries ago, from Portuguese and Chingkalla persecution, claiming to be Thamizh but now miraculously metamorphosed into Moors or Arabs in the name of Islam? The idea is ridiculous. The north and east of the island are the homelands of the Eezham Thamizh and the rest of the island is the homeland of Chingkallams. Until the British arrived and created a new colony called Ceylon in 1830 by merging the then separate Thamizh and Chingkalla parts of the island, as it suited their agenda and purpose, just like they created British India, that was never there and then divided it into India and Pakistan, in 1947 and then handed over the island to the Chingkalalms in 1948, the Chingkallams never had any peep into the Thamizh North and East, so how can it be their land too?
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Pandi Kutti / January 19, 2023
This is like the English in Britain claiming Wales and Scotland also belong to them.
The Justification for the creation of Pakistan was that the Muslim populations in these regions were indigenous, and converted to Islam centuries ago. Therefore they exercised their right of self-determination in their own land. Not some immigrant Muslim South Indian Thamizh origin, refugee population that came a few centuries ago, seeking refuge from persecution and sought refuge in the ancient Thamizh Hindu east on the basis that they are fellow ethnic Thamizh and seek refuge from other Thamizh in their lands on the basis of their ethnicity and then a few centuries later, after establishing themselves, claim in the name of Islam they are not Thamizh anymore but Arabs, Camels or Moors, or whatever takes their fancy and want an Islamic homeland over the heads of the larger native Thamizh population that gave them refuge. Thamizh when it suits them but not a Thamizh and Islamic fake Arabs at all other times. This is like Syrian and other Islamic refugees in the west to claim for homeland within a few generations in Europe over the heads of the native white populations.
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Pandi Kutti / January 19, 2023
Other than a microscopic minority the Chingkallams arrived in the east and north only after independence due to deliberate colonisation and ethnic cleansing policies, which is a war crime and recognizing these areas in the east or north as Chingkallam is to recognize Structural genocide and ethnic cleansing. This means the Indian-origin estate Thamizh population who were forcibly taken from South India and settled in central Sri Lanka also should have a homeland in the Nuwara Eliya district. The same law should apply to all not just to Chingkallans or Fake Arab immigrant South Indian Thamizh Muslims.
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SJ / January 19, 2023
More of Mahavamsam!
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Pandi Kutti / January 20, 2023
SJ Thaatha you like it? Thanks -;). Instead of spending lots of energy and time defending China, Srimavo, the Bandaranaickes, the Chingkalla racists and Thulluka extremists, and trying to nitpick and denigrate every Thamizh blogger, what a lot you can do to help your own people? You must be very sad and bitter. Now coming to another topic which is more pleasant. I recently saw Vijay’s Varisu for Thai Pongal. Hope you saw it too. Enjoy this song. I enjoyed it. Since you liked my Mahavamsam a present for you. Enjoy and dance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KA4oseaabE
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SJ / January 22, 2023
That is more like the piglet I know.
Have a good ‘oink’.
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Savi / January 20, 2023
Thank you for your comment, Pandi.
Since Sinhalese derive considerably from Dravidian stock, why is it taboo/structural genocide for them to exist in the north and east? Given that there are no such restrictions for so-called ‘Traditional Sinhala homeland’, why not ensure that all the island’s inhabitants can live wherever they want?
I understand that this does not sit well with those who advocate for Eelam, but I have always seen Sinhalese as Tamil-blooded people who speak a different tongue.
Thanks in advance for your input!
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old codger / January 20, 2023
Savi,
“Given that there are no such restrictions for so-called ‘Traditional Sinhala homeland’, why not ensure that all the island’s inhabitants can live wherever they want?”
Your sentiments are indeed admirable. But the reality on the ground is different. There are places in the South which are no-go areas for Tamil/Muslim businesses. It was not so in the past, and we can argue till the cows come home on the causes.
It is true that the minorities hogged a lot of state employment on merit in the past. That may have been unfair, but they were certainly more competent than the clowns in senior positions nowadays. If we want the country to progress, there is no option but to let those who are willing to work take the jobs.
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Pandi Kutti / January 20, 2023
Yes, both the Chingkallams and so-called Sri Lankan Moors are predominantly and overwhelmingly of Dravidian Thamizh ancestry but both keep denying and ignoring this stark truth. The former claimed to be Aryan and the latter Arab. Moor, Persian, Camel, Sheep or anything that takes their fancy or is the flavour of the day, other than their actual Thamizh origin and ethnicity. Many now even call themselves Chingkalla Muslims. Claim to be Thamizh only when they seek asylum in the west but once they get residency and later citizenship, become Arab. Moor, Camel, and Sheep are back again and start indulging in anti-Thamizh activities. No restrictions on Traditional Chingkalla land! What is that why does the government ethnically cleanse Chingkallams in traditional Chingkalla areas and then settle hundreds of thousands of Thamizh speakers in these lands and then change the place name from Chingkallam to Thamizh, destroy the Buddhist temples, Chingkalla character of the region, and build Hindu, temples, Thamizh Christian churches and mosques on these sites, using the Archeological, Land, forestry and armed forces to convert these once Chingkalla lands to Thamizh using a fake and concocted history like they do in traditional Thamizh areas? The answer is no. However, they have done this historic Thamzh areas ad nd
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Pandi Kutti / January 20, 2023
Sorry. However, they have done this to traditional historic Thamizh areas and 95% of the Chingkallams living in the north and east have not come there on their own will and purchased lands/properties on their own accord, just like the way the Thamizh and Thamizh Muslim have done in the Chingkalla areas but beneficiaries of state-sponsored colonisation schemes, that deliberately settled hundreds of thousands of outside Chingkallams on ethnically cleansed Thamizh lands in the north and east, especially in the east, which has resulted in the Thamizh becoming a minority in the own lands in the Amparai and Trincomalee regions. And you call this no restrictions and taboo Chingkalla settlement. Either you are in denial mode or deliberately misleading. If this is so how come the Chingkallams who were less than 5% of the population in the east are not 23% of the population and the Thamizh is now reduced to 40% in the east? Chingkallams are welcome, in Thamizh areas, as long as they arrive of their own free will and purchase lands on properties with their own funds and do not try to change the Thamizh character of the region, just like the way Thamizh and Muslims do in Chingkalla areas.
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Pandi Kutti / January 20, 2023
However, they are not welcome if they arrive here under the state-sponsored colonisation and ethnic cleansing schemes, that are deliberately done under the guise of development but in reality to change the Thamizh character of the region and ethnically cleanse.
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Mahila / January 19, 2023
Savi,
Please pardon for forgetting to congratulate on an enlightening piece of “current affair”
i was too eager to place my points on the table before the “Time Out”, if in case there was any!??
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Savi / January 20, 2023
Thanks Mahila! I hope the continued discussion provides access to a clearer path forward for all!
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Black Lankan / January 19, 2023
I strongly believe that SL is a curse by Kuveni. Vijaya, is a product of bestiality, patricide, incest, wantonnes and betrayal. He is an Indian Hindu who was chased away along with his cronies by his father as he was so cruel and and of no use to the community. He was made to drift in a boat but sadly he ended up in Ilankai that was ruled by Dravidas comprising of Nagas and Yakshas. Kuveni foolishly enetertained this guy but soon betrayed and even murdered. Then the thugs and vagrants went to Pandiya nadu, got Tamil women for them, came back to Illanka and started to proliferate. History says that even Pandyas are betrayers and was hated by Cholas. They finally became informants to the Illankai rulers. So start of the so-called Sinhala race is not auspicious at all. No wonder even the stamp, arrival Vijaya, was withdrawn soon after its issue. The present say Sinhale are not a local race at all but a combination of Dravidas (Nagas, Yagshas) and guys from Orissa and Telungus (Nayakars) and Vaduvas who were Telungu hill tribe, violent mercenary forces with Tamil speaking Telungu forces that invaded Illankai later on. From them came Bandaranayakas, Senanayakas, maha nayakas, who became severely anti tamils.
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SJ / January 19, 2023
BL
A sound theory should fit data.
Most of the people in this country are descendants of post-Vijaya immigrants– a good many post-Portuguese or even post-Dutch.
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gamini / January 19, 2023
The biggest impediment I find is Sinhala Buddhism which has been revived by two Tamil Buddhist Priests namely Buddha Gosha and Buddha Daththa, three hundred years or so after Buddha’s demise, at a time Buddhism was on the decline. Prior to that there was no idol worship of the living Buddha for 45 years after enlightenment or Statues nor Bo-trees to collect merit to go to Nirvana. Buddha never wrote his Autobiography, kept memoirs nor there was someone to take notes of daily events either. For that matter Buddha did not write a single word of his Philosophy, as it had been by word of mouth that Buddhism had been preserved till the Thripitakaya was Chronicled very much later at Aluwihara, Matale. It is after Buddha Gosha and Buddha Daththa revived Buddhism that the Rituals commenced in Buddhism and the Current Pansil and Pali Gathas to recite for offering alms to statues and Bo-trees, Jathaka Stories, Pirith as a Manthra and not as a Suthra, commenced to transform Buddhism to a Religion, mainly for the sustenance and survival of a Buddhist Priesthood. I understand that this sculptor of Buddha Statues commenced after this, where rules had been laid to all Sculptors and Artists in India and elsewhere, by the Priests not to depict Buddha in old age, as Buddha lived up to 80 years.
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SJ / January 19, 2023
G
“Sinhala Buddhism which has been revived by two Tamil Buddhist Priests namely Buddha Gosha and Buddha Daththa, three hundred years or so after Buddha’s demise,”
*
Are we sure of the dates?
Buddhaghosa was a 5th-century Indian Theravada Buddhist commentator, translator and philosopher.
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SJ / January 20, 2023
Savi
You are easily intimidated I notice.
Perhaps you are new to this place.
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Black Lankan / January 20, 2023
The tragedy of Sinahala people is their total lack of knowledge of their origin. They are very vulnerable people to be easily hoodwinked. They believed by what some Monks and so-called historians uttered and thought that they are an ancient native reace of Illankai. Some even believe that Buddha was a SINHALA born in Lanka and Buddhsim created in Lanka. Some think that Buddha selected Lanka to be a chosen land, believing that Lanka is the only place where Buddhism will flourish and its priciples would proliferate. had he thoght so then all of us know that Buddha made a TRAGIC blunder and this alone may discredit Buddhas wisdom. The racist like Weerawangse aka Weeramonkey, Jayasumane, Gommon-Pulle, RARE-ADMIRED Sarath Weeraya still believe that they can sail through and capture power by their foolish, racist, ignorant utterences that majority Gullible, Innocent, Ignorant, Non-Thinking Sinahla masses would believe. Entry of Buddhism into Ilankai in the latter part of BCE, when Buddhsim was flourishing in Hindu India, led to Buddhism being accepted in Hindu Illankai by Hindu King Devanai Nambiya Theesan, and it floushed as in India. But subsequently when it started to slowly doing out of vogue, in Illanka, it remained in the South of Ilanka but vanished from the North.
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Black Lankan / January 20, 2023
contd………
With time the arrival of Telungu invaders and the Nayakas and Vaduvas and Pandiya Tamils, they embraced Buddhism and slowly started calling themselves a well defined “Sinhala Buddhist” that is still promoted by Racist fellows and illiterate monks for their own prosperity. Telungus even today are anti tamils. All these nayakas from Bandaranayake, Senanayake, Maha Nayake are all of Telungu origin Hindus who lated embraced Buddhism for survival. Even the last king of Kandy is of Telungu origin but Tamil speaking Hindu and later got converted to Buddhsim for politcal reason. During his time several Tamils and Telungus were brought into Ilankai who became Buddhists and finally called themsleves as Nayakas. Until and unless they learn the truth, Sinhala people will continue to be exploited by their own people. Anyway I dont know whether we are already late and whether still possible to slavage SL.
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Pandi Kutti / January 21, 2023
Black Lankan are you aware that, with the arrival of Vijayanagar Nayaka rule, many Naickers and Telugu Brahmins were brought into Thamizh Nadu and the native Vellalar landowners and Thamizh Brahmins were made powerless, especially in Northern Thamizh Nadu. All their lands and temples were taken over by these Naickers and Telugu Brahmins. Their main centres were Madurai and Thanjavur. This was after the fall of the Pandian empire. Within a century or two they largely started to identify themselves as Thamizh and speak Thamizh and use it for formal purposes in Thamizh Nadu but at home speak pidgin Telugu. Most even do this now. By the time the Naicker rule started in Kandy, they had become fully Thamilized. I mean the Naickers in Thamizh Nadu, not the ones in Andhra or Telangana. This is why the Kandy Naickers were openly promoting the Thamizh language in the Kandyan court and it was also the court language together with Chingkallam. The last king of Kandy was deported to Salem in Thamizh Nadu and not to Telugu land as he and the Kandy Naickers considered themselves Thamizh and not Telugu and the Thamizh country in South India as their homeland.
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Pandi Kutti / January 21, 2023
This is why half the so-called present-day Chingkallams are predominantly or purely descended from this huge post 10TH century South Indian migration. Yet they keep on referring to the Eezham Thamizh who only share around 17% DNA with the South Indian Thamizh, as South Indian Immigrants, completely ignoring the fact modern-day Chingkallams share around 50-70% DNA with South Indian Thamizh.
Periyar the father of the Dravidian movement was a Naicker and his mother tongue was Kannada. Many of these Telugu-origin Brahmins, who arrived with the Naickers from Telugu land, now speaking Thamizh and identifying themselves as Thamizh became very rich and very powerful, economically, politically but despite calling themselves Thamizh, they still remained anti-Thamizh to the core and will side with any anti-Thamizh against the rest of the Thamizh. Lots of them also became Brahmin supremacists. 90% of these so-called powerful Thamizh Brahmins, politicians, journalists, industrialists and others constantly making anti-Thamizh comments, especially against the Eezham Thamizh and siding with the Chingkallams, Kannadigas and every other people, like the Muslim Thamizh here, are of actually these Telugu origin Brahmins, who arrived centuries ago with the Naickers, now despite speaking Thamizh and calling themselves Thamizh are still anti-Thamizh.
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SJ / January 22, 2023
The real Tamils are thus Dalits.
I will endorse that fully.
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Pandi Kutti / January 22, 2023
SJ Thaatha are you real Thamizh? From which kuppam? China kuppam? Pandaranaicken kuppam? Or from the Thullkan kuppam? Can you also perform this Dalit Kuppam dance to the beat of the Para Melam( Bera in Chingkallam) ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sihvJ7NChZQ
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SJ / January 22, 2023
Piglet
The kuppam where this piglet eats my excrement with relish.
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Pandi Kutti / January 22, 2023
Oh, I see you are from the pandi kundi kuppam. No wonder you are such an are h-le. I now understand. Hope you are able to wiggle your derriere and dance the kuppam dance well.
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Black Lankan / January 22, 2023
SJ, Dalits or Suthras are all created by the migrant Asians (aka Ariyans) who later became Brahmins for their very benefit. At earleast time there was no such things as Brahmins. It was a later creation through Hindutava an imaginary man made entity to promote alien Brahmins. Even Gita is part of the ploy. It is all created like how our Sinhala brothers created their own imaginary history through Mahvamsa. So prior to these so-called Ariya Brahmins there was no such castes. Today, owing to these evil guys, India remains divided and many vistimised despite the constitutional rights. In SL too these Nayakas created an image that they are superior to other sinhalas and hoodwinked the gullible to exploit them while remained utterly racists. Now of course they have lost their clouts.
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