Minister of National Dialogue Mano Ganesan has threatened to resign from his ministerial portfolio if the government fails to give due recognition for language parity.
Mano Ganesan
“If there is no language parity, how on earth can there be genuine power sharing, national coexistence and parity between ethnicities and provinces? National question is not only the language issue. But it sure holds the large part of the national question. Therefore I consider language parity is the prelude to the national coexistence. If no recognition is given to the language parity exercise of my ministry, I will have no business in holding this ministry. I will quit,” Ganesan warned.
He emphasized that his ministry has two major mandates, one is for national coexistence dialogue between ethnic linguistic segments and the other is for the all-important official language policy implementation.
“We are still very much far behind the goal of achieving language parity in this country. Still the Tamil speaking communities are governed by the Sinhala only language policy mechanism. As the sole authoritative for official language policy implementation, I am answerable to the questions raised by the people’s representatives of the Tamil speaking community,” Ganesan said, while adding that the Chief Ministers of the Northern and Eastern Provinces were questioning him over the continuing language disparity.
He is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and also Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera to discuss certain shortcomings in regard to this issue before they become serious.
Meanwhile, Ganesan has also accused Samaraweera of ‘hijacking’ the local mechanism process from the Prime Minister’s office, which has led to a breakdown in the process going forward. The mechanism centres around four key areas; truth, justice, repatriation and non-recurrence, which are linked to the country’s efforts to achieve reconciliation.
“It is true that that foreign ministry is the face of Sri Lanka to the world. But however it looks to me that foreign ministry has hijacked the total mechanism process from the prime minister’s office. The Prime Minister’s Action Group (PMAG) of which my ministry is also a part has not met since its inception. Foreign minister Samaraweera has somewhat failed to take some of the serious concerns of the leading activists of civil society organizations (CSO),” Ganesan claimed.
According to him, the CSO activists have contributed right through to the upholding of the human rights values during the most difficult days. “I was part and parcel of such activities. They are linked to the coexistence mandate of my ministry under the secretariat for national and international voluntary organizations. Surly some confused atmosphere is prevailing in the consultative and coordination process. Minister Samaraweera and his ministry has failed to take note of the role played by my ministry in the non-recurrence part. This is creating some dissonance tendencies within the victim communities,” Ganesan lamented.
jim softy / July 2, 2016
Think About Mano Ganeshan trying to this any of the countries in the democratic west and even in Norway where most Tamils are talking Norwegian language ?
there are migrants from every country in the world are living in those those countries. but, they all Talk english, French, German, Norwegian etc.,
Only in Tamilnadu and Sri lanka, Tamils can not talk the majority language.
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Saro / July 2, 2016
Mano Ganeshan is talking about the ordinary citizens who and whose ancestors were born here in Sri Lanka but found it difficult to understand what the police, army and government officials speak to them or the government letters sent to them. In many cases the complainants have sign the reports written in Sinhala without knowing the contents.
Immigrants go to any country accepting the laws and official language in force. But the citizens have a right as in Singapore where 3 official languages and a link language are in force or in Canada with two official languages. In switzerland, too, 3 languages are official. In any civilised country with multi-ethnicity multiple languages are made official. In India a quasi-federal system is set up based on languages.
In the western countries immigrants who do not understand the official language have a right by law to demand a translator or interpreter. In Sri Lanka Sinhala Only act holds the progress back and set one community against another. That’s why Sinhala-Buddhist monks destroy, kill and demolish the businesses and worshipping places and followers of other faiths, that, too, in the name of Lord Buddha.
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Sinhala Banda / July 2, 2016
Your racists comments are highly unwarranted and do not blame Sinhala-Buddhists for the problems faced by Tamils. We cannot solve your inward inferior complex, however we don’t have to sit idle and absorb your insults. Official language policies were introduced by NON-Sinhala, Converted-Buddhists. Sinhala Buddhists have been labeled as the problem for difficulties encountered by average Tamils. You are wrong fellow, it is the dubious and corrupt politicians; they responsible for the language issue and other ills confronting all ethnic groups including Sinhala people. Average Sinhala, Tamil Speaking Minorities are fighting each other. In the meantime, bunch of politicians of every color and races are having a gala time on our expense.
We average Sri Lankans are so gullible and we fought almost thirty years killing each other, of those killed sons and daughters of our beloved country during this tragic period, 99.99 percent were average poor Sinhala-Buddhists and Tamil-Hindus. The war was over in 2009, where are we now? we have gone back to square-one. We are worse off than in 1953. More than 70 percent of the Sinhala-Buddhists live in Rural Sri Lanka and majority of their children suffer with many deceases associated with malnutrition; some have gone to work in other countries as slaves. they barely survive with the help of handouts thrown at them by the lot in Colombo. That is the reality; you have developed a grudge against these poor Sinhala Buddhists. Sinhala-Buddhists or the Buddhist monks are not the problem;the guys like you have promoted hatred towards innocent Sinhala People and people like me have kept silent for a long time without speaking out against the atrocities committed by dubious politicians under various guises. THAT IS THE PROBLEM.
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shan / July 2, 2016
Please do not talk unless you know history. When Britain handed over this island nation back to all Sri Lankans it was the sinhalese who were inferior and brought the citizenship act to reduce the number of tamils in the Island and also created sinhalese settlements amongst tamil dominant areas to change the demographics.
From there onwards Sinhalese Politicians (i.e SWRD & JR) at the time politicised a non existent ethnic issue for political milage by bringing the Sinhala only act, and what else could explain the inferiority other than the standardizations act which was introduced to reduce the number of tamils who would enter universities through hard work.
Please dont label me a sympathiser for terrorists for voicing my opinion like most people do on these comments.
Thanks
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sach / July 3, 2016
There is nothing wrong in repatriating Indians who were settled here by the British. As they breed like rats Sinhalese can take action to repatriate them to protect their homeland.
As the mad wiggie had already suggested autonomy for indians settled by British in SL, the initial decision to repatriate them sound logical and reasonable
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Native Vedda / July 3, 2016
sachoooooooooooooooooooooo stupid II
“There is nothing wrong in repatriating Indians who were settled here by the British.”
Well, I may agree with you on this, when can we repatriate you back to South India?
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Native Vedda / July 2, 2016
Sinhala Banda
“Your racists comments are highly unwarranted and do not blame Sinhala-Buddhists for the problems faced by Tamils.”
Racist:
A person who believes that a particular race is superior to another.
Google.
Racist:
Someone who believes that other races are not as good as their own and therefore treats them unfairly.
dictionary.cambridge.org
Do you think Saro fit any of the above definitions?
“We cannot solve your inward inferior complex, however we don’t have to sit idle and absorb your insults.”
Though you being a minority I believe you suffer from inferiority complex, paranoia and worse scared of every reasonable suggestion.
You ought to be ashamed of yourself and remember since you being a bigoted Sinhala/Buddhist noisy minority has no place among the diverse people of this island.
Why don’t you pack your bags and go back to wherever your ancestors came from, possibly to South India?
” We are worse off than in 1953. More than 70 percent of the Sinhala-Buddhists live in Rural Sri Lanka and majority of their children suffer with many deceases associated with malnutrition; some have gone to work in other countries as slaves.”
My Elders reminded me that this island was ruled by the Sinhala/Buddhists for the past 68 years. Don’t you think it would be most appropriate to hold the past and present rulers responsible for all those short comings and neglect? If I were you I would meet my local MP and question him/her.
“We average Sri Lankans are so gullible and we fought almost thirty years killing each other, of those killed sons and daughters of our beloved country during this tragic period, 99.99 percent were average poor Sinhala-Buddhists and Tamil-Hindus.”
If I were you I would hold the present and past rulers for the wars fought on the soil not for mere 33 years but since 5th April 1971.
“THAT IS THE PROBLEM.”
Since you have identified the problem what are you going to do about it? How do you think you ought to fix it?
I am sure in the next elections you are again going to vote for the the most popular racist.
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jim softy / July 2, 2016
Sri lanka’s majority language is sinhala and never was Tamil. Because of Tamil Tribalism, they don;’t want to learn Sinhala.
That is racism from Tamil side.
Other wise, an Indian Tamil is there to promote languages ?
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Burning Issue / July 3, 2016
Jim,
You are simply an idiot! You made the Sinhala as the national language because of your tribal mindset! If you were not tribal, you would have consulted with the Tamil speaking people, which would have been democratic and just!
The other point you need to understand is that, the Sinhala became majority because of Brits amalgamating the north and east with the rest of the country! Your stupidity has no bounds.
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sach / July 3, 2016
what is wrong in tribal mindset? if sinhalese give up their tribal mindset they cannot live with ultra racists like tamils.
This is sinhala tribe’s homeland so they have every right to have the tribe’s language
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Native Vedda / July 3, 2016
sachoooooooooooooooooooooooooo the stupid II
“what is wrong in tribal mindset? if sinhalese give up their tribal mindset they cannot live with ultra racists like tamils.”
If they can’t live with racists like Tamils how do they live among themselves?
“This is sinhala tribe’s homeland so they have every right to have the tribe’s language”
You can very well live in your chosen Sinhala/Buddhist ghetto if you want to, however, you don’t have any right to force rest of the people to live with you. We will let you have your exclusive ghetto or brothel in Hambantota.
By the way, what is a homeland and why are you sitting on your brain?
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / July 3, 2016
You are wrong. Tamils may not know grammertical Sinhala but certainly they can give you a lecture using “SUDDHA SINHALA”
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Shan / July 2, 2016
Tamils are not “migrants” in Sri Lanka, The country belongs to Both Tamils and Sinhalese as history would enlighten you. No body is forcing you to learn Tamil so zip it.
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sach / July 3, 2016
yes country belongs to every citizen but SL is the sinhala homeland much like England is the english homeland
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Native Vedda / July 3, 2016
sachoooooooooooooooo the stupid II
“yes country belongs to every citizen but SL is the sinhala homeland much like England is the english homeland”
The country doesn’t belong to every citizen, it belongs to the future generation.
Your homeland is in South India. Please go home and let us preserve this country and pass it on to the future generation.
Why are you sitting on your brain?
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Shrikharan / July 4, 2016
Racist Sachooooooooooo
“much like England is the english homeland”
As you said Only England is English homeland and NOT Great Britain as Wales is homeland for the Welsh, Scotland for the Scots.
So is the North and East of Sri Lanka is the homeland of the Tamils. You should thank the British for which Tamils are so bitter to have amalgamated Sinhala and Tamil homeland and gave it to people they called Sri Lankans (Ceylonese). Now you racists have grabbed both parts to you and call the whole part as Sinhala homeland and call us ‘migrants'(in our own country. Bloody racists.
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Mallaiyuran / July 2, 2016
A disgraceful act of comparing a wild Animal’s Language with English, French, Norwegian or German is only done in Lankwe by the Majoritarians like softy. A worthless rubbish not considered even by Mahanama to write a bestiality story that is suitable prayer book only Sofy’s race. English, French, German(and Spanish) are UN language.
In a Western town about a 100 to 200 different languages are spoken. There are no misters in those countries to implement those languages. There are nobody to resign either, on these matters. Those all are ordinary and normal procedures of their democracy. There is no where in West in any police stations an innocent man is made as criminal for not speaking their language and beaten up. He/She go to the police station even if that one doesn’t speak their languages and get services through translators.
Soft has not understood Mano Ganesan’s speech. So he is, as usual babbling on a different direction. That is because he got an IQ disease infected from our friend Amarasiri. Mano Ganesan is a minister to implement certain provision on the law. If he has not done that job so far in England, Germany, France or Norway, the political party which engaged him as minister would have fired him. Here, he is asking authority and resources to conduct his ministry, but it is not coming forth.
As a well frog, he has not seen what is happening in the Western towns or have not understood those processes, but just reading the Sinhala media’s racial propaganda in the rublish and repeating it in English CT. What an uncivilized world the Lanakwe is!
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Celeo / July 3, 2016
It is hilarious that these Sinhala racists either do not know or pretend not to know that they are either converts or hybrids, a highly mixed race. The Sinhalese slept with everything that landed on the Sri Lankan shore and created this highly mixed race called Sinhala. Another big joke is, the Sinhalese themselves are immigrants and they are calling others immigrants.
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sach / July 3, 2016
Why arent tamils’ hybrids? well sorry to hear that non mixing genes causes brain damage and make them stuck in human evolution like what happened to Aborigines.
The matter is Celeo no matter how it hurts you this is Sinhala homeland and tamils’ have nothing to show as theirs.
ironically you accepted what i always say ‘The Sinhalese slept with everything that landed on the Sri Lankan shore and created this highly mixed race called Sinhala. ”
yes sinhala was created in SL while tamil was not
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Mallaiyuran / July 3, 2016
Tamils are not created in Tamil Nadu or Tamil Eelma. They are not created anywhere by anybody. They identified themselves first in Indus Valley.
“non mixing genes causes brain damage” Is that to avoid Sinhala Grandma Slept with lion and produced Lankawe bald headed mules? Is that why you guys are jealous of Muslims?
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Native Vedda / July 3, 2016
sachoooooooooooooooooooooo the stupid II
“well sorry to hear that non mixing genes causes brain damage and make them stuck in human evolution like what happened to Aborigines.”
Like Sinhala/Buddhists who have been stuck in 550 BC though they were highly advanced in breeding genetically modified species the one’s they created by fusing a beast and a beauty. The sad thing is evolution stopped in and around 540 BC.
“ironically you accepted what i always say ‘The Sinhalese slept with everything that landed on the Sri Lankan shore and created this highly mixed race called Sinhala. ”
Therefore it’s time to send back the descendants of “everything that landed on the shores of Sri Lanka” to their respective homeland.
In your case please go back to Erirvirapattinam.
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Native Vedda / July 3, 2016
sachoooooooooooooooooooo the stupid II
“yes sinhala was created in SL while tamil was not”
I take it that Tamils were already there long before the Sinhalese were created.
Please say hello to Dharshini, Nuisance the stupid 1, cassandra, Sathya, sarojini, Chandra, ……..
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jim softy / July 2, 2016
[Edited out]
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Native Vedda / July 3, 2016
jim softy dimwit
“[Edited out]”
Thanks for your brief note.
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Peter Pan / July 2, 2016
Look who is talking? This one is a chauvinist politician who always promotes the interests of Estate Tamils outside the national capacities and limitations. This is not a warning or threat against Ranil or Maithripala. The question is; how long Sinhala people are going to realize existence of our Nation and State is always threatened by Minority political leaders? They are holding our progress back for a ransom. India was like that under congress rule BJP lead by Modhi was the answer. There is no “parity” challenges in the UK, USA or even India where there are many ethnic groups co-exist very happily. Tamil language is not the problem it is the existence of politicians like Mano Ganesan is the problem. He is trying to justify his cushy life among the poor unsuspecting Tamils.
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Crony Capitalist / July 2, 2016
Mano Ganesan is not from an estate tamil background to be promoting the interests of estate tamils. You must be confusing him with the CWC and thondaman.
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Peter Pan / July 2, 2016
Nevertheless, he is promoting himself among Tamils to improve his presence and in Sri Lankan politics.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / July 2, 2016
Tamils are indigenous to India and Srilanka unlike in other countries like Malaysia, Mauritus or western countries. Therefore they have every right to demand the use of Tamil in their day to day life. It is the racist policies of North Indians and Sinhalese that are denying this inalienable right of Tamils. The first civilisation in Srilanka is Dravidian, with urn burial sites and pottery unearthed from North similar to those found in Tamil Nadu to prove it, suggesting that it was the same people who lived on either side of the divide. It is the Sinhala racist dominated government archeological department that is not taking any initiative to reveal the ancient past. Equipments are now available where you could detect buried archaeological artifacts without digging. In UK recently they discovered 6000 year old house with stone table and chairs. Will Sinhales take up this challenge.
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Peter Pan / July 2, 2016
Hey Gnana;
According to the twisted history taught by “Spin Doctors”, you may be correct on your comments about who the indigenous people of Lanka are?. Absolutely TAMILS were never part of the indigenous people of Lanka.
My dear fellow, the indigenous people of Lanka are known as; HELA. You may have read or heard about Princes Kuweni, she was one of the Indigenous leaders who represented HELA clan at the time of arrival of Prince Vijaya of SINHA clan from Vanga Kingdom in North Eastern India. Most likely, HELA people’s ancestry is linked to that of King Ravana and his people.
So there wasn’t any indigenous group known as “SINHALA”also.
I will not dispute your assertion about; that indigenous people of Tamil Nadu are Tamils. So stop spinning history with baloney and fabrications.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / July 3, 2016
Will you agree for an extensive archaeological survey in the northern, eastern and north-western areas using modern equipment. Artefacts to prove Tamil pressence were discovered accidentally and not by planned excavation done by archaeological department, due to intellectual dishonesty among the Sinhala scholars.
All the false claims of Sinhala racists have been proved wrong by the recent two separate genetic studies conducted among Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim citizens. None of the Sinhalese tested had the typical Aryan gene which blows away the Arya Sinhala theory put forward by racists like Anagarika Dharmapala and others.
Even the Bengali theory is in serious doubt because the genetic component of Tamils has higher percentage of Bengali input (26%) than Sinhalese (22%). There is no coroborative historical record or forklore among Bengalese about a prince and his friends being deported. Most likely these are commoner garden criminals.
Elu was the original language spoken in Srilanka which belongs to the Dravidian group. In Dravidian languages there is no “H”, and therefore change of name from Elu to Hela had been done later. Ravana is a mythological character and nowhere in Ramayana it has been stated that he is a Hela, though called a Saivaite.
Kuweni was the ruler of one of several tribes in Srilanka at that time, where each tribe had their chieftains. Mahawamsa is a load of lies and myths, and you cannot expect any intelligent person to accept it as truth. Recently a seat of rule of vedhdhas has been accidentally found in Kathiraveli near Batticaloa.
Indigenous people of Srilanka are the Veddhas, some of whom are remaining as such, while those in east-central areas have become Sinhalese and those in eastern plains have become Tamils. The so called Hela people of yours are migrants from South India when both Srilanka and Tamil Nadu were a contiguous land mass.
In this modern age, you have to prove everything scientifically. What you are citing is superficial findings, whereas truth is lying buried deep. Ask Sinhala archaeologists not to be hesitant to embark on finding about ancient people of Srilanka. Please do not act like a fool and get over your brain washed ideas.
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sach / July 3, 2016
If sinhalese were proven not to be aryan how does it prove tamils today in NE had been here first? It simply prove Sinhala is not an aryan race and we honestly dont care either.
You can do any research and publish any research. Archelogy in SL were excavated mostly by not Sinhalese but your white masters.
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Native Vedda / July 3, 2016
sachoooooooooooooooooo the stupid II
“You can do any research and publish any research. Archelogy in SL were excavated mostly by not Sinhalese but your white masters.”
it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to talk and remove all doubt.
Mark Twain
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Celeo / July 3, 2016
The biggest “Spin Doctor” was Ven. Mahanama thero who wrote the Mahavamsa. He created something called “HELA” that never existed. The only indigenous people of Sri Lanka are the Veddas and not anybody else. Ramayana (King Ravana) is another mythology.
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Native Vedda / July 3, 2016
Peter Pan
I am glad you studied your history under Gamanpilla, Champika Ranawake, Kamalika Pieris, Bandu de Silva, Irathinavalli, ……….. and others who have refused to see beyond their nose.
” You may have read or heard about Princes Kuweni, she was one of the Indigenous leaders who represented HELA clan at the time of arrival of Prince Vijaya of SINHA clan from Vanga Kingdom in North Eastern India. Most likely, HELA people’s ancestry is linked to that of King Ravana and his people. “
Could you cite evidence to prove your pointless typing above.
“I will not dispute your assertion about; that indigenous people of Tamil Nadu are Tamils.”
Are the Tamils of Tamils awaiting your confirmation of the obvious? Are you yourself a historian?
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Peter Pan / July 3, 2016
Hey Nativ V?
I have been keenly observing what you have been contributing and responding to various discussions involving Sinhala- Buddhists. Judging by whatever you have said so far, You are masquerading as a Sinhala Buddhist. To begin with you are a non Sinhala and anti Buddhist person driven by hatred towards Sinhala Buddhist. Your comments also show you are a person with inferior complex. If someone speak about Sinhala Buddhist heritage, you have a habit of calling them either Racist, fascist or a person sponsored by Gammanpila, Champika, Mahinda R, Wimal Weerwansa, etc..
If you cannot counter the arguments put forward by others intelligently just keep quiet. By the way “Vedda” is spelled as “Vadda”. If a Sinhala person asks you to pronounce “BAALDIYA” or “BADULLA”, don’t make any attempt to say these words you will be caught pants down.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / July 4, 2016
The name veddha is derived from Tamil word Vedar meaning hunters. Veddhas of Srilanka have genetic similarity with Adivasis of Tamil Nadu, Aborigenes of Andaman and Orang Asli of peninsular Malaysia all dark skinned with afro hair, probably the whole area would have been a single land mass millions of years ago. Even other ancient people of Srilanka were dark skinned and therefore those with light skin cannot claim ownership of Srilanka. First religion to be practiced in Srilanka is Saivaism, the five Shiva temples of pre-historic vintage proving it. Veddhas worshiped Lord Murugan and not Buddha. These are nowconveniently hidden by Sinhala racists to propagate their false theory. No one in his proper senses will believe Mahawamsa that when a flourishing civilisation was in Tamil Nadu just 22 miles away, Srilanka was a cultural barren land to be civilised by Vijaya and his followers. Buddha has asked his followers to search for the truth. So please take his advise and find out the true heritage of Srilanka.
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Native Vedda / July 4, 2016
Peter Pan
“If a Sinhala person asks you to pronounce “BAALDIYA” or “BADULLA”, don’t make any attempt to say these words you will be caught pants down.”
That was the popular test among the Sinhala/Buddhists thugs in order to confirm the identity of Tamils before, during and after a confluence of hatred and envy driven periodic patriotic riots. Are you one of those thugs who went on rampage to rape, kill, loot, destroy, …. ? You missed one more word, pǣna -pen – පෑන. Don’t forget next time. A Tamil could escape from your machete all because you fail to ask the right question.
“I have been keenly observing what you have been contributing and responding to various discussions involving Sinhala- Buddhists.”
Just ignore me, spend the time fruitfully planning the next riots against the Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Sinhalese, and finally against Buddhists. You do not need a reason to hurt others simply because you belong to a special race namely the Sinhala/Buddhists which never existed 100 or so years ago.
This race is a disgrace to this island’s Sinhalese, Buddhists, Hindus, Tamils, Christians, Muslims, and others.
“By the way “Vedda” is spelled as “Vadda”.”
How about Vädda?
“If someone speak about Sinhala Buddhist heritage, you have a habit of calling them either Racist, fascist or a person sponsored by Gammanpila, Champika, Mahinda R, Wimal Weerwansa, etc..”
By the way, what is this Sinhala Buddhist heritage? Was it manufactured by the public racist and protestant Buddhist Anagarika Dharmapala (Homeless One)?
There was no such thing as Sinhala/Buddhist heritage, it has to be Sinhala heritage and/or Buddhist heritage.
The identity Sinhala/Buddhist that you want to preserve is more suitable for thugs, crooks, rapists, war criminals, ……….. unsuitable for any self respecting Sinhalese or Buddhists. You keep your brand name to yourself, leave the Sinhalese and Buddhists alone.
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Peter Pan / July 4, 2016
You yourself have proven that you, “Native Vedda” is NOT a Sinhal-Buddhist, You have been masquerading as a Sinhala Buddhist and thrown insults at our nationality; SINHALA and our religion: Buddhism. Shame on you and at least have some decency hereafter not to make derogatory remarks about the noble race; YES NOBLE RACE; that provided your forefathers with shelter, food and clothes at their time of arrival perhaps from Kerala or Tamil Nadu. At least acknowledging the truth is a great quality.
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Native Vedda / July 4, 2016
Peter Pan
“You have been masquerading as a Sinhala Buddhist and thrown insults at our nationality;”
You assumed that I am being a Sinhala/Buddhists and now you seemed to be disappointed.
” nationality SINHALA and our religion: Buddhism”
Your nationality is not Sinhala. Remember it is Sri Lankan.
“YES NOBLE RACE; that provided your forefathers with shelter, food and clothes at their time of arrival perhaps from Kerala or Tamil Nadu.”
You mean the present day Sinhala/Buddhists who converted to Buddhism and replaced their South Indian language to a language that is an admixture of many other languages.
” At least acknowledging the truth is a great quality.”
That would be great advice to the present day Sinhala/Buddhists. You must take the lead.
YES NOBLE RACE
Are you sure you belong to a NOBLE Race?
Come on be serious.
Leave the Sinhalese and Buddhists alone, being a Sinhala/Buddhists you need to rely on and beg them to cleanse yourself from your arrogance, bigotry, war crimes, …. because you are Sinhala/Buddhist racist, plead them for mercy.
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Shrikharan / July 4, 2016
Peter Pan
Your name reveals it all. Why are you shy to call you by a Sinhala name but acquire an English name Peter Pan?
It is you all who were lucky to have got our homeland the North and East of this island when the British amalgamated the two Tamil and Sinhala homelands together and called it Ceylon. When they left they gave it to the people they called Ceylonese (Sri Lankans). Now you grab our homeland calling the entire island your Sinhala homeland and say we are simply kallathonis or migrants. Sinhalese are the direct beneficiaries of colonial rule to have got our homeland.
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Peter Pan / July 4, 2016
I don’t masquerade as a Sinhala-Buddhist. That is the bottom line.
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Native Vedda / July 4, 2016
Peter Pan
“I don’t masquerade as a Sinhala-Buddhist. That is the bottom line.”
Then you are indeed a Sinhala/Buddhists.
You should go back to lankaweb.com, your natural homeland. What are you doing in this forum where liberal views are exchanged by the majority readers.
Go back to lankaweb.com
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Peter Pan / July 5, 2016
Native V;
You have said;
“Then you are indeed a Sinhala/Buddhists.”
Oh Nitwit!Finally you got it right.
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Tamil Milton / July 2, 2016
This is the other LTTEyer. Kik this [Edited out] out from the Gvt, Mr.PM, Mr.P, before it is too late.[Edited out]
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Saro / July 2, 2016
Ministers in the Rajapakse government such as DEW Gunasekara and Vasudeva Nanayakare also tried to bring language parity but nothing tangible happened yet. So long as Sinhala Only act is in force, ie., not repealed talk of language parity cannot go beyond mere wishes of some in the government.
The school text books written by chauvinists in the Department of Education are full of Sinhala names and southern cities and resorts Tamil students find it difficult to understand and remember them. Even in question papers translated into Tamil confuse children and take time to understand the questions.
The terms such as ‘yahapalanaya’, ‘Divineguma’ are mere names Tamils who do not know Sinhalese language do not make any sense.
Moderate Tamils want to coexist with Sinhalese as sahotharaya but the elitist try to impose their rule on the minorities with military force. That’s why they do not want to release their lands, houses and give licence to open liquor shops and the army and police turn a blind eyes to robbers and drug traffickers. The police are also in collaboration with robbers in Tamil speaking areas.
Cars, motor bikes, land masters and tractors and constantly stopped by group of police officers and demand bribes in Tamil areas.
The reason some on the far end of the political spectrum among Tamils want separation is they do not believe the sweet talks of the present president, the PM or other friendly ministers and officials. They have heard these promises and visits many times before but still nothing has happened except more Sinhala Only and more military and more persecution.
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sr / July 2, 2016
Hon. Minister, your threat is somewhat reasonable but there seems to be a need of time consuming process to make all the public servants Tamil fluent.
Please see the possibility of appointing more Tamil fluent officials and making the translators service available for the people without making it a big issue for the time being as the government is burdened with many issues.
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KA Sumanasekera / July 2, 2016
Does Yahapalana PM Batalanda Ranil speak Thamil?..If not he better learn soon.
When Batalanada Ranil ditches the SLFP Sira Faction and forms Govt with the Vellala Party TNA, he will have to speak to Mano in Thamil in the Cabinet too.
Unless Vellala TNA doesn’t allow Mano in the Cabinet.
I mean not for any reason other than the limited number of Ministers which TNA always stood for.
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shankar / July 2, 2016
let him quit if he wants to,as long as he does not hang himself on the ceiling fan.If he does that someone should switch it on full blast so that he does not get charged by the police later and humiliated.We have had enough of tamils being humiliated in this country.
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Native Vedda / July 3, 2016
shankar
“If he does that someone should switch it on full blast so that he does not get charged by the police later and humiliated.We have had enough of tamils being humiliated in this country.”
Are you any chance the sister of former national hangman (Alugosuwa)Gota?
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Chandra / July 2, 2016
It is obvious that this Minister is confused. Parity of status for Sinhala and Tamil languages has been established by Law(Constitution). There cannot be perfection in the practice or implementation of the law in this respect as communities do not live in clusters. Grievances cannot be restricted only to the Tamil community, it has to be the same for the Sinhala community. The Ministers job is to correct anomalies where possible amicably, insted of creating disharmony.
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M.Yoga / July 2, 2016
Today I read in Internet news, several conflicts in our united goverment. Prime Minister and President have got in their plates. Couple of months ago the parties were united.
Today example Mano coming up with his problem in electronic news.
Language is a problem, a Northern person visiting his friend in South would have problems with written documents since Nothern man would not understand. The Sothern people have problems in understanding official documents since it is written in tamil.
Here people , goverment officers, lawyers and Business need to use translaters. This has become a problem and big Business for translaters.
I think the way to go is to use electronic Documents and instant translation systems. This will narrow the gap between the socity.
We want tourist, income and forign money, but we have not thought how to resolve communication Issues ….
I agree we have tamils, malays, english speaking community, and other minor languages. Singelease the majority speaking people.
We should not force people not to speak their language. This will distroy development for these individuals.
We need Solutions for co exsistance. Tamils may not understand what they have to do understanding official instruction and the same for Singelease in tamil areas.
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justice / July 2, 2016
Tamil public servants had to pass a JSC level examination in written Sinhala to continue in service after 1956.
Tamil medical officers had to pass an oral examination in spoken Sinhala, and Sinhalese medical officers had to pass an oral examination in spoken Tamil, from before 1956.
No that Sinhala and Tamil have parity as official languages, written examinations in Tamil and Sinhala of JSC level should be made compulsory for all public servants of levels in which they deal with citizens in the course of their duties.
This will improve the efficiency of public service, and promote better understanding and national unity.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / July 2, 2016
Small correction about Tamil medical officers. To be confirmed in service, Tamil doctors who are in specialist grade had to pass grade 2 (5th standard) while those not had to pass grade 3 (JSC).
Several Tamil doctors who could not pass written Sinhala even grade 2, were denied promotion, increments, no pay study leave and scholarships and had to migrate overseas or get into private practice.
Though it was possible to continue work as specialists with grade 2 Sinhala, those who applied for no pay study leave for specialisation abroad had to pass grade 3 to be granted this facility.
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jim softy / July 3, 2016
That Sinhala exam is a joke.
They just have to know basic sinhala words like ayubowan.
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Native Vedda / July 3, 2016
jim softy Dimwit
“They just have to know basic sinhala words like ayubowan.”
Do the Sinhala/Buddhists (including the Sri Lankan airlines’s inflight attendants) know Vanakkam or As-salamu alaykum, ?
“That Sinhala exam is a joke.”
You are the butt of joke in this forum since you started expressing your irrational and incoherent bigotry.
Keep it up since we need lots of fun.
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sach / July 3, 2016
And that was corrected in 1958
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Native Vedda / July 3, 2016
sachooooooooooooooooooooo the stupid II
“And that was corrected in 1958”
By a massive riots in this island.
How much wealth did your family make from this particular riot?
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Nimal Wijetunga / July 2, 2016
Dear Mr Ganeshan,
What are you talking about Language parity? Are you forgetting that you and your ancestors have come to Sri Lanka as slaves of British started Tea Estates. if you want to stay here, you better learn and talk in Sinhalese being the country of Sinhalese Buddhist. Otherwise, you can go back to the place where you have come from.
Learn adapt to the country where you are living like brethren living in European and other countries.
Stop your muttering if you want to stay in this country.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / July 3, 2016
You are wrong to say that Indian Tamils were brought to Srilanka as slaves by British. They came to work in estates in harsh conditions where Sinhalese refused to work. This is different from African slaves taken for work by Arabs and Europeans.
There are several Sinhalese who are working in middle east and far east and do you call them slaves, though the house maids in middle east are working in slave like conditions. These Sinhalese have gone for work only because of their poverty.
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sach / July 3, 2016
Whether the sinhalese agree to work or not, that is bringing indian slaves to SL by british
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Native Vedda / July 3, 2016
sachooooooooooooooooooooooooooo the stupid II
“Whether the sinhalese agree to work or not, that is bringing indian slaves to SL by british “
Is it like the Dutch bringing your ancestors from South India, Malaya, Madagascar, …… Indonesia, …. and criminals deported from Sinhapura, Venga Lata land?
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jim softy / July 3, 2016
Indian slaves were taken all over the world.
Only in Sri lanka, they want a homeland.
Tamils are either tobacco farmers for Dutch or Tea estate workers for British.
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Native Vedda / July 4, 2016
jim softy dimwit
“Indian slaves were taken all over the world.”
How come your ancestors arriving here and ended up living in this island?
“Tamils are either tobacco farmers for Dutch or Tea estate workers for British.”
Most of the descendants now call themselves Sinhala/Buddhists and have completely erased their past from their memories.
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Celeo / July 4, 2016
Jim softy,
Can you please tell us from which TN tribal area your Dalit ancestors were brought to the south of SL as coolie slaves to grow cinnamon who later got converted to Sinhala-Buddhists?
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Celeo / July 3, 2016
Nimal Wijetunga
SWRD Bandaranayake tried to force an Alien language (Sinhala only) on to the Tamils and screwed up the whole country, still in a mess. Why should the Tamils learn Sinhala?
Sri Lanka has two main national languages Sinhala and Tamil. Sinhala is spoken as mother tongue in two-thirds of the country (South, West and Central) by 70% of the Sri Lankan population (Sinhalese majority), Tamil is spoken as mother tongue in one-third of the country (North and East) by the Tamils and Muslims. There are also Tamil speaking Muslims and Tamils in the South, West and Central.
Tamil is also a language spoken in several parts of the world from West to East. Tamil is not only one of the ancient languages in the world but it is also a classical language spoken by 80 million people around the world. It is spoken by a large number of Tamils in the West, in some parts of Africa, India, Sri Lanka and the Far-East. Even if you go to the mid-east without any knowledge of English, you can still survive if you know Tamil. In Sri Lanka, the Majority language in the North & East is Tamil.
Sinhala is ONLY spoken in some parts of Sri Lanka (not the whole country) by 70% of the Sri Lankan population (Sinhalese). In Sri Lanka, the Majority language may be Sinhala but if you take the world, Sinhala is an unknown language (not known to many), somewhat similar to tribal languages.
For the people in the North and East (Tamils & Muslims), Sinhala is an alien language, never spoken in their areas and not a requirement at all unless otherwise they need to go to the South for employment. Why should the people in the Tamil speaking North & East learn Sinhala? What is the advantage of learning a language that is good for nothing?
When Tamils live in other countries they should learn to speak their languages but when they live in their own traditional Tamil speaking homeland in the NE of Sri Lanka why should they learn to speak a foreign (Sinhala) language which does not add any value to them?
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Kalu Albert / July 2, 2016
Be nice to your two masters Ranil and Mithreepala, Cus you not going to get anything from MR
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Saman Adikari / July 2, 2016
Hundred thousands of Tamil coolies from Tami Nadu of Tamils had been brought by British Empire of occupation of Sri lanakn 150 years.
The problem left our nation after British left our country , we won independent 1948.
British Colonialism wash their hand, of Tamil coolies human problem remain in hand of Majority people of Sri Lankan.
Now Mano Ganash blame on that issue on Sinhalese majority ?
This has to forward to British Colonialist by Mano Ganashed to British Embassy .
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Native Vedda / July 3, 2016
Saman Adikari
“The problem left our nation after British left our country , we won independent 1948.”
The colonial masters left a long lasting legacy which they never thought would keep this island afloat.
Exporting tea even after independence has been the mainstay of the economy until you started exporting village women folks to the middle eastern Medieval Kingdoms where they are treated as slaves.
All these poor hard working people’s sweat allow you to buy basic food, luxuries, four wheel drives, fuel this island, …….. above all foreign Booze. Now you have found the courage to attack the very people who fed you and gave you good life.
You stupid lazy hypocrites never cease to amaze us. That is one of the joys of being a Sri Lankan.
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Mallaiyuran / July 4, 2016
Now Mano Ganash blame on that issue on Sinhalese majority ?
British Empire brought the Tamil coolies to feed you, only after one thing you did, but that you have very conveniently forgotten. First, it is you who brought the British Empire, aren’t you? Do you remember the case of Uncle and Nephew called Pilimatalawwe and Ehelepola?
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Paul_ Real Siva Sankaran Sarma / July 4, 2016
Your surname Adikari denotes your Tamil origin just like many Kandyan upper caste names like Bandara Etc.
Hundreds of thousands of Tamils coolies were also brought in by the Portuguese and Dutch colonials and their descendants are now the present day Sinhalese Karawa, Durawam Salagama,Hali,Hunu etc now making up around 50% of the present day Sinhalese.
What about your Tamil ancestors and many of the Tamil ancestors of the so called Kandyan and low country upper castes. Just look at many Govigamma names it is like a Tamil who is who. Adikari from Adikaram, Banda/Bandara from Pandarar. Mudali from Mudaliar, Pilli from Pillai. Hetti from Chetti. Arachchi from Arachchi. Peruma from Perumal. Kone/Koon from Kone/Konar. Kodi for Kodi. Tunge from Tungan Sekara from Sekaran. Most of your so called Kandyan aritisans and craftsmen are all descended from Tamil craftsmen who were Imported from South India. No wonder the present day Sinhalese share more than 70% DNA with Indian Tamils and you talk about estate Indian Tamils, when the Sinhalese are the descendants of indigenous ancient medieval and recent Tamil imports who converted to Buddhism and Catholicism. Around 40% of the present Sinhalese vocabulary is Tamil based. Its grammar syntax lexicon and alphabet is purely derived from Tamil and not from Sanskrit or Pali.
The Vedda dialect as probably did the old Sinhala approaches far closer to Tamil than modern Sinhala in its pronunciation. The Vedda dialect, their spoken language is identical with Elu which was the spoken language of ancient Sri Lanka, which is semi-Tamil; as to the grammatical structure it is essentially Dravidian and simple
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dayal / July 2, 2016
after functioning as a cabinet minister for a few months now mr.G has understood how the sinhala bureaucracy works- always against all provisions of the SL constitution pertaining to official languages. he does not demand anything more than what is given in the supreme law of the country. a strict order from the president and PM for the implementation of the language provisions could go a long way but why they are reluctant to do this. all talks about reconciliation could be a fraud without this implementation.mr. Gs’ words are important as they come from a responsible minister.
-dayal
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Orissa / July 3, 2016
Go please Mano G. Go, go, go !!! We have enough troble without a silly billy upstart dictating to the majority to learn a minority language. If you want to live in peace learn the laguage of the majority which is the less expensive way. Stop this tail wagging the dog dance. Only in SL !
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Paul-Real Siva Sankaran Sarna / July 4, 2016
Tamils were and are still a majority in their ancient Eelam Tamil nation that is the north and east of the island. This is not Sinhalese land, just you used the majority Sinhalese government might and resources to settle hundreds of thousands of Sinhalese in the Amparai and from in the late 1950s to present. You people were only a majority in your lands in the south west and central parts of the lands.
You only became a majority in the entire island thanks to the British who united the ancient Eelam Tamil lands with the Sinhalese lands down south in 1833 to form a new colony called Ceylon for their own administrative convenience and then handed this own a platter to you genocidal racists steeped in some Mahavamsa fairly tale in 1948. The British had no right to have done this. They should have divided the land as they found or given the island’s Tamils self determination or a federal setup. They never asked the Tamils or obtained their consent or referendum to hand their lands to the Sinhalese in 1948. They did this as the Sinhalese gave their women and at times men to sleep with the British rulers for various favours.
The Sinhalese also became a majority in the island as they Portuguese and Dutch colonials imported hundreds of thousands of low caste Indian Tamil indentured and slave labour from what is modern Tamil Nadu and then Tamil Kerala and settled them along the western and southern littorals to work on the huge spice estates or to do other menial jobs. Their descendants converted to Buddhism and Catholicism and are now the present day Sinhalese Karawa, Salagama, Durawa. Hunu Hali Berewa stc making up around 50% of the present day Sinhalese population.
European colonisation greatly benefited the Sinhalese who until were more or less equal in numbers to the island’s Tamils and were ruled by an aristocracy and rulers who were largely of South Indian origin. Largely Tamil and then Telugu.
No the highborn and low born Sinhalised descendants of these fairly recent South Indian immigrants making up around 50-60% of the present day Sinhalese are beating the anti Tamil drum and want to destroy the island’s ancient indigenous Tamils their language history and culture in the island.
Tamils have every right to ask for language parity in the Island and the same rights as the Sinhalese. If you do not like it you move to Orissa or Tamil Nadu. Just because you are in a majority does not give the 74% Sinhalese speaking majority to lord it over and treat the 25% Tamil speaking minority in the island as second rte4s and force and alien language down their throats against their wish.
If the Sinhalese do not want to acknowledge or accommodate this basic demand for justice from the island’s Tamil speakers. Tamils have every right to separate.
There is no use of Tamil just being an official language just on paper. It also must be implemented and Tamils should have every right to speak and deal in Tamil in any part of the island just like the Sinhalese can. All government correspondence should be in both languages and all public servants the Police and Armed forces should be fluent in both language not just in Sinhalese only and demand Tamils even in the north and east to deal with them in Sinhalese.
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Lanka Watch / July 3, 2016
What Minister Mano Ganesan says is correct as what he is talking about
what he experienced personally and from the Tamils .Today, there are many Tamils from N/E are dangling in jails for no fault of theirs as their statements were recorded in a language they did not understand and signed under duress.This is an example and there are several cases where Tamils suffered similar fate. This happened during the last regime where only Sinhala speaking police personnel manned the police stations in N/E. The villagers receive letters in Sinhala only and they run around the province to get it translated. The national anthem
was sung in Tamil language to please the International community but
no action taken to ease this problem to the Tamils.
Hope Minister Mano Ganesan was not serious when he threatened to resign on the issue as Tamils will not like that idea as he is well liked by the ordinary poor Tamil people of N/E, though he is not a Jaffna Tamil, as he fights for the poor at grass root level and he
is sincere and that is the very reason the Tamils in Colombo voted
for him and he became an MP.
Lets not start this ‘Sinhala Only’ problem again and get into further
problems and let Mano have one on one with the President and solve the problem and let the people of N/E work in the language they know to read, write and understand.
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sekara / July 3, 2016
There are problems: mostlye real.
There are politicians: mostly fake.
Mano Ganesan’s threat to quit may have more to do with the threat of Arumugan’s joining government and getting a post.
Digambaram threatened to quit if Arumugan joined. But nobody took him seriously.
MG can do with less talk and more action.
If he cannot quietly persuade his cabinet colleagues, he should resign and say why.
We have seen enough of such farcical bravado stuff “அடிப்பியா எங்கம்மா மவனே சிங்கம்டா சிங்கம்!” (Dare you strike me! I am a lion, a lion I am!) for too long
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Plato. / July 3, 2016
In which other part of this world do we have a Portfolio designated as Minister of National Dialogue?
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Nimal Wijetunga / July 3, 2016
Celio,
But, Middle East – nobody gone to work can claim separate states or parity of language. Yes, Estate tamils brought to work in Tea Estates by British and living conditions given was as same as slavery.Basically, Estate Tamils are not Sri Lankans as they were brought to work in those estates. Similarly, tamils in other parts have come to Sri Lanka as invaders, captured during invasions, plunderers, smugglers, Kallathonies and not otherwise.
In the Middle East you work and you can go back to your country. Similarly, Mano Ganeshan and his clan can go back if they cannot adapt to Sri Lanka.
Separate states or parity of language is not required and only dreams. There are no traditional areas in Sri Lanka to any community as Sri Lanka belonging to everybody living there.
Borders of provinces are on the map only for administrative purpose not for ethnicity. pls remember that well.It is one country and one nation.
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Pau;l- Real Siva Sankaran Sarma / July 4, 2016
So are the Sinhalese Karawa, Salagama, Durawa, Hunu, Hali , Berewa now making up around 50% of the present day Sinhalese also real Sri Lankans and have any rights as they are descended from low caste Indian Tamil slave labour that was imported into the island by the Portuguese and Dutch.
What about the so called Sinhalese upper castes and aristocracy both Kandyan and low country who are also descended from upper caste South Indian imports largely Tamil and some Telugu.
90% of the Tamils who came to the island as invaders plunderers smugglers and Kallathoni(Vijaya was one) settled in the Sinhalese south and became Sinhalese. Your ancestors may be one of them. This is why the present day Sinhalese share a 70% DNA with Indian Tamils.
The Sinhalese language has a 40% Tamil vocabulary and its grammar lexicon syntax and alphabet is purely Tamil based. Not from Sanskrit or Pali. Take Tamil out of Sinhalese no Sinhalese. Just Plain Pali and Sanskrit. Both these two languages do not belong to the region but to the plains of North India. Only Tamil belongs to the region, Which means unlike Tamil that truly belongs to the region Sinhalese is made up language that is basically a mixture of two language from North India and one from the region. So not indigenous but a by product due to an imported religion and some imported people.
Tell me why do Sinhalese celebrated the April Tamil New Year? Why do they worship the Tamil War God Lord Murugan and the Tamil Ayannar form of village worship and call it Ayyanayake? Why is the Sinhalese music culture dance dress and food very Tamil? Same as Kerala or Southern Tamil Nadu. Few centuries ago Kerala also was Tamil.
If you can give me satisfactory answers to all these questions then I may be serious about your warped racist garbage
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Native Vedda / July 4, 2016
Nimal Wijetunga/sachooooo the stupid I
“Separate states or parity of language is not required and only dreams.”
Jim Softy’s brother, there is no need to mourn and groan, the parity is already given in the constitution.
Why don’t you read the constitution and then moan and groan, on sachooooooo’s shoulders or her chest?
Read the following excerpts from THE CONSTITUTION OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA
CHAPTER IV – LANGUAGE
Official Language.
18. 3[(1)] The Official Language of Sri Lanka shall be Sinhala.
4[(2) Tamil shall also be an official language.
(3) English shall be the link language.
(4) Parliament shall by law provide for the implementation of the provisions of this Chapter].
National Languages.
19. The National Languages of Sri Lanka shall be Sinhala and Tamil.
Use of National Languages in Parliament and local authorities.
20. A Member of Parliament or 5[a member of a Provincial Council or a local authority] shall be entitled to perform his duties and discharge his functions in Parliament 6[or in such Provincial Council or local authority] in either of the National Languages.
Medium of instruction.
21. (1) A person shall be entitled to be educated through the medium of either of the National Languages:
Provided that the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to an institution of higher education where the medium of instruction is a language other than a National Language.
(2) Where one National Language is a medium of instruction for or in any course, department or faculty of any University directly or indirectly financed by the State, the other National Language shall also be made a medium of instruction for or in such course, department or faculty for students who prior to their admission to such University, were educated through the medium of such other National Language:
Provided that compliance with the preceding provisions of this paragraph shall not be obligatory if such other National Language is the medium of instruction for or in any like course, department or faculty either at any other campus or branch of such University or of any other like University.
(3) In this Article “University” includes any institution of higher education.
7[Languages of administration.
22. (1) Sinhala and Tamil shall be the languages of administration through out Sri Lanka and Sinhala shall be the language of administration and be used for the maintenance of public records and the transaction of all business by public institutions of all the provinces of Sri Lanka other than the Northern and Eastern Provinces where Tamil shall be so used.
Provided that the President may, having regard to the proportion which the Sinhala or Tamil linguistic minority population in any unit comprising a division of an Assistant Government Agent, bears to the total population of that area, direct that both Sinhala and Tamil or a language other than the language used as the language of administration in the province in which such area may be situated, be used as the language of administration for such area.
(2) In any area where Sinhala is used as the language of administration a person other than an official acting in his official capacity, shall be entitled:
(a) to receive communications from, and to communicate and transact business with, any official in his official capacity, in either Tamil or English;
(b) if the law recognizes his right to inspect or to obtain copies of or extracts from any official register, record, publication or other document, to obtain a copy of, or an extract from such register, record, publication or other document, or a translation thereof, as the case may be, in either Tamil or English;
(c) where a document is executed by any official for the purpose of being issued to him, to obtain such document or a translation thereof, in either Tamil or English;
(3) In any area where Tamil is used as the language of administration, a person other than an official acting in his official capacity, shall be entitled to exercise the rights, and to obtain the services, referred to in sub paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of paragraph (2) of this Article, in Sinhala or English.
(4) A Provincial Council or a local authority which conducts its business in Sinhala shall be entitled to receive communications from and to communicate and transact business with, any official in his official capacity, in Sinhala, and a Provincial Council or a local authority which conducts its business in Tamil shall be entitled to receive communications from and to communicate and transact business with, any official in his official capacity, in Tamil :
Provided, however, that a Provincial Council, local authority, public institution or any official receiving communications from transacting business with any other or Provincial Council, local authority, public institution or an official functioning in an area in which a different language is used as the Language of administration shall be entitled to receive communications from and to communicate and transact business in English.
(5) A person shall be entitled to be examined through the medium of either Sinhala or Tamil or a language of his choice at any examination for the admission of persons to the Public Service, Judicial Service, Provincial Public Service, Local Government Service or any public institution, subject to the condition that he may be required to acquire a sufficient knowledge of Tamil or Sinhala, as the case may be, within a reasonable time after admission to such service or public institution where such knowledge is reasonably necessary for the discharge of his duties:
Provided that a person may be required to have a sufficient knowledge of Sinhala or Tamil, as a condition for admission to any such service or public institution where no function of the office or employment for which he is recruited can bc discharged otherwise than with a sufficient knowledge of such language.
(6) in this Article :-
“Official” means the President, any Minister, Deputy Minister, Governor, Chief Minister or Minister of the Board of Ministers of a Province, or any officer of a public institution; local authority or Provincial Council; and
“Public institution” means a department or institution of the Government, a public corporation or statutory institution.]
Language of Legislation.
8[23. (1) All laws and subordinate legislation shall be enacted or made and published in Sinhala and Tamil, together with a translation thereof in English:
Provided that Parliament shall, at the stage of enactment of any law determine which text shall prevail in the event of any inconsistency between texts.
Provided further that in respect of all other written laws and the text in which such written laws was enacted or adopted or made, shall prevail in the event of any inconsistency between such texts:
(2) All Orders, Proclamations, rules, by-laws, regulations and notifications made or issued under any written law other than by a Provincial Council or a local authority, and the Gazette shall be published in Sinhala and Tamil together with a translation thereof in English.
(3) All Orders, Proclamations, rules, by-laws, regulations and notifications made or issued under any written law by any Provincial Council or local authority, and all documents, including circulars and forms issued by such body or any public institution shall be published in the Language used in the administration in the respective areas in which they function, together with a translation thereof in English.
(4) All laws and subordinate legislation in force immediately prior to the commencement of the Constitution, shall be published in the Gazette in the Sinhala and Tamil Language as expeditiously as possible.]
Language of the courts.
24. 9[(1) Sinhala and Tamil shall be the languages of the Courts throughout Sri Lanka and Sinhala shall be used as the language of the courts situated in all the areas of Sri Lanka except those in any area where Tamil is the language of administration. The record and proceedings shall be in the language of the Court. In the event of an appeal from any court records shall also be prepared in the language of the court hearing the appeal, if the language of such court is other than the language used by the court from which the appeal is preferred:
Provided that the Minister in charge of the subject of Justice may, with the concurrence of the cabinet of Ministers direct that the record of any court shall also be maintained and the proceedings conducted in a language other than the language of the court;]
(2) Any party or applicant or any person legally entitled to represent such party or applicant may initiate proceedings, and submit to court pleadings and other documents, and participate in the proceedings in court, 10[in either Sinhala or Tamil.]
(3) Any judge, juror, party or applicant or any person legally entitled to represent such party or applicant, who is not conversant with the language used in a court, shall be entitled to interpretation and to translation into 11[Sinhala or Tamil] provided by the State, to enable him to understand and participate in the proceedings before such court, and shall also be entitled to obtain in 12[such language] ar any such part of the record or a translation thereof, as the case may be, as he may be entitled to obtain according to law.
(4) The Minister in charge of the subject of Justice may, with the concurrence of the Cabinet of Ministers, issue, directions permitting 13[The use of English] in or in relation to the records and proceedings in any court for all purposes or for such purposes as may be specified therein. Every judge shall be bound to implement such directions.
(5) In this Article –
“Court” means any court or tribunal created and established for the administration of justice including the adjudication and settlement of industrial and other disputes, or any other tribunal or institution exercising judicial or quasi-judicial functions or any tribunal or institution created and established for the conciliation and settlement of disputes :
“judge” includes the President, Chairman, presiding officer and member of any court; and
“record” includes pleadings, judgments, orders and other judicial and ministerial acts.
Provision for adequate facilities for use of languages provided for in this Chapter.
25. The State shall provide adequate facilities for the use of the languages provided for in this Chapter.
Provision of any law inconsistent with this Chapter deemed to be repealed.
14[25a. In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions of any law and the provisions of this Chapter, the provisions of this Chapter shall prevail.]
http://www.priu.gov.lk/Cons/
1978Constitution/Chapter_04_Amd.html
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BBS Rep / July 4, 2016
It does not matter who settled first in Sri Lanka. It does not matter which tribe slept with which tribe to create the hybrid Sinhala. It does not matter which language is older, Sinhala or Tamil. It does not matter if one language originated from Sanskrit and the other Prakrit or Pali.
The crux of the issue is we Sri Lankans are all dimwits. We are utterly married to our caste and yet scream shrilly about racism in Sri Lanka. We eat cows meat and scream to stop the slaughter of cows. We worship dregs of society who dress up in an Ariya Sinhala suit or a saffron robe. Worse still we keep voting in one bunch of highly efficient rogues or another to positions of power and to rob us wholesale. Only some parts of our brain work some of the time. So we will keep on finding one excuse or another to dance the dimwit fools dance and to kill each other. Language is one such excuse.
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Nimal Wijetunga / July 5, 2016
Paul real siva,
I do not want to answer your imaginary, baseless useless garbage, which has nothing to do with my replies.
As per the findings and carbon dated tests, it is confirmed that Sri Lanka is populated more than 125,000 year ago.
Besides, if to take the climatic conditions of Sri Lanka and India in General and Tamilnadu in particular, everybody knows Sri Lanka has much better climatic condition for living being to survive than India in general and Tamilnadu in particular. So, no need people to come and start civilization in Sri Lanka.
Similarly, Sri Lankans or Sinhalese in particular never ever try to setlle down in India as only people form Tamil nadu came here as Kallathonies and to work in Tea Estates as slaves.These facts everybody knows.
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Paul- Real Siva Sankaran Sarma / July 5, 2016
You still have not replied to me other than posting more racist garbage and gobbledegook .Kallathoni don’t make me laugh. Your own surname Wijetunga reveals your so called Kallathoni Indian Tamil origin. Go to India and the only major ethnic group that have names ending in Tungan are the Tamils, like the Tamil king Kulathunga Cholan.
Go to Tamil Nadu and visit all your distant Tamil cousins and you may be able to trace which Thoni( boat) was used by your Tamil ancestors to land in the island a few centuries ago.
People who live in glass houses should not throw stones at others.
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Nimal Wijetunga / July 5, 2016
Start Tamil racist terrorism again if you like. we will shaow how will crush glass houses. your name suggest that you are a sinhalese origin not me. more than 50% tamil words are picked up from Sinhala Language.
What do you say? Do not argue with garbage and rather accept the truth. Mano Ganeshan can go back to wherever he came from if he is not happy in Sri Lanka.
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Paul=Real Siva Sankaran Sarma / July 6, 2016
Rantings from a mad racist. Tamil picked up 50% of its vocabulary from Sinhalese, must be out of his mind go and tell this fairy tale to the Lankaweb readers who are as mad and rabid as you and many of them like you have a recent Tamil origin. Even many reputed Sinhalese linguists and historians have stated take the Tamil element from Sinhalese and there will be no Sinhalese language.
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Nimal Wijetunga / July 7, 2016
Historians, people living in Sri Lanka and everybody knows that Tamils have come to SRI LANKA AS INVADORS, Captured during invasions, plunderers, smugglers, kallathonies and estate tamils were brought by british to work as slaves in tea estates.
Similarly, everybody knows sinhalese is an independent language from any other originated from sanskrit and pali and definitely not from Tamil language.
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Nimal Wijetunga / July 7, 2016
Paul real siva is a mad Tamil racist as his comments are good for Tamilnet to please the readers there.
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