By Dayan Jayatilleka –
Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka
Concluding response to Sarath de Alwis
Talk about poor timing or sheer bad luck! My friend Mr. Sarath de Alwis had doubtless authored his second diatribe against Smart Patriotism and the New Nationalism when Chief Minister Wigneswaran launched his unprovoked political ambush. I refer of course, to the 11 page ‘Historic Genocide of Tamils’ resolution which attacks every single (democratically elected) Sri Lankan administration since 1948, accusing it of nothing less heinous and absolute than genocide– and ends with a sharply negative reference to President Sirisena. Though the new administration’s spin-doctors seek to soften the impact on the public and Mr. de Alwis may see it as a molehill, this is how an objective external source, foreign correspondent Meera Srinivasan, reported it in The Hindu, which rightly chose to run the story under the caption ‘Tamil Province Charges Colombo with Genocide’:
“Sri Lanka’s Northern Provincial Council (NPC) on Tuesday passed a strongly worded resolution accusing successive governments in the island nation of committing ‘genocide’ against Tamils. The resolution moved by Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran sought to give “an overview of the evidence demonstrating successive Sri Lankan governments’ genocide against Tamils” and appealed to the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights to probe the claim and recommend appropriate prosecution.
…The 11-page document details different episodes of violence and oppression in Sri Lankan history — from the time of the country’s controversial Sinhala Only Act of 1956 — terming them “genocidal” acts targeting Tamils over the years, culminating in the brutal final phase of the war that, according to U.N. estimates, claimed 40,000 civilian lives…
When contacted, the office of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe declined comment. The NPC resolution comes a month after Mr. Sirisena assumed office, following his victory in the January 8 elections.
…In January 2014, when the NPC passed a resolution calling for an international probe into Sri Lanka’s rights record, it was Mr. Wigneswaran who insisted that the word “genocide” be dropped, observing it had a very specific meaning legally and hence had to be used with caution…” (Meera Srinivasan, ‘Tamil Province Charges Colombo with Genocide’ The Hindu, Feb 11, 2015)
In a follow up, the Express News Service reports an early reaction from Tamil Nadu, which is evidence of how this poison feeds back into anti-Sri Lankan sentiment in Tamil Nadu.
“Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader Thol Thirumavalavan on Wednesday urged the Centre to support at the UN Human Rights Council in March 2015 the resolution passed by the Northern Provincial Council in Sri Lanka, demanding a thorough probe and report on the genocide of Island Tamils. In a statement here, he said evidences for the genocide had been given in the resolution which detailed the forced surgeries on women to prevent child birth, forced abortions and massacre of over 140,000 Tamils.
…The NPC resolution had said “The UN Security Council should refer the situation in Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court for prosecutions based on war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide”. PMK leader S Ramadoss also made a similar plea urging the Centre to reject requests from Lanka to support its efforts to scuttle the UN probe report.” (‘India Must Support NPC Plea for Probe into Genocide: VCK’ Express News Service, Chennai, 12th February 2015)
The respected Hindu reports the immediate resonance of the genocide resolution in a story with an unambiguous caption, “Northern Provincial council’s Resolution on ‘historic genocide’ echoes in TN”:
“The resolution passed by the Northern Provincial Council in Sri Lanka seeking a probe into 60 years of ‘genocide’ against Tamils in the island nation found support among some political parties in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday…
DMK spokesman T.K.S. Elangovan said the resolution reflected the position that his party had consistently taken ever since the conclusion of the civil war in 2009. However, as a new government had just taken over, some time had to be given to assess its commitment towards resolving the Tamil question.
Coming out strongly in favour of the resolution were the MDMK and the VCK, parties that traditionally espouse the Tamil nationalist line.
Speaking to The Hindu, MDMK general secretary Vaiko said the action of the Northern Province was commendable at a time when governments of both India and Sri Lanka were trying to undermine the investigation by the United Nations into atrocities committed by the Sri Lankan forces against the Tamils.
“I urge the Tamil Nadu government to pass a resolution reiterating what has been sought by the Tamil provincial government. This is a monumental resolution which has clearly established that Tamils have been subjected to genocide for more than six decades,” he said.
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi chief Thol. Thirumavalavan said the Union government should support the resolution and ensure that the tabling of a status report on Sri Lanka during the U.N. Human Rights Council session in Geneva next month was not postponed.
…Sri Lankan Tamil refugees living in Tamil Nadu are divided on the resolution passed by the Northern Provincial Council.
While one group of refugees says the resolution may have been an outcome of pressure applied by the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora on NPC Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran, another group feels that it is a reflection of the sentiments of representatives of the Province.
…However, T. Pathinathan, a Tamil writer and a refugee living in Madurai, feels that the move of the Council deserves to be welcomed. In a democracy, the popular will, as represented by members of the Council, has to be accepted. When the new government is not in favour of any international probe with the continued presence of the army in Tamil-speaking areas, there is every justification for the council to come up with such a resolution.
Kasi Anandan, poet and president of the Centre for Indo-Eelam Tamils Friendship, calls upon the Indian government and other countries to exert pressure on the Sri Lankan government and support the “fair and just demand” of the Sri Lankan Tamils.”
(“Northern Provincial Council’s resolution on ‘historic genocide’ echoes in TN”, The Hindu, Thu, Feb 12, 2015)
Far from being in the spirit of a striving for political reconciliation blocked by the villainous Mahinda Rajapaksa, the “Historic Genocide of Tamils” resolution of the Northern Provincial Council and Chief Minister Wigneswaran cannot but add toxicity to the anti-Sinhala consciousness among Tamils in Sri Lanka and in the Diaspora, including, most importantly, Tamils of the younger generation. Anyone acquainted with the Tamil-language media in Sri Lanka’s North and from neighboring Tamil Nadu would know of the anti-Sinhala racist radioactive bilge pumped daily into the minds of the Tamil people.
What the political hate-speech of the “Historic Genocide of Tamils” resolution proves is that contrary to Mr. de Alwis’ prejudiced preconceptions, Tamil nationalism is not a self-defensive reaction to Sinhala chauvinism (as represented by arch-villain Rajapaksa, who actually held the Northern PC election), still less a figment of my imagination, but is a politically aggressive, psychologically irrational, and ideologically fundamentalist phenomenon, which is independent of and predates the chauvinism of Sinhala administrations. After all, how can the new government be accused of Sinhala chauvinism or aggression against the Tamils?
Tamil separatism as a politico-ideological project did not start out as a result of the policies of successive Sri Lankan administrations. As AJ Wilson’s biography of his father in law, SJV Chelvanayagam, the father of Tamil Nationalism, proudly reveals, the latter had raised the idea of an independent country for the Tamils as far back as 1948 (and a Tamil university in 1950, long before anyone had asked for a Sinhala university).
There is a permanent geopolitical and geo-strategic threat to this island from intersecting and interacting external and internal sources. There is a permanent existential threat to the Sri Lankan state and chiefly to the South, most especially to the Sinhalese.
The people of all ethnicities of this country, chiefly the majority who happen to be Sinhalese, are threatened by this aggressive and long standing Tamil nationalism which has a vast rear-base in the teeming millions of Tamil Nadu. Sri Lankan patriotism is a defensive reaction and is necessary one to the threats and pressures of Tamil expansionism and Western hegemonism. The rise of patriotism against western hegemonism is common to all societies of the global South and even of Southern Europe (as is evident from the Greek elections). In many societies there is a perennial sense of threat from a large neighbor, especially if there is a long history of cross border incursion, occupation and political puppetry. In Sri Lanka the concrete expression of this general rule element is the defensive struggle against historical hostility from neighboring Tamil Nadu and Tamil political expansionism from the island’s north.
Sri Lankan Patriotism is necessarily multiethnic, multi-religious and multicultural, while it has no less necessarily, Sinhala nationalism as its core and motive force. That must not be a project of Sinhala exclusivism, supremacy, domination or hegemonism, but of Sinhala leadership on the island and centrality within its state formation. The latter proposition does not derive from any claim to intrinsic superiority of the Sinhalese but simply because they are the overwhelming majority of the people of this island. Thus do the nation and the people coincide in what Gramsci called the ‘national popular’ and the ‘people-nation’. Thus also do the ‘democratic’ and the ‘national’ coincide in what Communists of the old school used to call the National Democratic Revolution, culminating in a National Democratic state.
Burning Issue / February 12, 2015
The [Edited out] Political Scientist,
Mr. Sarath de Alwis took exception to your coining of “Smart Patriot” and it’s relevance to your Sinhala Buddhist centric undertone! Mr De Alwis’s rebuttal is purely centered on this. Why do you then convolute it with the NPC Resolution on Genocide? Why is it relevant when debating the veracity of the term “Smart Patriot” in the context of your defining?
You said that the majority of majority did not vote for president MS. You made reference to your Catholic Grandmother reading your bedtime stories about Mahavamsa and Duttagammunu. You spewed that the Sinhala only have Sri Lanka to call it a home. You unashamedly made references to ancient invasions from India as if to say that such threats are still relevant! Then you spoke about you are Smart Patriot and an internationalist at the same time. This is exactly what Mr de Alwis has been trying to challenge you about because you appear deluded and characteristically chauvinistic! You can embellish your writing with convoluted rubbish but it cannot pull wool over people with sense. Those who are challenging you are mainly Sinhala, and they know your ulterior motives. You are a disgrace to the faculty of Political Science; your intellectual dishonesty is profound and staggering!
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Eelam or Bust / February 12, 2015
Unfortunate to hear most versatile YAHAPALANA MODEL RECONCILIATION happening in North. This may be the beginning of Fifth and final Ealam war. Creation of Separate state looks inevitable through the YAHAPALANA MODEL. 6.2 million of people were mandated this process. Many moderate people expected this to happen but not this soon. This is not a sudden developement, it is gradual process.
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Raja / February 13, 2015
Cabinet frees land used by army
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal made by President Maithripala Sirisena and the Minister of Defense to release 1,000 acres of land in the Jaffna High Security Zones in different stages.
As a first step 220 acres of land in the Valalai Grama Niladhari Division of the Valikamam East Divisional Secretariat Division will be released to establish a pilot village for the resettlement of 1,022 families displaced by the War.
Under this project each family will get 20 perches of land and financial assistance to construct a house. It has also been proposed to establish a school, a pre-school, a hospital, religious places of worship, community centres and build other infrastructure activities. The remaining 780 acres of land will also be used in the future to resettle the people displaced by the war.
A large extent of land from the 11,639 acres which were under the control of the security forces during the war period has already been already released while 6,152 acres in the Palay area is being maintained by the Sri Lanka Army and the Sri Lanka Air Force as High Security Zones.
Meanwhile, Cabinet has also decided to release the lands under the control of the Air Force in the Panama area in the Eastern Province to landless people in the area except the land in an extent of 25 acres in which buildings are now being constructed.
It was further decided to release the buildings presently under the control of the Security Services in the High Security Zone near the President’s House in Colombo and buildings around the Temple Trees. (Colombo Gazette)
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Ajith / February 13, 2015
As long as there is Buddhist Sinhala rascism and fundamentalism thrives in this beautiful island and intentional violence against Tamils of this island continues and justied by Sinhalese the genocide call is inevitable and justified. Sinhalese has to prove that genocide has not happened and the crimes against Tamils are investigated and those criminals are punished according to law.
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Thiru / February 13, 2015
Dayna is not concerned about the truth in Wigneswaran’s repot on genocide of Tamils to the UNHCR.
He brings all extranous arguments to discredit Tamils and their leaders.
How thick skinned like a buffalo, this man is?
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sach / February 12, 2015
puh!
Intellectual dishonesty? There is none like Tamils here who are intellectual dishonest…..
Anyway it hurts when hearing the truth ne?
LOL
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Native Vedda / February 13, 2015
sach
“Intellectual dishonesty? There is none like Tamils here who are intellectual dishonest…..”
Listen to Mookalangamuwe Pannayananda Thero who explains that Buddha was born in Sri Lanka.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__swig78VzY
You do not any inscriptions just quote the thero. Please save this clip.
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sach / February 13, 2015
You dont know the difference between an honest idiot and a dishonest intellectual….
well how can you know?
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Native Vedda / February 13, 2015
sach
Have you had time to listen to Mookalangamuwe Pannayananda Thero who explains that Buddha was born in Sri Lanka?
Brilliant exposition isn’t it?
I have given you the link and use it whenever you want quote him in your future comments.
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sach / February 13, 2015
How is that relevant here? Nothing else to say?
How is the rumblings of some idiot relevant here? Cannot put up an argument?
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safeer / February 12, 2015
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
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Tamil Truth / February 12, 2015
TNA clown never wanted peace.. all they do is follow thier masters and betray tamil people. Karuna explained it wonderfully. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xW5C_nCt7uA
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Prem / February 12, 2015
You mean Karuna the American spy.
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Ranjan / February 12, 2015
Of all the people you talk about Karuna lol…Even animals with five senses have gratitude and shame, promise him few shots and dollars he will run naked in Galle Face, shameless clown.
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Raja / February 13, 2015
@Ranjan.. WHY once his picture was in Every Tamil Eelam house around the world. And today he is a Tamil Traitor because he who was very close with the LTTE realised the LTTE was working for the destruction of the Tamil people. Hi is smart, Its people like u who are dum.
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Park / February 12, 2015
What Justice Wigneswaran has done, at this crucial moment is “Treacherous”. I was a strong supporter of Justice Wigneswaran’s actions until this action. Unfortunately, as my father would have said “Jaffna Mentality” has been clearly displayed in this action. Maithripala and Ranil have been extremely fair and under Rajapakse Justice now can be called Unjust Wigneswaran would not have moved this motion. Since Maithripala is a fair person, Unjust Wigneswaran has done his “Jaffna Mentality”.
Passing this resolution at this point of time clearly shows that Tamil Politicians in the North do not want peace in the country and cannot be trusted at all. This is a clear signal for the international community of the mentality of the Jaffna Politicians.The Government of SL should use it to their advantage and persuade the international community not to support the UN inquiry but a local inquiry.
Also since Unjust Wigneswaran has passed this resolution SL Government should conduct a local investigation which should include all LTTE actions against the Genocide of the Sinhalese as well. All LTTE soldiers and leaders who are now living abroad should be brought before the investigation. In case if these LTTE members cannot be brought before the investigation, then it should be dragged on until all of them can be brought before the investigation.
This would have also shown where the Jaffna politicians are to the Indian government. This is a positive thing as India can now fully support SL Government action to block the international inquiry and conduct a local inquiry.
I cannot imagine that Justice Wigneswaran whom I respected a lot has become a UNJUST Wigneswaran.
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Burning Issue / February 12, 2015
Park,
This issue of the ‘contentious’ term Genocide may seem trivial for you but it is extremely important for the Tamils. It is a subject that requires answers. If you know about the Hillsborough disaster in the England you would know what I am talking about. The families against all odds campaigned relentlessly for 26 years for justice and finally they are having some success. It is the same for the Tamils. I take your point about MS and RW but the Tamils feel that this issue will be swift under a carpet with spurious internal investigation. I know it is very contentious as you may argue that, NPC should give time for the new regime. However, on the NPC’s point of view, it is extremely important to keep this issue in limelight.
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sach / February 13, 2015
Tamils talking about genocide is an insult to real victims of genocide like in Germany and Ruwanda
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cholan / February 13, 2015
Yes still Jews are hunting the nazi butchers…and Ruwanda genocide architects are at the prison for their butchery ….but these two can’t match Sinhala buddhist massacre methods….
neither German or Ruwands bulldozed cemeteries of minorities and played foot ball on this or paraded naked dead bodies in tractor in so called buddhist holy place Anuradapura ..…never ever in human historiy this happened …and these guys called themselves buddhists.
NEXT STOP INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT AT THE HAGUE IN NETHERLANDS of course free one way ticket
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sach / February 13, 2015
Since when bulldozing cemeteries and playing with naked bodies a war crime or even genocide?
Are you mad? If so Americans peeing on Taliban fighter’s dead bodies is a genocide as well?
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Native Vedda / February 13, 2015
sach
the stupid lifts her bump over her head once again to demonstrate her vast knowledge void on everything that is sacred to human being.
“Since when bulldozing cemeteries and playing with naked bodies a war crime or even genocide?”
ARTICLE 17
Parties to the conflict shall ensure that burial or cremation of the dead, carried out individually as far as circumstances permit, is preceded by a careful examination, if possible by a medical
examination, of the bodies, with a view to confirming death, establishing identity and enabling a report to be made. One half of the double identity disc, or the identity disc itself if it is a single disc, should remain on the body.
Bodies shall not be cremated except for imperative reasons of hygiene or for motives based on the religion of the deceased. In case of cremation, the circumstances and reasons for cremation
shall be stated in detail in the death certificate or on the authenticated list of the dead.
They shall further ensure that the dead are honourably interred, if possible according to the rites of the religion to which they belonged, that their graves are respected, grouped if possible
according to the nationality of the deceased, properly maintained and marked so that they may always be found. For this purpose, they shall organize at the commencement of hostilities an
Official Graves Registration Service, to allow subsequent exhumations and to ensure the identification of bodies, whatever the site of the graves, and the possible transportation to the
home country. These provisions shall likewise apply to the ashes, which shall be kept by the Graves Registration Service until proper disposal thereof in accordance with the wishes of the
home country.
As soon as circumstances permit, and at latest at the end of hostilities, these Services shall exchange, through the Information Bureau mentioned in the second paragraph of Article 16, lists showing the exact location and markings of the graves, together with particulars of the dead interred therein.
1949 GENEVA CONVENTION (I) FOR THE AMELIORATION OF THE
CONDITION OF THE WOUNDED AND SICK IN ARMED FORCES IN
THE FIELD
Adopted in Geneva, Switzerland on 12 August 1949
[http://www.icrc.org/ihl.nsf/FULL/365?OpenDocument]
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sach / February 13, 2015
but still it is not a genocide or war crime…
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Native Vedda / February 14, 2015
Rule 156. Definition of War Crimes
Rule 156. Serious violations of international humanitarian law constitute war crimes.
(ii) Other serious violations of international humanitarian law committed during an international armed conflict:
• committing outrages upon personal dignity, in particular, humiliating or degrading treatment and desecration of the dead;
These violations were the subject of war crimes trials after the Second World War
See generally Knut Dörmann, Elements of War Crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court: Sources and Commentary, Cambridge University Press, 2003.
https://www.icrc.org/
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Off the Cuff / February 14, 2015
Hello non Veddha,
Glad to note that you have studied the ICC Statute. Here is one item within rule 156 that you seem to have avoided.
Rule 156. Definition of War Crimes
Rule 156. Serious violations of international humanitarian law constitute war crimes.
(xxiii) Utilizing the presence of a civilian or other protected person to render certain points, areas or military forces immune from military operations;
UNSG’s POE Report
237. Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions: Credible allegations point to a violation of Common Article 3’s ban on the taking of hostages insofar as they forced thousands of civilians, often under threat of death, to remain in areas under their control during the last stages of the war and enforced this control by killing persons who attempted to leave that area. With respect to the credible allegations of the LTTE’s refusal to allow civilians to leave the combat zone, the Panel believes that these actions did not, in law, amount to the use of human shields insofar as it did not find credible evidence of the LTTE deliberately moving civilians towards military targets to protect the latter from attacks as is required by the customary definition of that war crime (Rule 97, ICRC Study)
The Darusman lead POE have EXONERATED the LTTE of the War Crime of using a Human Shield.
According to the ICC Statute, the LTTE is guilty.
Why did the POE misinterpret the Statute?
Were they bribed to misinterpret?
What is more serious?
Using Civilians as a Human Shield or bulldozing tombstones?
Kind Regards,
OTC
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Park / February 13, 2015
Burning Issue, you have conveniently forgotten the LTTE genocide of innocent Sinhalese and Muslims. Why is that not included in this resolution. What about LTTE holding civilians as hostages at the last stages of the war and what about child soldiers. Why should you look at only one side of the genocide. I do not have an issue with Unjust(ice) Wigneswaran, thankless Wigneswaran calling the attack on Tamils “Genocide of Tamils”, but as a leader of worstly affected party – originary civilians of Jaffna he should have also mentioned in the motion about the atrocities and genocide done by LTTE. Is it the “Jaffna Mentality” that has prevented him to be fair and equitable?
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cholan / February 13, 2015
An elected government should follow international laws when handling a conflict got it? Bur MR and Rabid GR et al ignored all norms ,rules of a so called war….
When Lalith Athulathmudali was a defense minister someone asked why can’t you bomb north and finish them all …Lalith replied there are international laws governing war it is not possible as a Oxford educated lawyer he has understood the danger of this ..but these comedians behaved like street thugs
Shame this victory is a hollow,artificial and borrowed one …36 countries involved …and prohibited chemical weapons used…..
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Uthungan / February 13, 2015
The LTTE was a historic creation of Sinhalese actions against the Tamils over the years.So there is no point in mentioning it specifically it because. if an when the probe by the IC is initiated the LTTE’s killings and massacres will automatically take place.
When considered with the fact that it was President Premadasa of the UNP who provided arms to the LTTE, which killed,It was in fact responsible for killing more Tamils.That should have made Sinhalese more happy,
In that context the Sinhale majority state with successive governments in the country has responsibility from 1948 onwards.
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sach / February 13, 2015
LOL so sinhalese should be responsible for LTTE killing more tamils?
Tamils have some weird logic!
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sach / February 13, 2015
Dont question/criticise tamils or LTTE….if you do you are now officially sinhala buddhist chauvinist
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Burning Issue / February 13, 2015
Park,
“Burning Issue, you have conveniently forgotten the LTTE genocide of innocent Sinhalese and Muslims.”
In my reply to you I termed genocide as ‘contentious’; this is because, I rather wait for an impartial investigation to deem it as such. NPC resolution has termed it in wider context including cultural genocide. I have not forgotten any of the LTTE attacks far from it; I have been a critic of the LTTE for a long while. The investigation that the UN has been conducting is to investigate both parties. I am eagerly waiting for the outcome as it is imperative that the Tamils in particular should know and digest what LTTE had done. I am sure such an investigation and establishing absolute truth will open new avenues for peace building. Therefore, people should not dismiss NPC’s resolution as a stumbling block but rather a stepping stone.
BBC reports:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-31434613 under the heading: Sri Lanka urges UN to delay war crimes report; where, Mangela Samraweera states:
“Unlike the previous government, we are not in a state of denial, saying that such violations have not happened,”
“We believe such violations have happened. We are ready to ensure that those who have violated human rights in Sri Lanka will be brought to justice through such a mechanism.”
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sach / February 13, 2015
@park,
Some tamils understand they cannot support LTTE openly and remain a closet racist. So their strategy is saying he is a strong critic of LTTE.
but you will see these critics were not critics when LTTE was around.
These critics have supported LTTE both financially and morally
Most of the LTTE’s critics are people who donated money to bomb innocent people in our country.
Not only that these critics are very sad about LTTE’s demise and want to take revenge from Sinhala people to massage their ego….
These people are the very people who had sustained war in this country for 30 years. And has no shame to ridicule and insult the very forces and political leadership that ended war.
And if you consider their ideology, it is the same as LTTE’s. They will say they are for a united SL, but that is because they know eelam is unrealistic given geopolitics.
Other than that they are the followers of early LTTE ideology fathered by GGP. The only difference between them and LTTE is LTTE at least had courage to take a weapon in their hands
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Park / February 14, 2015
The resolution of NPC is a show of “Thanklessness”, because they have forgotten what it was like under Prabaharan. Every family had to send one to become a soldier, that included children. Every family had to give gold, every foreign visitor was threatened and money was extracted. Every visitor to the NOrth had to pay a gate fee.
Within 30 days of being appointed as President, Maithripala has released lands, changed the governor, changed the secretary and even after the resolution has met with UnJust(ice) Wigneswaran.
Life in the north is much better than what it was under Prabaharan. So at this point of time to pass such a resolution of “Thanklessness” on the part of NCP.
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Off the Cuff / February 14, 2015
Dear Sach and Park,
In 1939 the Hindu Organ carried a report with the headline “Mr. Ponnambalam’s N’pitiya speech” and beneath it the strap line: “Mr. Bandaranaike’s challenge.” (p. 4 – June 22, 1939)
The editorial under the title “THE WRITING ON THE WALL”, was prophetic and said
“….. A verbal bombshell dropped unwittingly by a Tamil politician at Nawalapitiya appears to have set the South on fire……. A slander against a community by an individual, though unintended, is inexcusable …… Communal differences, though there existed hardly any during the time of the last generation of leaders, have now been multiplied and intensified, thanks to the hot-heads and irresponsible talkers in the country who care more for the plaudits of the mob than for the welfare of the people. Ceylon today is seething with petty problems which have been created by thoughtless gas-bags, and which threaten to poison the peaceful conditions in the country….. Let us hope that wise statesmanship will prevail among leaders who should realize the imperative need for the welding of the communities into a Ceylonese Community for the political and economic salvation of the country. The writing on the wall is too clear to be ignored.”
Please note that only the words between quotation marks are extracts from the Anglo Tamil Hindu Organ. The emphasis is mine and is used to underline the fact that BEFORE GGP’s speech in 1939, Communal Harmony existed in Lanka (please refer bold text in editorial) which was blown sky high when the FIRST Sinhala Tamil communal riots of the 20th century, exploded on our soil.
The “Hindu Organ” was an Anglo/Tamil fortnightly Newspaper which was founded on September 1889 by the Siva Paripalana Sabai. Ownership is still with them. Mr. T. Chellappa-pillai, who was the retired Chief Justice of Travancore and also a renowned mathematician an eminent English, Sanskrit and Tamil Scholar Edited the English pages while Mr T. Kailasapillai the Nephew of Srila Sri Arumuga Navalar (the famous Tamil Nationalist) was the Manager and the editor of the Tamil pages. Both editors worked for free. The paper was Tamil owned. Published, Edited and printed by Tamils in Jaffna.
The Editor has identified GGP as the culprit who caused the First Tamil Sinhala riot of the 20th century.
Kind Regards,
OTC
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punchiniame / February 12, 2015
TamilNet reports today as follows:-
“Justice Wigneswaran was stressing on the importance of Tamils and Sinhalese understanding the endless cycles of deception deployed by successive governments in the island.
The polity followed in the island never allowed the Sinhala people to see that Tamils are also an aborigine people of the island who are the majority in their land and they have the same rights as the Sinhalese over matters such as language, culture, tradition and living space, Wigneswaran said.
Many may ask why the resolution at this time, embarrassing a government willingly created by us. But this is the time the truth should be told and the justice should come, Wigneswaran said, adding that the strategy should be approaching the Sinhala people with truth.
In continuing the deception, Wigneswaran was accusing SL Prime Minister Ranil Wikramasinghe more than SL President Maithiripala Sirisena.
If the Geneva process doesn’t tell the truth now and if the military is not removed from the Tamil land now, then the future sufferings of Tamils will be endless. This has to be understood by Sinhalese too in forging a new political culture. That’s why this resolution and this is not against the Sinhala people, Wigneswaran said. “
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sach / February 12, 2015
why did you respect that [Edited out]? He showed his colors very well during the 2013 PC elections itself…
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Ranjan / February 12, 2015
Oh please, don’t let me start with the “Sinhala mentality” which is to dump the Tamils when the favour has been done, that is precisely what Ranil is been doing.. From back door dealings with USA to save Rajapaksa to splitting the Tamil-Muslim unity in East to making the defense secretary to say that not a single army camp will be withdrawn, Ranil is being a fox.
Tongue twisters with extreme ethnic hypocrisy like you have no right of opinion about the process towards justice. Let the independent folks at UNHRC do their job.
Oh BTW “terrorists” cannot be charged with genocide my friend and what is there to hide? Why panic and fuss about an international investigation, unless you want the trial to be biased which is exactly what local investigation will be.
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Samuel Bandara / February 12, 2015
Dayan Rajapakshe is fully on his malicious mode – So called Analysts to their best right at the moment – this has been the 4 verbal diarrhea of him within 72hours. May be the buggers seems to have no life – but on on attacking anyone who would go against Rajapakshes. I doubt whether dogs of Rajapakshe are loyal to them as DJ has been.
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Rarityminds / February 12, 2015
Yes indeed why this man DJ aka DAYAN SILVA/Rajapakshe seems to have no patience at all – he is like a rabid dog on repetitive mode to add his apabransa… anyways, his enthusiasm to writing articles were not this greedy at the time MR was looting the nation.
/
Ram / February 13, 2015
Malice is exclusively Wigneswaran’s. His cause is that of the LTTE, nothing less. It never has been anything else, and both RW and CBK are in his pocket.
/
Burning Issue / February 13, 2015
Ram,
You along with DR DJ prefer to revive the LTTE so the Sinhala public can be aroused in to a state of patriotic frenzy! How sad. The quicker you grow up it is better for all.
/
Ram / February 14, 2015
I have no such wish, but I want the Tamils to be happy as equals without demanding this, that and the other privilege (at the expense of the rest of us) based on fake arguments. It is not I who have to grow up.
/
Victor Ragunathan / February 12, 2015
In Politics, everything is timing. When and how far to go will be decided based on events and timing.
Justice Wigneswaran has done this primarily
1) Not anything against the current regime but all other previous Srilankan ( Sinhala) regime. When I say Sinhala, it was all about the ruling regime.
2) He and majority of the Tamil Councillors did it at this crucial juncture as there are talks about not submitting the proposed UN investigative report at the next OHCHR meeting. The resolution is a democratically passed resolution representing the Northern Provincial people.
3) He turned down previous resolutions quoting ” Genocide” with caution and after studying all the events, he included this.
4) After all he was not asking seperation of Eelam, all he ask the world is to prosecute the culprit.
5) If DJ feels nothing wrong was done, then prove to the world, why sweat ?
IT IS ABOUT JUSTICE DELAYED AND NOT DENIED.
If justice denied, it has its own effects to come in the future generations.
http://transcurrents.com/tc/2009/04/foundation_for_modern_terroris.html
/
Off the Cuff / February 13, 2015
Dear Victor Ragunathan,
Re “IT IS ABOUT JUSTICE DELAYED AND NOT DENIED”
Of Course it is Justice denied and Lanka is at the receiving end.
Let’s first look at the International Law
.
http://www.icc-cpi.int/iccdocs/PIDS/publications/RomeStatutEng.pdf
.
Rome Statute of the ICC, 17 July 1998
Article 8
War crimes
(b) Other serious violations of the laws and customs applicable in international armed conflict, within the established framework of international law, namely, any of the following acts:
(xxiii) Utilizing the presence of a civilian or other protected person to render certain points, areas or military forces immune from military operations;
The Key words in the above definition are “Presence”, “Civilians” and “Immune”
The meaning of course is very clear. Anyone holding Civilians to protect either, military forces (in this case LTTE cadres) or any area or any location from attacks is guilty of using a human shield a serious War Crime.
Now let’s look at what the “Experts” of the UNSG’s panel has to say
UNSG’s POE Report
237. Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions: Credible allegations point to a violation of Common Article 3’s ban on the taking of hostages insofar as they forced thousands of civilians, often under threat of death, to remain in areas under their control during the last stages of the war and enforced this control by killing persons who attempted to leave that area. (With respect to the credible allegations of the LTTE’s refusal to allow civilians to leave the combat zone, the Panel believes that these actions did not, in law, amount to the use of human shields insofar as it did not find credible evidence of the LTTE deliberately moving civilians towards military targets to protect the latter from attacks as is required by the customary definition of that war crime (Rule 97, ICRC Study)
It is the ICC Statute which is the International Law. Prosecutions, Judgements, convictions and penalties have to comply with the ICC Statute.
The UNSG’s POE does not quote International law. It has ignored it and is quoting an irrelevant rule and that too with perversion.
Let’s look at this study made by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) which has no standing in Law but is quoted by the “Experts”.
Human Shields
Definition of human shields
The prohibition of using human shields in the Geneva Conventions, Additional Protocol I and the Statute of the International Criminal Court are couched in terms of using the presence (or movements) of civilians or other protected persons to render certain points or areas (or military forces) immune from military operations
.
(https://www.icrc.org/customary-ihl/eng/docs/v1_rul_rule97)
.
That too is about using the presence
Obviously Mr. Darusman, Ms. Yasmin Sooka and Mr. Steven Ratner has had a very strong incentive to do what they did.
Has the UNHRC laid the foundation for a Wild West style Lynching Party or has the UNSG’s POE been Bribed?
It sure as hell looks like one or the other.
Kind Regards,
OTC
/
victor ragunathan / February 14, 2015
I am not sure where did you get the idea that investigation is only one sided. We all know that and it was clear to all ( except to you) that UN investigation between 2002- 2009 will includes both warring parties.
You all have the opportunity to present your side of the story
/
Off the Cuff / February 15, 2015
Dear victor ragunathan,
You say “I am not sure where did you get the idea that investigation is only one sided.”
That is a very strange observation.
The foundation for the investigation is the UNSG’s POE Report.
That POE has very clearly prostituted the ICC Statute.
I gave you a specific instance of that prostitution from the report itself. If what I say cannot be countered then that report is worthless as it underlines BIAS towards the LTTE of that investigative Panel.
A High Powered Panel like this won’t go out on a limb to break the Law, unless they got something in return. Hence Bribery cannot be ruled out.
If the POE established by the UN’s Secretary General could be so BOLD as to prostitute the ICC Statute itself and FAVOUR a TERRORIST organization as the LTTE, what is the JUSTICE you can expect from any UN sponsored exercise?
Is this the first step in establishing a Kangaroo Court to Lynch Sri Lanka?
Please explain your viewpoint.
Kind Regards,
OTC
/
Anpu / February 15, 2015
OTC,
Have you written to UN’s Secretary General ? If you have not, please do so and when you get a reply publish it on CT.
/
Off the Cuff / February 15, 2015
Anpu,
Does that mean you cannot contest what I have written?
So far no one has succeeded and I hope you can do so.
/
victor ragunathan / February 14, 2015
The investigation should cover all aspects of violence.
/
Off the Cuff / February 15, 2015
Dear victor ragunathan,
I have already replied to you above
OTC
/
Burning Issue / February 12, 2015
The [Edited out] Political Scientist,
“The people of all ethnicities of this country, chiefly the majority who happen to be Sinhalese, are threatened by this aggressive and long standing Tamil nationalism which has a vast rear-base in the teeming millions of Tamil Nadu.”
Wow what a moron you are indeed! The reality has been that the Tamils who became a minority within the amalgamated state of Ceylon have been subjected by the majority aggression for over 60 years! You can say the people of Sri Lanka were threatened by the rise and modus-opperandi of the LTTE; I have no qualms about that, but making reference to Tamil Nadu is utterly preposterous and spurious! Even during the height of the last phase of the war, sections of Tamil Nadu protested but could do nothing whatsoever to influence as to what was afoot in Sri Lanka. Why do you then keep on making reference to TN? You simply want to create a fear factor among the Sinhala; this kind of behavior is completely irresponsible and dangerous. It was the Sinhala like you who created the ethnic divide in order to maintain your Smart Patriotism i.e. Sinhala hegemony!
“Sri Lankan patriotism is a defensive reaction and is necessary one to the threats and pressures of Tamil expansionism and Western hegemonism.”
This guy is hilarious. You are completely confused; there is no such thing as “Tamil expansionism”; this is fabricated lie! The “Western hehemonism” is a thing of the past. You need this kind of materials to scaremonger the Sinhala masses in order to perpetuate the Sinhala hegemony; how sad!
/
sach / February 12, 2015
Tamil expansionism is a real thing.
Before 14AD no tamil settlements in SL, after that a vassal state ….then it became a 3000 year old nation and then Sinhala East during colonial period became tamil with imported Tamil slaves from SI…
/
AVB / February 13, 2015
Sach/DJ,
You mention Tamils as slaves brought in, but still there are humans unlike half humans like Sinhalese tribe with 50% animal genes. What is the English word for this type of half humans- half animals which was generated by human women having sex with animals….
/
sach / February 13, 2015
The issue is this is the land of the half humans…the half humans language, culture and all their civilisation was developed in this land…the human tamils’ case is not that.
If Tamils were brought here like animals then handle it with those who brought you here the dutch and brits. I see you have no issue with them. Between i did not say what you allege
/
Off the Cuff / February 14, 2015
Dear AVB,
There is genetic evidence that the Lanka Tamils may not be from South India as they and the Indian origin Tamils of Lanka (who are from South India) does not show a genetic connection.
However there is evidence that the Sinhalese have a Genetic connection with Tamils of India and that the Sinhalese have contributed genetically to the Lanka Tamils gene pool.
But if you believe that animals genes have managed to cross the Human reproductive barrier then you will not have the intelligence to understand what I have said.
Kind Regards,
OTC
/
Burning Issue / February 13, 2015
Such,
Pull yourself together mate; you are going out of control! The linquestic experts in Sri lanka have accepted that the sinhala language has thousands of borrowed words from the tamil language. So if you say that the tamil settlements only started from 14th century AD, the Sinhala language up until then would have been equal to a half-baked potato! Have some sense Such. It is because you are consumed by the Sinhala Buddhist Chauvinistic materials, you have lost your senses! You need to objectively learn history and apply some common senses along the way.
/
sach / February 13, 2015
Objectively learn history? lol
Like you and your racist GGP say?
Arent you saying the same racist bullshit that racist GGP said?
This is the problem with tamils. if you talk to a tamil, every tamil is a historian from vets to engineer to those who loiter in loin cloth are historians and experts in history. :D
Their expertise is in Sinhala history. These fellows have an uncanny desire of everything sinhala from what their language was and to what they wore. But the only thing these fellows do is finding holes in Sinhala history and insulting it. But when one question their history that person is a racist.
To answer what you said idiot.
Sinhala people and cholans and people from TN have been in contact with each other for millenniums. TN people have come to SL as traders, mercenaries, invaders and even settled here and married to people in here. That is not civilization idiot. If that is a civilisation even SLns living in UK is a Sinhala or Tamil civilisation in UK. These people who came from TN which are even recorded in Mahavamsa became Sinhala and joined the larger sinhala community.
That is why Sinhala people are genetically close to South Indians.
Sinhala people did not go to other places. The mediums through which sinhala people conducted their trade with outside world is Cholans. The cholans did the same thing the arabs did later. Contact and interaction with these people is the reason why Sinhala has a lot of loan words.
if you think tamil loan words is as evidence to tamil settlements either you are extremely stupid or extremely dishonest. Sinhala has a lot of loan words from English and Dutch as well. Does that mean there was english and dutch civilization in SL?
My honest advice please get yourself educated in Sri lanka history and history of the vassal state in jaffna. That will save a lot of lives. Many have died because of your ethnic ego and that single man GGP’s arrogance.
And last i am not the one going out of control. The real one going out of control is your racist wiggie. Chain him before he wreak more havoc.
/
Burning Issue / February 13, 2015
Such,
You do not study history but you devour the Sinhala Buddhist chauvinistic materials. This is why you say there were no tamil settlements in Sri lanka before 14th century AD!
So according to you GGP is racist but Anagariga Tharmapala is a saint! In fact there are over 4,000 tamil words in Sinhala. Wake up man as you are deluded to the core. You appear a dump patriot rather than a smart patriot that DJ belongs to :)
Take note that GGP was merely an opportunist just like SWRD. You are a bitterly twisted man; I hope you find sanity.
/
sach / February 13, 2015
So if there was tamil nation , not mere settlements …before 14AD please give me a proper scholarly work that is not Sinhala Buddhist chauvinistic according to you.
I have been asking this question from every self professed historians in CT but none give me the answer.
Don’t you think countering the facts or arguments that are in sinhala buddhist chauvanist books is better than simply denouncing the sinhala people’s history sources. Because it makes one feel you malign the books because you cannot properly challenge what is in it.
It makes your historical claims very weak.
If you are referring to mahavamsa, i have to disappoint you, one cannot ignore it when studying history in SL. That is the golden rule. No proper historian can ignore it no matter how much you dislike the content of it.
Lets forget mahavamsa to please you, take Mahabharata. Why does Mahabharata identify SL as Sinhala and with no mention of Tamil?
And again saying tamil words in Sinhala is an evidence to a millenia old Tamil nation is stupid. I dont know how to make you understand this point. We have a lot of Engish and Dutch loan words in Sinhala. The reason for tamil loan words, i highly doubt if it is 4000, is constant contact with tamil mercenaries and traders from TN which is mentioned in a lot of sources.
I think you are talking about Anagarika Dharmapala to deviate the debate on history. Is it because you cannot challenge the content?
GGP is not an opportunist only a racist low level man. He is no SWRD. SWRD’s Sinhala mahasabha movement started after GGP’s vitriol against Sinhala.
GGP is the father of modern Sinhala -tamil war.
And dont tell me you people dismiss GGP. I have seen many tamil commentators here repeating what GGP said including you.
And for the nth time, read a proper history book. And tell me a single source for millenia old tamil civilisation in SL.
/
Burning Issue / February 13, 2015
“I think you are talking about Anagarika Dharmapala to deviate the debate on history. Is it because you cannot challenge the content?”
There is nothing worthy to challenge! I have debated with intellectuals on Groundviews over a number of years. There is contributor called OTC, who was party to it. There were many who were objective and civil about sharing information and accepting history with great deal of common sense. I find you as an arrogant individual with spurious theories! I have no time to waste with you. One thing is certain, you will never be able to subjugate the Tamils!
/
sach / February 13, 2015
When ever you are cornered in a discussion you always bring up your talks in groundviews. Were you a big deal in groundviews? I dont care and It doesnt matter to me what you said and did in Groundviews. What is apparent is when you are asked a simple question where facts and realities matter.
But when real facts are needed you cannot talk…..That is the reason. I might sound arrogant and I dont care. I have every reason to be arrogant about my people and my island. If you cannot find anything other than some loan words in sinhala i cant help you.
I dont want anything to do with Tamils forget subjugation.
What I cannot fathom is Tamils living among Sinhalese and moving to Sinhala majority areas under so much subjugation…
/
Off the Cuff / February 14, 2015
Dear BI,
Just saw my pseudonym mentioned by you.
Sinhalese is a hybrid race. We evolved in Lanka we did not come here as Sinhalese.
Our ancestors who came here from the Indian subcontinent mixed with the indigenes of Lanka and the Sinhalese race was born. Thus obviously our history is not as old as Tamil history but we still have a long history.
The Sinhalese identity is their language Sinhala which like they themselves is a rich mosaic of other languages and of their own.
Hindi, English, Dutch, Portuguese, Pali, Sanskrit, Tamil, Prakrit etc are some of the languages that have contributed. Just as many languages have contributed to the English lexicon. No language is Pure and arguing on those lines is futile.
Are the Lanka Tamils Dravidian?
That’s a question that needs an answer in the light of certain scientific investigations that show that the Indian Origin Tamils of Lanka who came here from South India and the Indigenous Lanka Tamils are not genetically connected. This is surprising if both came from South India.
If not from South India from where did the Lanka Tamils come from?
The possibilities are many and one of them is the possibility that the present day Lanka Tamils are Tamil speaking Sinhalese.
Kind Regards,
OTC
/
Burning Issue / February 14, 2015
OTC,
“If not from South India from where did the Lanka Tamils come from? The possibilities are many and one of them is the possibility that the present day Lanka Tamils are Tamil speaking Sinhalese.”
I agree with the above statement. It is also plausible that the present day Sinhala are also Sinhala speaking South Indians! This is exactly what Native Vedda has been trying show. Languages and faiths are mediums of expressions that were heavily influenced by feudal pressures and changing circumstances.
/
Off the Cuff / February 14, 2015
Dear Burning Issue, Sach,
Re “The issue is that there were tamil settlements existed all over SL;” (Burning Issue, Feb 14, 2015 at 3:48 pm)
Not all over SL.
85% of Lanka was a forest when the Brits arrived.
Most of the Tea plantations were forests, parts of which were used for Chena cultivation and some parts of the plantations were not forest and was used for farming and living. The Indian Origin Tamils never existed. Even today the Lanka Tamil population is minute, indicating they were not there when the Brits came.
————— Sinhala Lanka Tamil Indian Tamil
Nuwara Eliya— 282,053 32,563 377,637
Matale——— 391,305 24,279 23,238
Kurunegala—– 1,479,863 18,041 2,594
Badulla——– 595,372 21,880 150,484
Ratnapura—— 947,811 54,437 62,124
Kegalle——– 718,369 17,861 43,748
Data from 2012 census.
Re “It is also plausible that the present day Sinhala are also Sinhala speaking South Indians!”
Geographically, Lanka and India would have been joined by a land bridge between Mannar and Rameswaram as the Sea would have been much lower two millennia ago, than what it is today. The remnants of this land bridge is visible even today on Satellite imagery (please refer Google Earth)
Hence there is a distinct possibility of humans using the land bridge to come to Lanka rather than by sea (or may be both). These migrants could be anyone or more of the many races inhabiting the Indian subcontinent (not just South India).
Balangoda Man dates back to 38,000 BP to 30,000 BP (BP zero is 1 January 1950). Hence this country has been inhabited for at least that long. Unless those people became extinct by the time the migrants arrived via the land route, SOME of today’s inhabitant’s ancestors would be them.
What I am going to write might make many who believe in a PURE DRAVIDIAN ancestry of Lanka Tamils angry. But ALL of it is based on Scientific Genetic Studies and the observations made by the authors of those studies.
This is from the latest scientific study on the subject. It was published on the Internet on 7 November 2013. Unfortunately you have to pay to access it now.
Rent: $4.99, Purchase: $9.99
The report is accessible online at http://www.nature.com/jhg/journal/v59/n1/full/jhg2013112a.html
.
Mitochondrial DNA history of Sri Lankan ethnic people: their relations within the island and with the Indian subcontinental populations.
By Lanka Ranaweera, Supannee Kaewsutthi, Aung Win Tun, Hathaichanoke Boonyarit, Samerchai Poolsuwan and Patcharee Lertrit
1. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
2. Faculty of Sociology and Anthropology, Thammasat University, PraChan, Bangkok, Thailand
Quote
The PCA is extended further to include various other ethnic populations from the Indian subcontinent (Supplementary Table S2) Figure 4. The result shown in Figure 5 accounted for 52.59% of the total variation. All the Sinhalese and Tamil subgroups intermingle well with the majority of the Indian subcontinental populations, forming a large genetic matrix.
Unquote
PCA = “Principal component analysis”
Quote
However, Indian Tamils were separated from the rest of the Sri Lankan subgroups, except SU-Bam and SL-Ban, on the first PC axis. This is further strengthening of the hypothesis that Indian Tamils are genetically distinct from the rest of the Sri Lankan ethnic groups.
Unquote
(SU – Ban is Sinhalese from Bambarabedda, SL – Ban is Sinhalese from Bandaraduwa)
Thus the following scientific inferences can be made
1. Indian Tamils of Lanka, Lanka Tamils and the Sinhalese have genetic connections to those from the Indian Subcontinent.
2. Indian Tamils of Lanka do not have a Genetic connection to Lanka Tamils
3. Sinhalese intermarry with Indian Tamils of Lanka
4. Lanka Tamils SHUN intermarriage with Indian Tamils of Lanka
Inference “2” is surprising because we know for certain that the Indian Origin Tamils of Lanka are from South India (or Tamil Nadu) and the Lanka Tamils claim that they too come from Tamil Nadu.
Where does the Lanka Tamils come from if they are not from Tamil Nadu? Science says they are not as seen from the above.
Lanka Tamils could not have originated from South India. South Indian Tamils are not the Parent population of the Lanka Tamils.
Quote
“Interestingly, highest number of haplotype sharing was found between Vedda with Up-country Sinhalese and with Low-country Sinhalese. On the other hand, there was no haplotype sharing between the Vedda people with any of the Tamils”
Unquote
It must be noted that due to the isolation of the Veddha community, sampling done today will yeild only a small percentage of Veddha genetic material within the Sinhalese.
These inferences follow
5. Neither the Lanka Tamils or the Indian Origin Tamils have any direct genetic connection with the Veddha.
6. The Sinhalese have a direct genetic connection with the Veddha.
Thus we can see that the Veddha is ONE of the parent populations of the Sinhalese.
There is an older study done in 1995, twenty years ago, by Dr Kshatriya. It’s available in the wiki.
Dr Kshatriya says
The Bengalis, the Tamils, and the Veddahs are considered parental populations for the Sinhalese. The Bengali contribution is 25.41%, the Tamil (India) contribution is 69.86%, and the Veddah contribution is only 4.73%. Thus the Sinhalese have a predominantly Tamil (India) contribution followed by the Bengalis and the Veddahs.
By studying the Sri Lankan Tamils, one can see that the Sinhalese, the Bengalis, and the Indian Tamils can be considered ancestral populations. The contribution of the Sinhalese to the Sri Lankan Tamils is 55.20%. Similarly, the Bengali contribution is 28.17% and that of the Indian Tamils is 16.63%. The results indicate a predominant influence of the Sinhalese (who already have a high contribution from the Indian Tamils) and the Bengalis to a lesser extent.
Thus the Lanka Tamils may well be descendants of the Sinhalese who over time has adopted the Tamil Language due to the close contact with South Indian Tamils.
Why are we Fighting without sharing this Land of ours as equals?
Why talk of Traditional Homelands when ALL of Lanka is our home?
Kind Regards,
OTC
/
Off the Cuff / February 15, 2015
BI, Sach,
The data in my comment of February 14, 2015 at 8:58 pm has become illegible as there is no separation. Here it is again, hope it will be legible this time.
—————-Sinhala—–Lanka Tamil—–Indian Tamil
Nuwara Eliya—-282,053—–32,563—–377,637
Matale———-391,305—–24,279—–23,238
Kurunegala——1,479,863—–18,041—–2,594
Badulla———595,372—–21,880—–150,484
Ratnapura——-947,811—–54,437—–62,124
Kegalle———718,369—–17,861—–43,748
/
Burning Issue / February 13, 2015
In addition to thousands of borrowed words that are being used in everyday language, the Dravidian languages, and Tamil in Particular played a major part in developing and shopping the Sinhala language! I do not know why you are so adamant to discount as to how much influence Tamil made to the Sinhala language!
Prof. J. B. Dissanayake in his book ‘Understanding the Sinhalese’ at page 118 states:
“….Sinhala occupies a unique position among the languages of South Asia because of its close affinity, with two of the major linguistic families of the Indian sub continent Indo-Aryan and Dravidian…’ From this, one can conclude that Sinhala in written form could have been made by one or many, who knew both Dravidian and Aryan language. Thus early Dravidian Buddhist priests were scholars in Tamil, Pali and Sanskrit, to make Sinhala in spoken and written form possible.”
Buddhism arrived in Sri Lanka from South India! At one time, Buddhism was dominating TN; there are already many Archaeological findings unearthing Buddhist artefacts in South India. Many Tamils who were Buddhists; one only have to examine many Sinhala surnames to identify such people! I have indeed read J.B. Dissanayake’s book, where he dedicated a chapter for the origins of the Sinhala names; even I can tell who is a real Sinhala and who has association with Dravidian connection.
Dissanayake talks about the influence of Tamil in the Sinhala language such that many Sinhala do not realise as to how many words have been adopted; they erroneously believe that, they are real Sinhala words! Of course, Portuguese, Dutch, and English words can be hand-picked and conspicuous but the Tamils words have been moulded and morphed into the Sinhala language that would not have happened just like that!
/
sach / February 13, 2015
Now where did I reject influence of Tamil in SInhala language? Are you hanging into straws without an argument? Dont you have anything to say without putting words into my mouth?
Is the 3000 (as you say) tamil loan words in Sinhala the only evidence you can give for tamil nation in north and east for 3000 years?
Are you serious? Are you saying you have nothing to show in your millenia old mythical kingdom other than tamil words in sinhala? What a pathetic poor kingdom!
When literature flourished in Sinhala kingdom and TN the so called mythical kingdom in the middle had none.
Your most valued temple, nallur was even built by a Sinhala king.
And dont get me wrong. Tamils did live in SL as a very small minority who were a result of interaction with TN. But there was no Tamil nation which you talk about.
Come with truth and proper evidence without embarrassing yourself talking about 3000 tamil words in Sinhala to prove existence of a millenia old tamil kingdom.
/
Burning Issue / February 14, 2015
I am not a fool to say that the Sinhala language did not evolve in SL. It certainly did but for you to say that there was no Tamil settlements in SL pre 14th century AD is preposterous. You now say that there might have been small settlements! The issue is that there were tamil settlements existed all over SL; this was how the Sinhala language developed absorbing not only many words but also the grammatical structure of Tamil along with the buddhist monks who were fluent in Tamil and Pali.
There were some watershed events such as the arrival of Buddhism and Chola invasion. These two events shaped the demography and languages that we see today along with dominance of Buddhism and Hinduism. If Buddhism had not arrived, it is extremely plausible that the entire country would have been Hindus and Tamil speaking. On the other hand, if the Chola had not invaded and established kingdoms, the entire country would have been Buddhists and Sinhala or Tamil speaking. The evolution of the Sinhala language was in fact directly connected with buddhist insecurity in the region. This is exactly why we see today the inextricable link between the Sinhala and Buddhism in SL. Hence, it is also evident that those who were caught up within the Chola kingdoms became Tamil speaking and Hindus. On the other side was the opposite. This is why we now see many Sinhala names carry Tamil sounding surnames. Of course many South indian migrants during the Dutch period assimilated into both sides as well.
There is no evidence that Sinhala reined the northern region pre 14th century. There were Tamil chieftans along with Wanni and East. There were many Sinhala Chieftans in the up country. They might have been paying tributes to kings within Sri lanka or in South india. There is no question that Buddhism developed the Sinhala language. But Tamil was the court language under many Sinhala kings including the Kandiyan Kings.
People were forced to convert their faith similar to the Henry the VIII time; when he advented Anglicanism his subjects had no choice. Same thing happened in SL. Hence, I partially agree with OTC that the present day Sri Lankan tamils and Sinhala are largely from the same stock. It is disingenuous and spurious to deem that the present day Tamil speakers within N&E were migrants exclusively.
/
sach / February 13, 2015
See you prove my first comment.
“This is the problem with tamils. if you talk to a tamil, every tamil is a historian from vets to engineer to those who loiter in loin cloth are historians and experts in history. :D Their expertise is in Sinhala history. These fellows have an uncanny desire of everything sinhala from what their language was and to what they wore. But the only thing these fellows do is finding holes in Sinhala history and insulting it. But when one question their history that person is a racist.”
/
Off the Cuff / February 14, 2015
Dear Sach, Burning Issue, AVB, Cholan,
The question is about whose home was Sri Lanka ORIGINALLY.
In order to prove that using a migrants history is not possible. Example Tamils have a History much longer than the Sinhalese. But that History is from India not Sri Lanka.
We know that Indian Origin Tamils of Lanka domiciled in the Hill Country Plantations has a History in Lanka not earlier than 1815 (the year the 2nd Kandyan War ended with a treaty). They have a several millennia old history in India but a history even less than 200 years in Lanka.
Thus arguments using Tamil History cannot prove anything and is futile.
Balangoda Man dates back to 38,000 BP to 30,000 BP (BP zero is 1 January 1950). Hence this country has been inhabited for at least that long.
Sinhalese have evolved here and hence have a history ONLY in Sri Lanka and nowhere else. They are a mixed race. Their parent populations could be those from the Indian Subcontinent and may include Indian Tamils as well as well as the aborigines of Lanka the Veddhas.
Hope you can contribute to a serious discussion without the futile bickering about language etc
Kind Regards
OTC
/
Ravi Gupta / February 14, 2015
Burner, Indo-Aryan was/is not at all a language.
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AVB / February 13, 2015
It is not a secret that lot of Sinhalese like Sach are ignorant.. This man was taught that there was no Tamil settlement before 14AD by his elders, while he was fed with BS like Tamil/Malayalam looking Sinhalese tribe are Aryans.. How foolish…
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sach / February 13, 2015
[Edited out] the first settlers from India came from North India, that is what historians say. They did not come as Sinhalese. there was a number of immigrations from other parts of india. And they mixed up with people who had already settled.
That is what gave birth to sinhala civilisation.
No Sinhala is saying they are Aryan. I dont think we can categorise people like that in this world anymore. Only Tamils dream about dravidian or other crap.
Every evidence on tamil settlements in SL says the vassal state in Jaffna appeared later than 14 AD…
Even that fellow JL Devananda in DBSJ site had acknowledged that tamil civilisation appeared later than 14 AD.
GGP took you people in a grand day dreaming trip. We cant help that.
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cholan / February 13, 2015
he he he are you living in Planet Mars?
Have you been in Polanaruwa? Once a jungle later during 11 AD became an international Citadal ..still ruins of Tamil Stone Books ..Shiva temples stood there..
1000 s of Tamil related stone books,ruined were dynamited by ex-Archeological commissioner hewavitharana to erase the proof…
Sinhalsea are all 200% Malayali origins of todays Kerala the TAMIL CHERA KINGDOM ..you sinhalease dress(go to Kerala villages and see what women wear)..eat kerala food..celebrate kerala Pathini goddess..and kerala a manthirams …after marriage husband go and live at wife s home this is only practicised in Kerala in India . you don’t have even a celebration in your own Sinhala New Year was copied from Tamil new year
Stop talking about your lies from Makavamsa con book no one buy these today…father of Sinhabahu was a lion joke 1……Deported Criminal Vijaya with 700 thugslanded in Mannar on a poison day joke 2…(he couldn’t lanede in Visakapatanam,Nagapatanam,Trincolamle or even Nianaatheevu..
Veddas can stand up and say we are ancient people than Sinhalese but veddas practice Hindu rituals …Tamil Nadu today is just in a stone throwing distance …image how was it 3000 years ago Tamils could have easily walked to SL…..AFTER ALL TERE WAS NO iNDIA BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF british 200 years ago ..INDIA was created just for administration purpose
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sach / February 13, 2015
[Edited out],
Pollonaruwa was subject to Chola invasions and cholas ruled it for years hence hindu structures.
i have no knowlegde of tamil inscriptions that commissioner had destroyed. In 1900s the british officials were the first to dig history. This history debate came to fore in 1930s but the tamil politicians never mentioned about any Tamil inscription. Are you talking about something that did not exist?
malayalees became a separate nation even after the modern sinhala script had developed as seen in Sigiri scriptures. Not only cultural straits of Malayalees our people celebrate any festival they will contact with.
No Sinhala has rejected that some of the sinhalese originated in kerala. SL was and is a part of a major trade route not some tribal infested jungle in TN.
Vaddhas share DNA with only Sinhala people. Their religion is mainly animism. Animist practices and worship are still prevalent among sinhala people.
And idiot Mahavamsa says the Vijaya clan came to Trincomalee (Gokanna) which is Gokanna and not mannar as you say. It is obvious anyone coming from East India would first reach trinco.
Read it before bash it [Edited out]…
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Patriot / February 12, 2015
While Dayan would like to think that Sri Lanka is a nation state with Sinhala nationalism as “its core and motive force”, the facts on the ground simply don’t support it. France, Germany, Italy, England and other nation states do not have vast regions with place names that the majority communities in those states cannot pronounce. Yet on this Island, the majority Sinhalese community cannot pronounce the names of the villages and towns in the NE. Neither Dayan, RW, MS, MR or any of the other Sinhalese leaders of this country, past and present, can pronounce Vellumulivaikal or Puthukudiyiruppu without causing the people who live in those villages to giggle in amusement. Let’s also keep in mind that the NE is not a small area. It’s about the same size as Israel; it is home to more people than more than 50 other nations that already have UN membership.
Dayan’s vision of what the character of the island should be is exactly that: a vision, a project. So essentially what we have is two dueling projects: The Eelam project and the project to make Sri Lanka a Sinhalese nation state. Of the two, only the Eelam project has a clear path to completion within a finite timeline. The Sinhalese nation state project is not defined at all. Exactly how are you going convert the place names in the NE to Sinhalese names, and how are you going to alter the demographics so that the Sinhalese don’t feel like foreigners when they visit Jaffna? How long will it take, and who is going to fund the project. The Eelam project has plenty of examples in the world to draw from: South Sudan, East Timor, and Kosovo. Where has a project similar to the Sinhala nation state project been successfully completed in the modern world?
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Prem / February 12, 2015
DMK leader is a Telugu, AIADMK is a Kanada.
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Navin / February 12, 2015
Seems this old hag is begging for the wrinkles around the rear orifice to be reamed out.
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Ambedkhar Reborn / February 12, 2015
Dr. DJ the Political Scientist, Can you answer the simple questions
1. if nothing was wrong when SWRD was a Sinhalese Narionalist and won with 2/ 3 rd majority what was wrong with SJ V C a Tamil Narionalist leminoritiesthe NE people?
2. Why SWRD as a majoritarian leader who won 2/ 3rd majoriry through Pancha Bala Vegaya , called SJ V C and signed pact?
When the BC pact were conceived you were in your mother’s womb.
You should pray hard so that your father can come in your dreams and enlighten you about the BC pact and how both UNP led govts and SLFP led govts played the religious and racial cards to come to power at the minorities.
Alternatively you can engage SUMANADASA ABEYGUNARWARDNE and found out whether the stars of MR and you are powerful enough to bring down the current coalition formed by the hard work of Ven Sobitha Thero, Chandrika, Ranil, Ven Ratna Thero, Champika, JVP, Liberal party , Mano Ganeshan and leaders of few of the other parties.
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Off The Wall / February 12, 2015
Dayan Master is in MELTDOWN since midnight 8th January when his life started spiraling out of control. Big time.
The Urban Dictionary defines the phenomenon and tells us what to do about it:
“MELTDOWN” describes what happens when a person freaks out, cracks, loses control of themselves. Life – reality at large – becomes overwhelming. They just can’t deal with it all. The person may act out, withdraw, become emotional, run, etc…
If meltdown happens to you or someone you know, just remember: It’s not the nicest thing, but it happens. Step back and regroup. That’s all you can do.”
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Ranjan / February 12, 2015
Dayan now writes,
“The people of all ethnicities of this country, chiefly the majority who happen to be Sinhalese, are threatened by this aggressive and long standing Tamil nationalism”
But few years back he wrote this,
“The massive retaliation by the State reveals to the Tamil people their enemy in all its bestial ferocity. The entire Tamil nation in the North. Every Tamil there, by the very fact of his or her Tamilness, is deemed an enemy and treated as such in practice. This forces the Tamil people to see themselves as the State”
This guy is utterly confused and is in desperate need for psychological therapy.He has serious mental issues. Mrs Dayan over to you.
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Ranjan / February 12, 2015
This resolution is a warning to India, your double standard foreign policy cannot continue. If it does TNA will make moves like this resolution to whip up Sinhala extremists like Dayan and others and help bring Mahinda who is pro China back to power.
Mahinda back in power will not only hurt India’s security but his extreme nepotism and corruption will hurt the cosmopolitan Sinhalese and farmers as well. Obviously nobody would want that, so give those poor war victims the justice they deserve.
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sach / February 13, 2015
LOL
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Ranjan / February 13, 2015
LMAO at the sorry state of severely depressed MaRa and Gota who cannot fly back to US….
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Ranjan / February 12, 2015
Sinhala chauvinism has two sides, MaRa and Ranil are two sides of the same coin. TNA is against Ranil’s double standard policies not Sirisena. TNA did not call for eelam, instead they simply want justice to their people.
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burt / February 12, 2015
“Northern Political Aggression “
What the hell is this guy smoking? The resolution spells out all events and those events fall within the definition of Genocide. So how can stating the obvious be aggression?
Its understood that there is a new govt and it would be preferred if the parties can negotiate with mutual respect but the new govt had prioritized to go around the world in order to find an opportunity to sweep all crimes under the carpet like every other govt has done before, so how do you fault NPC for bringing the resolution which would be documented.
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K.A Sumanasekera / February 13, 2015
Top Shelf stuff again from Dr Dayan..
“All ethnic groups, the great majority in particular who happen to be Sinhala people faces a grave danger from this extreme Tamil Nationalism from the Vellala CM Vigneswaaran and his TNA” .says Dr Dayan.
Where are the Sinhala Nationalists, especially the Sinhala Buddhist Nationalists who were parading around with Sinhala Buddhist Monks , vowing in front of the poor Sinhala Buddhist villagers, that they are dedicated to protect this 2500 year old Sinhala Buddhist nation and Sinhala Buddhist Villages ?.
Boss Champika Ranawaka , the chief of the Jathika Hela Urumaya was with SLMC Hakeem inspecting the new Muslim settlements in the East.
While his leadership team is busy going through the asset registers of the Sinhala Buddhists in the previous Regime.
And the JHU chief Monk was leading a delegation to the IRD with a Tax file of one Mr Senarath.
May be Senarath’s Income Tax records are more important than the Mini Eelaam of Vigneswaran with direct Links to Tamil Nadu.
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Native Vedda / February 13, 2015
K.A Sumanasekera
Are you familiar with the following ideologies:
“Vellala Socialism”,
“Vellala Communism”,
“Vellala Democracy”
“Vellala Social Democracy”
“Vellala Democratic Revolution”
“Vellala Capitalism”
…………
…………
As an expert on Vellala bourgeois could you explain each of the above in simple terms so that people like me can benefit from your vast bitter experience.
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K.A Sumanasekera / February 14, 2015
Dear Native,
You missed the most important one, which is Vellala Elitism..
All they want is Sambnadan to be become King Elara in Yalpanam to rule the Dalits in Wanni.
They backed Prabakran although he was not Vellala,
They thought Prabkaran will take the North East and hand over it over to Sambnadan.
I am sure you are aware of the TNA activists from Colombo training LTTE cubs in Democratic Politics in Wanni under Ranil’s previous watch , with the Cousin.
Because the West couldn’t roll the Red Carpet even in Westminster, for a mass killer who was the biggest terrorist in numbers killed.
Now Vigneswaran has become even more Militant than Gajendran Ponnambalam to form a formidable alliance..
There is no issue there about having to deal with Dalits in the Leadership Team..
Once Ranil and his West put the blow torch to Muthree’s belly , there is a better than even money chance that Sambandan will become King Elara.at least in the North.
And your mate Mangala Samaraweera has already embarked on the mission to the West to soften the President and put the logistics in place..
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burt / February 13, 2015
Sumana must have spent a few sleepless nights during the week. “Vellala” at his door.
Are you in anyway implying that the Sinhala Buddhists are screwing their own?
Ha ha ha
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justice / February 13, 2015
This EPC resolution is timely.
Tamils were slowly being taken for granted, after years of periodic massacres commencing after independence, ongoing slow periodic persecutions and “rehabilitations”, imprisonments of citizens under the PTA, purposeful efforts to stymie and or delay the UNHCR probe, to bury the past without any effort even to allow the EPC to function just as ALL OTHER PCs are allowed to function.
In other words, “Shut up and do not complain, take what is allowed” attitude.
Complaining is now called “political aggression”!!!
Tamils voted for this president in good faith, but it appears that his efforts at good governance are being sabotaged.
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simon / February 13, 2015
Dayan, dont confuse your own desperate situation to that of the Sinhalese Nation.Justice Wigneshwaran is heloing the Sinhala Nation with its own criminality.He should also helo the Tamil nation come to terms with LTTEs criminality.
Yoyr helping us here now on a daily basis to come to terms with your desperation in hopping that wipping up Sinhala paranoya will lead to your salvation.
Switch to the Native tong my friend you will have a greater following .Perhaps you can induce them into riot mode?
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lynx / February 13, 2015
Those who warned of tamil terrorism – like N Q Dias for one – were also called racists and warmongers.
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Native Vedda / February 13, 2015
lynx
“Those who warned of tamil terrorism – like N Q Dias for one – were also called racists and warmongers.”
Those war mongers also know what could happen when squeezed a palm full of boiled rice is squeezed.
Did the clever dick warn Sinhala/Buddhist terrorism of 1971? If he didn’t why didn’t he? If he did what measures did he plan to encircle the JVP? None.
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Dr Dayan Jayatilleka / February 13, 2015
An Editorial appearing in the Indian English newspaper “The Hindu”under the heading “Playing Poker in Sri Lanka” states as follows –
“The Tamil question has been brought centre-stage with the elected council of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province passing a resolution accusing successive governments in Colombo of carrying out genocide against the minority community over six decades. Moved by Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran in the Provincial Council, the resolution demands that the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights investigate “historical” and “recent” instances of genocide and submit its report at the session of the Human Rights Council next month. It also asks the UN Security Council to refer the matter to the International Criminal Court. Thirdly, it asks courts in countries with universal jurisdiction over the alleged events and perpetrators, “including but not limited to the United States”, to prosecute the crimes. The resolution roundly rejects any domestic investigations. The timing of this strongly worded resolution is no mystery. In the five weeks since President Maithripala Sirisena has been in office after his stunning election victory, he has been preoccupied with the task of fulfilling his 100-day charter of promises, which ambitiously includes the abolition of the executive presidency. Pulling together a diverse coalition with conflicting agendas is his primary challenge. For these reasons, there has been significant diplomatic chatter that the international community must permit the new government some time before it takes up the twin tasks of investigation of alleged war crimes and human rights abuses against Tamils and demilitarisation of the North. The HRC session in Geneva is seen as crucial in this context. Clearly, the Tamil National Alliance, which is the main political grouping representing the Tamils and rules the Northern Province, wants to ensure that these issues stay on the global agenda, and at the same time test the will of the new Sri Lankan government at a crucial point”.
“While the resolution may serve that purpose, its maximalist tenor does complicate the political ground for the Sirisena government even before it has properly articulated a plan for addressing Tamil demands for a just peace, harden as it will Sinhala opinion. The political and legal contestation over the use of the word genocide will prove divisive too. Soon after the election, the new government gave an assurance of a credible domestic investigation into war crimes allegations. New Delhi is rightly concerned about the impact this could have on its diplomatic efforts aimed at persuading Colombo to act on full devolution of political powers to the Tamil minority, a matter that is certain to be on the agenda when President Sirisena visits next week for a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Colombo must be counselled against any knee-jerk response on the resolution, and encouraged to come out with a full-fledged plan for reconciliation with the Tamil minority”.
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K.A Sumanasekera / February 14, 2015
Looks like JHU Champika, Rathne and Sobitha are going to end up eating Shit…
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ramona therese fernando / February 13, 2015
Trouble is, the TN guys see the Sinhalese people in THEIR light, i.e. genocide of the low castes and untouchables. Someone ought to educate them on Sinhalese Buddhist people having a completely different psyche to theirs.
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manisekaran / February 13, 2015
Excuse me. ex- burnandos from erstwhile tuticorin(korkai) now, as sinhalese after migration, what did you want to say?
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ramona therese fernando / February 14, 2015
Not at all. Most of us Fernandos are pure Sinhalese who converted to Christianity. If a few are originally from South India, then it is to their credit that they choose to become Sinhalese and assimilate with the rightful owners of this Isle. the Sinhalese in all their innocence, accepted them readily.
manisekaran, shame on you as a twisted, jealous, perverse, Tamil who wants to discredit the Sinhalese race based on ethnicity. This is sure proof of how you treat your people.
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Off the Cuff / February 14, 2015
Oh they were very well treated Ramona.
“In our young days low-caste people were not allowed on trains although there was no such law. In the 1950 and 1960, `low-caste’ Tamils could go in trains in the Sinhalese areas, but after Vavniya we ran the risk of being assaulted and even thrown out of the train. All Indian estate workers in the early days went to India on foot, avoiding high-caste Tamil areas on their path, as their women could be raped as `rightful game’ by tradition,… “
from the writings of Sebastian Rasalingam an octogenarian low cast Jaffna Tamil married to an Indian Tamil from Hatton who now lives in Canada.
And they still talk about persecution by the Sinhalese!
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chinthaka b / February 13, 2015
Dayan is a self confessed Socialist and now he spews unabashed nationalism.
So now he’s a national socialist. http://global.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/405414/National-Socialism
As a ferocious advocate for Mahinda Rajapaksa, that seems like an appropriate ideological place for the esteemed Dr DJ
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Rarityminds / February 13, 2015
I just and idiot who seems to know nothing but defending his Guru – MR
To this day, people have been empowered as not the case before election.
So people themselves want criminals to be punished ASAP.
I have the feeling – if we had a law to react agains tthis long term die hard MR supporter DJ to corner, this country would have achived a lot. Just one sided but dynamite like analyses can nobdy bring further. If the reconciliation is the foundation stone to peace and harmony, DJ should be banned to speak out any kind of biased views being spread diving the communities further. This should not be restricted to DJ, but to anyone go against the law of the country.
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hamid / February 13, 2015
land is given back, fish is given to tamil nadu, what else is going to be given?
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chinthaka / February 14, 2015
Yahapalana gang said we finished tamil extremism by May 2009 and nothing more to talk about it. No aggressions to expect from hostile Tamil Nadu. Instead the task of the day of lankans was to send MR home. Then why suddenly these salvos coming???
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