Northern Province Chief Minister, C V Wigneswaran has called for Sri Lanka’s history to be rewritten, by a panel of Sri Lankan and foreign experts, to depict the country’s past, impartially and honestly. He said that this would halt the distortion of history, that was provoking communal feelings.
Speaking at the inauguration, of the SOS Children’s Village in Jaffna last Sunday 5th January, Wigneswaran said that Sinhalese Buddhist propagandists, were claiming that Sri Lanka was a Sinhalse Buddhist country, and therefore other communities must live according to how the majority community wished.
He further pointed out, that these propagandists needed to be reminded, that the Tamils were always here, as the majority of the North and East of the country. He said that this was acknowledged in a letter to Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam, by illustrious personalities such as E A Samarawickrama, and Sir James Peiris, way back in 1919.
He added that, these Sinhalese Buddhist propagandists were using, the 6th Century AD Pali Chronicle- the Mahawamsa, to create ill feeling against Tamils, by portraying them as aliens.
Against this background, Wigneswaran referred to an article published in the Colombo Telegraph, titled ‘Mahawamsa- An insult to the Buddha’ by the Sinhalese journalist Sharmini Serasinghe, saying it was an exceptional article that portrays the truth.
Wigneswaran warned that, if the country’s distorted history is continued to be taught in schools, trouble will inevitably ensue. Therefore he suggests, for a panel of Sri Lankan and foreign experts, to be entrusted with the task of re-writing Sri Lankan history impartially, from the earliest times, to that of independence from British rule, in 1948.
*The story above is based on the report filed by PK Balachandran‘s to Indian Express
weg / January 9, 2014
These tamil resist want another war. They don’t want peaceful society. Because if there is peace they wouldn’t have comfortable life. They get power and have every things from government and have comfortable life. What they do for the innocent Tamil. When there was war innocent poor tamil youth die in the battle field then these kind of Tamils who have good education and wealth lived in Colombo or abroad. At the terrible time they had comfortable life now they have comfortable life. Poor tails they don’t have schools, water, shelter or any jobs. He want to rewrite to history. They he want start another war. Then he again will come to Colombo.
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Ravi Perera / January 10, 2014
This is not a bad suggestion. Before re writting the history it would be good have a open debate between groups holding different views.
We Sinhalese should also be made to aware of our beginnings. General view is that we are descendents from Vijaya and sinhalese are aryans.
Even Mahavansa (which is criticised for right /wrong reasons by many in the forum) clearly states the Vijaya and his clan mixed with the Hela tribes to give birth to a sinhala race.(It was more an evolution process). In my opinion the sinhalese are more Dravidian than aryan but unfortunately we do not seem to accept that due to the stigma we associate with the word Dravidian.
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pirana / February 11, 2014
Ravi Perera
Why should one be stigmatised for being or being associated with the term Dravidian? Isn’t the answer only too familiar ” Sinhala racism” ?
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crazyoldmansl / January 10, 2014
Dont be silly Viggie. The job will be given to Dharshani Ratnawallie dont you see?
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Just M.E. / January 10, 2014
I had a feeling observing this guy Wigneswaran that his behaviour was starting to change drastically soon after he was nominated as a candidate for the NPC elections. He began to act erratically and speak inconsistently, and before long he was acting like a total weirdo.
Being Colombo-based and a prominent person at the national level, he was widely regarded as an ideal choice to lead the NPC and bring in a much-needed cosmopolitanism to Tamil politics. Instead, maybe due to the fear of being seen as an outsider, this eccentric man started moving in the opposite direction. A vociferous advocate of pluralism in the South was now promoting extreme Tamil nationalism in the North as the PC elections approached.
What is even worse, he introduced religion into his campaign. The only redeeming feature hitherto in the highly acrimonious political landscape of Jaffna had been the lack of any significant role for religion unlike in the South. Unabashedly he introduced Saiva-Vellala fundamentalism as a strategy to win the majority Saiva-Vellala votes. A former Supreme Court Judge was now doing cheap photo-ops wearing an outdated Tamil costume with holy ash dabbed on his forehead with pottu in the centre (the whole shebang!) posing with priests at Saiva temples. Because of this unconscionable campaign he won big but has alienated the Christians, Muslims and Buddhists who live in the North. His statements and actions since becoming the chief minister are even more atrocious, bordering on racism and xenophobia rather than pluralism and tolerance.
Now this nut-case is talking of rewriting the history of Sri Lanka. Wigneswaran must realise his mandate is for Northern Province only and Sri Lanka’s history doesn’t come under its purview, and in any case it’s not the priority of the people in the North. By proposing this whacky idea of rewriting ancient history he is making it abundantly clear that he is looking for a confrontation with the government rather than cooperation; that he wants to provoke the majority Sinhalese rather build mutual trust and goodwill in the country. In seeking to revise history this supposedly 21st Century man seems as farcical as the 6th Century monks who wrote it!
What the people in Jaffna need urgently is economic development and jobs. It is obvious he is being dictated to by the LTTE diaspora who want to disrupt the smooth functioning of the NPC so that the government will not be able to provide these services and bring about reconciliation. This crazy man wants to make the NPC – which could only be established by defeating the Tigers who didn’t want the Tamil people to enjoy democratic rights – unworkable and ultimately collapse at the behest of the very Tigers.
Unfortunately my initial concerns about his judgement (what an irony, he being a Judge!) is now confirmed by his increasingly bizarre behaviour. This man should get a grip of himself and do the job he was elected to do: that is, work for the people actually living in the Northern Province, and not for the Diaspora Tigers or the Tamil Nadu fanatics.
If he cannot do that for whatever reason, he must do the honourable thing: Resign and go home!
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Navin / January 10, 2014
Thank you very much.
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Off the Cuff / January 11, 2014
Dear Just M.E.
SCJ Wigneswaran earned my respect when he stood up and spoke against the farcical impeachment of CJ Shirani B. The forthright speeches of Mr Sumanthiran were similarly admired. Unfortunately as you have observed Wigs has turned out to be a turncoat playing to the gallery.
Both of them prefer the “Plaudits of the Mob than the Welfare of the people” as a Tamil editor observed over 7 decades ago.
Dashing all expectations Tamil Politics have gone back to what it was 75 years ago. What a tragedy for the country as a whole and the Tamils in particular.
Great Post.
Best Regards
OTC
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Ramany K / January 11, 2014
Very well said Just ME
I also had high regards for Mr.Wigneswaran and thought W is the right person to lead the NPC in the correct direction. Istead of propagating communalism and hatred like Sammanthans ,I thought W was genuinely interested in reconciliation and would work hard to lure the people away from deep rooted racial ideology propagated by the political leaders and others over the years..But he has also succumbed to this racial ideology.He is also under the twin influences of the diaspora and TN politicians.Besides ,the strength of the TNA is this racial psychology.Can any right thinking person expect one of the TNA stalwarts to do that?
During the NPC election time,W said that that they would evict the army once they get elected..
Then,W demanded the NPC governor be replaced.
Then,the chief secretary be replaced.
Then the DIG be replaced.
Now,he says that that the history be rewritten.
What is going to be next?
In the past, the Tamil leaders achieved nothing to the tamils other than loss of lives,properties etc.etc.
W is also following the same path.I feel sorry for the tamils who voted for him.
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Burning_Issue / January 11, 2014
Oh yeah no one should question the Mahavamsa history. He should be a yes man and watch and say nothing about the wilful manipulations of the demography of N&E!
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Navin / January 11, 2014
Oh yeah no one should question the Mahavamsa history.
—-
Actually, what you are really saying is that no one should question G K Nathan, Veluppillai Thangavelu version of history and that 13% Tamil population of the country (half of whom live outside N & E) has exclusive rights to 35% of the country’s land mass and 60% of its coast line.
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Anpu / January 11, 2014
“35% of the country’s land mass and 60% of its coast line” it belongs to the people lived in that area (Tamils, Muslims and sinhalease also who lived in that area). Not for colonisation or for one family and their stooges to run business.
75% or more of the economy is in one family’s hand!!!!!
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Burning_Issue / January 11, 2014
Anpu,
These guys feel that they are taking back what is rightfully theirs! This is why they get worked up about people questioning the Mahavansa history; this very mythology that gives them perceived ownership of the entire island. They just do not want to accept that like Tamils and Muslims they too need to buy land with their own fund! No ons has stopped the Sinhala buying land in the N&E.
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Off the Cuff / January 12, 2014
Dear Burning Issue,
You say “this very mythology that gives them perceived ownership of the entire island.”
It is not the Mythology that gives the right of ownership, it is the citizenship that confers that right, irrespective of Ethnicity. No right thinking person will object to that. Whether you are Tamil, Sinhalese, Moor, Malay, Burgher, Veddha etc ALL OF THEM have equal ownership to the Whole of Lanka.
You say “This is why they get worked up about people questioning the Mahavansa history;”
Not really. You can question the Mahavamsa all you want. What really works them up is when you try to STEAL the Birthright of Lanka’s Citizens and claim Exclusive Rights of a Mythical Historical Tamil Homeland in the North and East. No Ethnicity has ANY right to claim ANY part of Lanka as their own.
Hence please don’t confuse their anger at STEALING their Birthright with the indignation they feel when they are vilified using the obvious myths that are contained in the Mahavamsa.
You say “They just do not want to accept that like Tamils and Muslims they too need to buy land with their own fund!”
Does that mean the Tamils bought Land in the South “with their own fund” without any help from State Institutions?
From whom did the Tamils and Muslims Buy Land?
Before the Foreigners arrived ALL LAND was owned by the King.
In the Jaffna kingdom it was the Tamil King.
In the East it was the Sovereign of the Kande Uda Pas Rata (the five countries on top of the mountains), the Sinhala Kandyan Kingdom. There was no PRIVATE LAND except what the King gave or permitted to be used.
Hence I would ask again, from whom did they BUY the Land?
After the Brits arrived 90% or more was owned by the govt, thanks to the Waste Lands Ordinance and other similar Draconian Laws that stripped the Sinhalese of Lands that they used.
The Muslims persecuted by the Portuguese were given refuge and settled in the East by a Sinhala King. They did not BUY LAND. The same goes for the Tamils and the Sinhalese. NO One could BUY LAND it was given or allowed to be used at “sovereign discretion”.
You say “No ons has stopped the Sinhala buying land in the N&E.”
There is Private Land and Public Land.
Private Land:- The Thesawalami combined with “Peer Pressure” of Tamil Society has done it in the North.
Public Land:- In the whole Island the Public holds over 80% of Land.
GOSL is the Trustee of this Land. What prevents the GOSL settling the Landless of the country in this land EQUITABLY?
How you define EQUITABLY would be interesting.
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Burning_Issue / January 12, 2014
We have been through all this umpteen times in Groundviews; I am not prepared to repeat and waste my time all over again! The fact of the matter is Sri Lanka is ailing very badly and the minorities are at the receiving end. This will only stop when the Sinhala politicians can no longer use minorities as political football. This situation will come about when the minorities are completely subjugated!
Please someone explain to these guys that both Tamils and Muslims buy land with their own funds. Are the Sinhalese invalid; why do they need special dispensation when it comes to appropriation of the state land. This should not include the privately owned land that has been forcefully taken over. Land developments in the South; how many minority families were awarded land? The Electoral Commission and Judiciary are puppets of the president who is the champion of the Sinhala Buddhist chauvinism; what can one expect? I have no more to say. I shall concentrate on points that Dr Jegath Aslka raises may be that is the way to bring about good governance that will eventually bring about justice for the minorities!
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Navin / January 12, 2014
We do not need Mahawansa to establish our rights to land in N & E. Sinhala community is the majority today and that majority is not the result of late migration from West and South as J.L.Devandana says.
According to that pseudo historian, it is only Nagas and Tamils that lived in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. Sinhala people are the descendants of all people who lived there. J.L.Devananda is making a rather cheap and despicable attempt to delink Sinhalese from ancient people of this country who cultivated the dry zone.
Just because Tamils are buying prime land in Colombo, do you think Sinhala people too should buy waste land in the dry zone?
FYI, Tamils are not the only people who are buying land in Colombo. Even Sinhalese who are moving to Colombo and its suburbs are buying them for the same price.
All people (Sinhala, Tamil, whoever) move to developed urban areas on their own. When people need to be moved to less developed regions, the government has to step in.
It is a good policy to introduce Sinhala people to N & E to reduce exclusive Tamil presence in that part of the country because some people (as evident in this forum) are getting wired ideas about exclusive rights to those lands. Since the area is underdeveloped the government needs to step in and provide incentives to those moving. That’s how the system works.
Please stop repeating that pathetic charade that you are not against Sinhala people moving to N & E on their own. It is another time buying exercise.
Your objective is to arm twist the government through international mediation into recognizing N & E exclusively belongs to Tamils.
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Navin / January 12, 2014
Finally we agree on something!
The land “also” belongs to people who lived there. Not just people who happen to live there “today”.
Keep thinking whatever you want, Sinhala people did not crawl into this country from South or West like J.L.Devananda might say.
They are the descendants of people who cultivated the dry zone from Mannar to Trinco and Jaffna to Batticalo during ancient times. There language evolved here. It is not spoken anywhere else in the world. Not even a dialect that can be even vaguely understood by a Sinhalese. Did all this happen after Anurdhapura/Polonnaruwa period?
Besides, there are so many people living around the Sinharaja forest reserve. Does that make the land covered by the forest belong to those people? Good part of N & E province land is shrub jungle. Undeveloped, uncultivated, uninhibited waste land. Just because there are Tamils living in near by areas, do all these unused land also belong to them?
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Off the Cuff / January 12, 2014
Dear Anpu,
In response to Navin’s statement “35% of the country’s land mass and 60% of its coast line”
You state “it belongs to the people lived in that area (Tamils, Muslims and sinhalease also who lived in that area).”
You are wrong.
The Coast right around the Country is Public Property and the GOSL is the Trustee. Except for Privately held land, ALL Land which is Publicly held is the property of ALL Sri Lankans. It is not exclusive property of anyone.
The North and East Provinces together approaches 40% of Lanka’s Land Mass.
You say “Not for colonisation”
If by Colonisation you mean bringing in Indians or any other Aliens and settling them here as the Brits did before, then you are correct and I agree with you a 100%.
But if you mean that 40% of Lanka is out of bounds for about 90% of the population then you are completely wrong and I disagree with you a 100%.
Public Land is the property of ALL Citizens and should benefit ALL Citizens. No exclusivity in any form is acceptable.
You say “or for one family and their stooges to run business”
Agree with you a 100%
Kind Regards,
OTC
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Anpu / January 11, 2014
“Tamils first tried to live together in a unitary form of government with the Sinhalese community. When the Federal Party stood for elections in 1952, ******Tamils overwhelmingly voted for the Tamil Congress which supported a unitary state*****.
After much discrimination and oppression, Tamils voted overwhelmingly for the Federal Party in 1956. ***** Two parliamentarians who stood for separation in that election were soundly beaten******. At that time, therefore, *****Tamils preferred a Federal form of government to separation******.
In 1956 a bill to make Sinhalese the only official language of the country was passed in parliament over Tamil protests. This was followed by island wide pogroms against Tamils in 1956 and 1958. The Prime Minister described the permanent posting of the armed forces in the North East after 1960 as an ‘army of occupation.’ The national flag was chosen with a prominent Sinhala lion and the national anthem is in Sinhalese.
Two pacts to provide autonomy to the Tamil areas, signed between the Tamil
Federal Party and the Sinhala party in power at that time were abrogated unilaterally by the respective governments following protests by the Sinhala party in opposition in 1957 and 1965.
In 1972 a new constitution was enacted without Tamil participation. The new constitution made the country a Republic, made Buddhism the foremost religion and eliminated the Senate, appeals to the Privy Council, and Section 29 which had given some protection to minorities.
Due to their inability to obtain any redress, and continued discrimination and numerous anti-Tamil pogroms, in 1976 all Tamil parties joined together and passed a resolution asking their Parliamentarians to seek the formation of a separate Tamil state in the Homelands of the earlier Tamil Kingdoms. This was the Tamil people’s mandate to their representatives.”
http://www.sangam.org/2009/04/Background_Pamphlet.pdf
For more details http://tamilnation.co/indictment/index.htm
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Anpu / January 11, 2014
“The overall risk of genocide in Sri Lanka is medium to high.”
http://thesentinelproject.org/wp-content/uploads/Risk-Assessment-Sri-Lanka-January-2014.pdf
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sach / January 11, 2014
What is to question about Mahavamsa? It is simply a history book. If anyone needs to see and check the reliability of it is up to the historians. Actually the reliability of mahavamsa has been accepted by many historians. As i iterated many times here the latter part of Mahavamsa after Asoka stories are considered fairly reliable. Which part of it cant you understand? mahavamsa is not a threat to peace as you want to point it out. It is just a book. Any way it is an impediment to many bogus historians. That is why it is getting hit.
And am i against any digging up of SL history? of course not, i have been always for it. But you have to understand the scenario here. The war that was in SL has a historical context. That is what made the ethnic conflict to trigger. And now you have a post conflict scenario after many deaths of the people. And you say many people have died, tamils are in a destitute situation. Do you see revising history as the priority?
Lets stop thinking about priorities. how would such a history revision be in SL? That will always broaden the ethnic gap and make peace vene more difficult. Only an idiot can come up with this at this moment. SLG has done PC elections 4 years after the war, now a tamil is in the chair of CM. That person has the responsibility to smoothly function the PC. He has to tread in a thin line. I dont want to remind you the sensitivity of this issue to you. He talked about Prabha being a hero and picks up fights with the gov at the drop of a hat. he already has lost trust he had among the people of the south. He is beginning to be seen as a LTTE terrorist. That is the last thing needed for the smooth functioning of NPC.
And now this idiot speaks about revising SL history after reading an article by an unscholarly woman in a website. Is he real? The man holding that position is extremely idiotic it seems. he has no rationality, no commonsense at all. it is for the SL’s unluck we have such educated people in such positions.
And you tell me you abhor nationalism of any sort. I cant imagine how you miss the nationalism of Wiggie the idiot.
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sach / January 11, 2014
I dont see such a change in demography like you suggest. SL doesnt have such a sinhala population to change the demography in SL. Dont believe every cr@p you hear.
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Off the Cuff / January 11, 2014
Dear Burning Issue,
The demography of the North need not be manipulated. The 13A which brought in the PC’s MANDATE it, Constitutionally. Since NPC Chief Minister Wigs is bound by the Constitution, he can do nothing about it. All that the GOSL has to do is to develop Public Land for settlement of people. The demography change will follow automatically.
Kind Regard
OTC
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Burning_Issue / January 11, 2014
The Tamils are not stupid to buy your insidious attempt to justify what is really afoot! Isn’t! the 13A gives the mandate to the NPC to develop the land? Please keep your constitutional understanding to your ilk as it makes no sense whatsoever what you say. Years of debating in Griundviews made no difference to your chauvinistic outlook; majority insecurity is the bane of the island so it will continue to be as such.
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Navin / January 12, 2014
majority insecurity is the bane of the island
—
Majority insecurity is the result of minority domination and subjugation. Even now, the minority is trying to take away disproportionately large share of country’s land/coast line away from the majority.
What is the population of N & E? Let me be generous and put it at 10%. Now what is the land area? 35% at least. What is the length of the coastline 60%? For the simple reason you are a Tamil, you want 3.5 times land and 6 times coastline set aside for you?
Pray tell me, how high must one’s caste be for him to be eligible for such large piece of the pie?
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Off the Cuff / January 13, 2014
Dear BI,
My answer is here January 12, 2014 at 2:38 am
Kind Regards
OTC
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Anpu / January 11, 2014
Dear OTC,
“The demography of the North need not be manipulated”
But it is very actively manipulated from 1948 and now at an exponential rate.
Kind regards
Anpu
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Anpu / January 11, 2014
“Recent weeks have seen a steep rise in the number of land grabs in the North and East.”
….
“These land grabs by the military, together with activities relating to colonization of the North and East are part of the attacks on the democratic rights of the Tamil People in the North and East. These attacks are clearly carried out with the active support, sanction and collusion of the Sri Lankan government. They are part of the many vain and counterproductive attempts to suppress and persecute Tamils for their political aspirations. The Tamil National Alliance has called on the Sri Lankan government to immediately cease these acts of violence directed against the Tamil People. In order to prevent a non-recurrence of the past, Sri Lanka must expeditiously commence a meaningful and genuine process of reconciliation. Land grabs and colonization will only hinder such a process.”
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/replaying-history-land-grabs-in-the-north-and-east/
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Off the Cuff / January 12, 2014
Dear Burning Issue and Anpu,
BI says “The Tamils are not stupid to buy your insidious attempt to justify what is really afoot! Isn’t! the 13A gives the mandate to the NPC to develop the land? Please keep your constitutional understanding to your ilk as it makes no sense whatsoever what you say.”
Here is the FULL clause on Land distribution.
2:5 The distribution of all allotments of such land in such projects will be on the basis of national ethnic ratio. In the distribution of allotments according to such ratios, priority will be given to persons who are displaced by the project, landless of the District in which the project is situated and thereafter the landless
of the Province.
2:7 The distribution of allotments in such projects on the basis of the aforesaid principles would be done as far as possible so as not to disturb very significantly the demographic pattern of the Province and in accordance with the principle of ensuring community cohesiveness in human settlements.
I see that the above makes it compulsory to adhere to the National Ethnic Ratio. Perhaps you see it differently.
The current National Ethnic Ratio is,
Sinhala: Lanka Tamil: Moor: Indian Origin Tamil: Malay: Burgher
= 74.88 : 11.21 : 9.23 : 4.16 : 0.2 : 0.18
Since you are a Tamil and you imply that you are not stupid, please give us your wise interpretation of 13A on Land Settlement.
You say “Years of debating in Griundviews made no difference to your chauvinistic outlook;”
The problem is your debating style. You make statements or accusations but fail to back it up with Evidence (e.g January 9, 2014 at 9:41 pm) or authoritative references. No one in a debate will accept your word on controversial issues without evidence. That is how even a school debate functions. When you are questioned you get angry and descend towards Ad Hominems, just like here.
You say “majority insecurity is the bane of the island so it will continue to be as such.”
Majority insecurity is due to the foolish antics of Lanka Tamil Leaders and those of Tamil Nadu. That combination is an overwhelming BELLIGERENT Tamil majority, just at Lanka’s doorstep. The present day Tamil Nadu belligerence (including sabre rattling on Katchathivu and Poaching in SL Waters by force) and the harbouring, training, arming and supplying of Lankan terrorists and the IPKF’s Tamil National Army in the past, has fed that insecurity.
But that is not the bane of the country. The BANE of the country is Greed.
Dr Jane Russel brings the Tamil demands into perspective by observing: “the more and more rapacious demands of the Tamils” in her book “Communal Politics under the Donoughmore Constitution”, (page 240).
The little now and more later doctrine.
That undeniable greed, is visible for anyone to see, just by looking at the Map of the Eelam project.
Hope you will respond.
Dear Anpu,
You say “But it is very actively manipulated from 1948 and now at an exponential rate”
Even if what you say is true (though you haven’t provided evidence), the 13A did not exist at that time. Today it is the Supreme Law and is not unchallengeable in any court.
Please see the relevant clauses of the 13A reproduced above.
The Demographic change in the N,E,W and South has become COMPULSORY.
Hence today, No MANIPULATION IS NEEDED. It is the Law.
If you don’t agree please tell us why.
Kind Regards,
OTC
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Off the Cuff / January 12, 2014
Correction
The sentence “Today it is the Supreme Law and is not unchallengeable in any court.” in my post of January 12, 2014 at 2:38 am needs correction.
It should read as Today it is the Supreme Law, and is unchallengeable in any court.
The error is regretted.
Regards
OTC
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Anpu / January 12, 2014
Dear OTC,
How many times GOC & GOSL (SINHALESE ) have changed the law ?
These changes are to suite their GENOCIDAL agenda.
For me it is like changing the rules in the middle of the game.
Regards
Anpu
/
Off the Cuff / January 12, 2014
Dear Anpu,
The question was Demographic change in the North and East.
My understanding of 13A tells me that such Demographic change is accepted and mandated by the Very 13A that gives legality to the Provincial Councils.
Hence if the GOSL’s objective is a Demographic Change, ALL it needs to do is to Develop and open up Public Land in the North and the East for settlement, because the National Ethnic Ratio MUST BE MAINTAINED within these developed Lands. Hence for every 3 Tamils settled in these new developments there will be 1 Indian Tamil, 2 Moors and 18 Sinhalese (the other minorities will also get their share). That is 6+ from the minorities and 18 from the majority. The same thing will happen in new developments in the South. And all that will be completely legal.
This is fair as the debt burden of development is borne in the same ratio by the population.
The 13A will change Demography ALL OVER LANKA. If your understanding is different please discuss them. I hope Burning Issue and others who hold a different view will also air their opinions.
The Ethnic issue will be a thing of the past if GOSL is wise enough to use the Constitutional Provisions already available to them without resorting to unconstitutional means that you and others allege they are resorting to now.
As a result of the development the minorities will enjoy economic growth and the Landless all over Lanka will be empowered to earn a living. The economy will grow and Lanka will grow. Attempts at secession will be derailed permanently and the primary cause for the Ethnic divide, the cry for a mythical historical exclusive homeland will get buried for ever.
Kind Regards
OTC
/
Off the Cuff / January 11, 2014
Dear Levi, Burning Issue, Mahadenamuththa Jr, Anpu, Native Veddha, Pandit Koralage, Ken Roberts, Kattakarawala and anybody else who wants to join the debate,
Levi says “I never said/talked of a Sri Lankan Nation.”
That’s right but your inference was wrong as you assumed that the de-merger was a cause for the 80% Tamil vote. Remember that the North was Ethnically cleansed of Muslims and Sinhalese. Since Tamil politics in the North was never National Politics but Race politics, they would have anyway got that 80% or higher.
GGP played the communal card to break the hold Arunachalam and Ramanathan held in Tamil politics. (see Dr. Jane Russell’s, Communal Politics under the Donoughmore Constitution, Tissara Publishers, 1982).
Levi says “The Tamils of This Island gradually came to believe that the sinhalese are out to see that tamil speakers do not have erepresentation in the affairs of the Country.”
That is what you were brainwashed with, by your leaders. I note that you have annexed the Muslims by the “Tamil Speakers” phrase.
The First “elected” representative was a Tamil in the first election in 1911. He was the ONLY elected member. There was no Sinhala or Muslim or Indian Tamil representative. The whole population was represented by a Lanka Tamil. Do you know why?
In order to qualify for the vote a person had to be Male, have an income of 3000 GBP and be English educated. Only 2400 qualified, out of that, 1400 who qualified to vote were Tamils. The Tamil majority vote ensured a Tamil victory and Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan was elected.
In 1911 there were 2,715,000 Sinhalese, 528,000 Lanka Tamils, 531,000 Indian Tamils out of a Total population of 4 million.
Your contention does not hold water. Kindly provide evidence.
Levi says “The Tail Nation Never Voted for a Sri Lankan Party. Because All those Sri Lankan Parties were Parties of Sinhalese.”
Any National Party would represent the whole population. This country is 75% Sinhalese and unless Democracy is subverted by something like 50% seats to the Sinhalese and 50% seats to the minorities, the Sinhala representation will dominate. But in the South Muslims/Tamils get elected from Sinhala majority electorates. That does not happen in the North. The reason is clear. Nothern Tamils vote only for their race.
Levi says “If I remember correct at the very first Election held for Dominiun of Sri Lanka had elected members from amongst Commuynists and UNP from Jaffna.”
Yes that was when there was a semblance of National Politics in the North.
Levi says “However Tamil of Indian origin had 8 of 12 Parlimentarians from that communities. They were pounished by the UNP Majority Sinhala Government by making them loose their Voting Rites.”
The Indian Tamils were the indentured labour who were used to colonise the Sinhala hinterland by the Brits. They were COMPLETE aliens and the indigenes had no say in that matter. In fact the Sinhala peasantry loss over 40% of agricultural Land, their homes and livelihoods. The majority of them was reduced to penury. You should read about the Waste Lands Act and other related acts of the Brits which disowned the Sinhalese of Land and in which the indentured Labour was installed. The Numbers so settled in Sinhala lands exceeded to TOTAL Lanka Tamil Population. The Lanka Tamils looked down on the Indian Tamils who were considered the lowest scum on earth. If these Tamils were evicted from the Sinhala Lands and the Lands were given back to their original owners and the Indian Tamils were resettled in the North you would not be that sympathetic because they outnumbered the Lanka Tamils and the Lanka Tamils would be a minority amongst the Tamils.
The GOSL did not take that option and instead conferred Citizenship on those who could prove their entitlement. The Citizenship Act was tested right up to the Privy Council UK. It withstood that test as the conditions for citizenship was on par with those of other countries and no discrimination could be proved.
What is strange is the lack of the same sympathy to a more deserving section of the population, the VICTIMS of the Waste Land Acts and related Acts, perhaps they did not deserve sympathy as they were not Tamils.
Levi says “They were Helped G.G.Ponnampalam Christian Tamil From Jaffna.”
Please remember that the Tamils of Jaffna prefered GGP’s racism to Ramanathan’s Cast politics.
“The politics of the Tamils in the Ramanathan era was Caste Politics. Ramanathan wanted the caste system written into the Ceylon constitution. The Tamil politics put into place by G. G. Ponnambalam and S. J. V. Chelvanayagam was Race Politics vis a vis the Sinhalese.” (Mr Sebastian Rasalingam, Toronto, Canada. http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2011/06/sinhalization-of-north-and-tamilzation.html)
Dr Jane Russell in “Communal Politics under the Donoughmore Constitution”, p16 says,
“Ponnambalam Ramnathan and most of the ‘conservatives’ believed and argued that the giving of the vote to the non-vellala castes and to women was not only a grave mistake, leading to ‘mob rule’, but Ramanathan explicitly suggested that it was anathema to the Hindu way of life”.
Levi says “The Very Samr G.G. Ponnampalam now is accused by the Helaist as the cause for the Navalapitiya Riots. For Calling Spade a Spade. He Called Mahawansa a fib”
That’s right. The Tamils used the Mahavamsa to whip up racism much more than the the Sinhalese did.
Ponnambalam attacked the Mahavamsa and the Sinhalese, at a meeting in Navalapitiya, in 1939, in such extreme terms that the people attacked him (Hindu Organ, November 1, 1939).
Levi says “From that time onwards tamils stated to Vote for a tamilan Party. In Jaffna. Most of the Tamils from North Living outside North refrained from Voting.”
Nothing is further from the Truth
The Ceylon Tamil League was formed by Sir Ponnambalam Arunachelem in 1922. This was the first Ethnic based party in Lanka. His vision was to establish a Tamil Akam that embraced South India, Tamil Colonies and Lanka.
Addressing his new party’s second General meeting he stated in 1922 the following
“…namely to keep alive and propagate these precious ideals throughout Ceylon, Southern India and the Tamil Colonies, to promote the union and solidarity of Tamilakam, the Tamil Land. We should keep alive and propagate these ideals throughout Ceylon and promote the union and solidarity of what we have been proud to call Tamil Eelam.
We desire to preserve our individuality as a people, make ourselves worthy of our inheritance… We are not enamoured of that Cosmopolitanism which would make of as neither fish, fowl, nor red herring”
Levi says ” That is clearly seen by the ethnic ratio in Colombo District and the ethnicity of the elected from Colombo.”
What is clearly seen by that is that the Sinhalese did not object to the Tamils taking up residence amongst them. If they did there would not have been such a Tamil population in the South. There is evidence that the Tamil General Manager of the Bank of Ceylon Mr. Chellaiah Loganathan, bankrolled the Tamil purchases of property in the South but his largess was directed only towards the Brahmin and Vellala high casts.
Levi says “What I came to say was That India Wanted to prevent the breaking of the Sri Lanka as a Single Country by democratic means in the interest of India by ensuring by creating a diluted Provincial Council by amalgamating The North and East together”
That is your interpretation. Remember that India Trained and Armed the Terrorists in order to destabilise Lanka. India’s benevolence can be gauged from that. Sri Lanka is for Sri Lankans. No part of it should be “Exclusive Homelands”. N and E is 40% of our land and the Coast line is at least 60% of her Coast. 200 miles in to the sea is Sri Lanka’s Economic Zone. Can you see the implication? Let it remain as it is with a 40% Tamil East and close to a 100% Tamil North.
I hope you are aware that the 13A recognises the National Ethnic Ratio and that all settlements on land developed by public funds have to conform to that. That will change the much talked about demography.
Levi says “You are trying to correct others when your own home is housing rotting Corpse of Caste. You are still unable get your own suppressed caste members into the Asgiriya Chapter”
That is the usual response when the Slavery imposed by the Tamil Cast system is pointed out.
Of course those foolish Asgiriya priests practice a cast system. I will not defend it as I too look down and vehemently oppose that practice. I do not know of a lay Buddhist who will discriminate between Low and High cast priests. They are welcomed into Buddhists homes by washing their feet, giving them a higher place to sit while the lay people sit at a lower level. You will not see that in the North as ALL preists are High Cast Brahamins and no a SINGLE Low cast is allowed to become a Hindu priest.
But though the word is the same it does not even remotely approach the Slavery of the North. I have already detailed the inhuman and degrading practises of the Nothern Cast system. You can do a comparison and show which is the greater evil. In comparison to the slavery and subjugation practised on 75% of the Northern Tamils in the name of cast what you refer to is insignificant.
Levi says “You are quoting You are Taking of a Hindu Organ. I never spoke of a Hindustan”
I think you have not read the comment with care. The “Hindu Organ” is a newspaper Edited, Printed and Published in Jaffna by Jaffna Tamils. Apparently you have not even heard of it.
The Hindu Organ was founded in September 1889 by the Siva Paripalana Sabai. It was an English/Tamil fortnightly newspaper. The founding English language Editor was Mr T. Chellappahpillai. The Tamil Editor was Mr T Kailasapillai, nephew of Sri Arumaga Navalar, the Tamil Nationalist.
The Hindu Organ (p. 4 — June 22, 1939), Writing about the Nawalapitiya incident Headlined their article thus; “Mr. Ponnambalam’s N’pitiya speech” and beneath it the strap line: “Mr. Bandaranaike’s challenge.” Writing an Editorial titled “THE WRITING ON THE WALL”, The Hindu Organ, says “….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…” continuing it said: “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….” It concluded by saying: “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.”
How prophetic that Editorial has turned out to be.
Plamsquirell says ““not been found contributing to the Lanka Tamil genetic makeup”
This is what I wrote, The Sri Lankan Moors have not been found contributing to the Lanka Tamil genetic make up in any significant way
You have dishonestly removed the emphasised text, drastically altering the meaning. That is dishonest. Is that the way you debate?
Please re read my comments and the scientific paper by Dr Kshatriya and Kumar. But this time don’t truncate any sentences to alter the meaning. Then you will understand that according to the report the Sinhalese have 400% more INDIAN Tamil genetic admixture than the Lanka Tamils have. You will also see the Lanka Tamils having a 55% Sinhala genetic admixture and non from the Moors.
This means the Parent population for the Lanka Tamils are (from most significant to least) is 1. Sinhalese (55%), 2. Bengalis (28%), 3. Indian Tamils (17%).
Hence the answer to your question “How exactly are Lanka Tamils denying their heritage?” “They claim descent from Dravidians from South India” should be Obvious as they do not acknowledge numbers 1 & 2.
Native Veddha, I responded to your post on January 9, 2014 at 10:14 am.
You said ” Bengalis evolved from Tamils and Sinhalese”
And I said That’s like saying your Father and Mother evolved from you. Children evolve from parents not vice versa as you have erroneously assumed.
Have you accepted that or do you still have a counter?
Mahadana Muththa (Jnr), yours of January 9, 2014 at 6:47 pm refers
You are really getting confused.
Do you also believe that your parents evolved from you?
That can never happen. But if you think otherwise please explain how.
Glad to note that you were all this time writing in jest. Quite a joker you have become.
Ken Robert, Yours of January 9, 2014 at 10:29 pm refers.
Your honour is misplaced, I have only read Kshatriya and Gautam Kumar. Perhaps you are a scientist with intimate knowledge of those in your list. I hope their knowledge has rubbed off on you sufficiently for you to give the Readers your own interpretation of Kshatriya.
kattakarawala, yours of January 10, 2014 at 10:03 am refers,
Oh did not realise that you were all this time joking.
The Thug is a comedian now.
Ken Robert, yours of January 10, 2014 at 12:50 am refers
The report was created by Kshatriya and Gautam Kumar but that was after a Scientific study. Unfortunate that you havent noticed it.
You said “… an astute analytical minds (NV)
Sure, he thinks that his Mother and Father evolved from him.
RajasH, yours of January 8, 2014 at 8:12 refers,
You said “should advocate to drop the Sri from Sri Lanka.”
If Sri is objectionable why is Arumuga Navalar the epitome of Tamil Nationalism and Hindu revivalism called Sri Arumuga Navalar.
Sri is the same as the Indian Shri (in fact the Sinhala letter is also Shri and not Sri).
Burning Issue, Like to see you justify your assertions.
I hope I have not missed anyone’s comment and have addressed them all.
Kind Regards
OTC
/
Palmsquirrell / January 11, 2014
“That’s right but your inference was wrong as you assumed that the de-merger was a cause for the 80% Tamil vote. Remember that the North was Ethnically cleansed of Muslims and Sinhalese. “
North East/East coast Muslims are Tamils who converted to Islam. Tamils who converted to Christianity aren’t considered non Tamils so why should Tamils who converted to Islam be considered ethnically different. One does not change their genotype just because they convert religions. Are the Christian Sinhala not Sinhalese because they converted away from Buddhism.
” The Indian Tamils were the indentured labour who were used to colonise the Sinhala hinterland by the Brits. They were COMPLETE aliens and the indigenes had no say in that matter. “
Sinhalese aren’t Veddah,so they aren’t the “indigenes” of the area. Indian Tamils (or just Tamils for that matter) and Sinhalese are more or less the same people, i.e. indegenous Indian SubContinentals.
/
Off the Cuff / January 11, 2014
Dear Palmsquirrell,
You say “North East/East coast Muslims are Tamils who converted to Islam.”
Islam came to Lanka with Arab traders. Moors of Lanka have Arab ancestry.
Where is your proof that the Moors that you refer to are Lanka Tamils and not Arab or Sinhalese? Is there any authoritative source that you can quote?
Of course there were intermarriages between Sinhalese Tamil, Portuguese descendants etc with Arabs. But that doesn’t make the Arabs either Sinhala, Muslim, Portuguese or anything else.
Haven’t you forgotten that the Sinhalese are more Tamil (400% more) than the Lanka Tamils themselves? (See Dr Kshatriya’s report).
You say “Sinhalese aren’t Veddah,so they aren’t the “indigenes” of the area. Indian Tamils (or just Tamils for that matter) and Sinhalese are more or less the same people, i.e. indegenous Indian SubContinentals.”
Sinhalese are MORE Veddha than Lanka Tamils are. In fact Lanka Tamils do not have a Veddha connection according to Kshatriya.
Hence the Sinhalese and the Veddhas are the only indigenes if looked at from your point of view. But from my point of view The Veddhas, the Sinhalese, the Lanka Tamils and any descendants from them are indigenes.
The Indian indentured labour are Aliens because they are not descendants from either the Sinhalese, Tamils or their descendants who have lived here for milenia and centuries.
What surprises me is the attempt at Trivialising a Human Tragedy of enormous proportions. Is it because they don’t speak Tamil as a mother tongue?
Sinhalese were evicted from 90% of the Sinhalese Hinterland Lands and over 40% of Sinhalese Agricultural Peasants lost their livelihood.
Please read the Crown Land Enforcement Ordinance of 1840
Crown Land Encroachment Ordinance in 1840
Waste Land Ordinance Act of 1897
Land Settlement Ordinance of 1889
And the works of the following Historians to get a real understanding of the adverse effects of the plantations on the Sinhala Economy and Habitat.
Farmer 1957:90-91
Herath 1995:77
Roberts 1979:233
Obeysekara 1967: 98-100
Obeysekara 1967:101
Mendis 1951:166
Mendis 1951:85.
Codrington 1938:63
Herath 1995:79
Your humanity has skipped over an unparallelled Human Tragedy of importing South Indian Tamils and domiciling them in Lands of the indigenes. I wonder why.
/
Vijey / January 12, 2014
VEDAR OR COAST VADDHA ARE TAMIL (AND IF THESE TAMILS ARE MORE SINHALA, THEN THEY HAVE SOME TRACE OF VADDHA, THEN AGAIN EVEN THE WHITE AMERICANS HAVE A TRACE OF NATIVE AMERICAN, A NATIVE KILLER IS A ‘NATIVE KILLER’ WHATEVER, WHATEVER LANGUAGE, RELIGION, SKIN COMPLEXION, CONTINENT OR OPINION)
THESE ‘SINHALAYAS’ ARE PANDYAN SERFS BOUGHT OVER AFTER VIJAYA’S SECOND MARRIAGE AND THEY ARE PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GENOCIDE OF NATIVE LANKANS, WIPING OUT THE LANGUAGE, CULTURE AND RELIGION OF THE ISLAND.
THEY ARE YET ENCROACHING ON TO THE LAT BASTIONS OF VADDHA SETTLEMENTS IN THE FORM OF RESETTLEMENT, DEFORSTING, FARMING, DAM BUILDING AND PASSING IMMORAL LEGISLATION WHERE THE NATIVE CANNOT HUNT OR NEED PERMISSION FROM THIS TAMIL-SINHALA SHUDRAS.
WHY DO WE LISTEN TO THESE FAR OFF NAZI ARYAN SUPREMACISTS ABOUT THEIR OPNION ABOUT SOUTH INDIANS OR ISLANDERS !!
/
Off the Cuff / January 12, 2014
Dear Vijey,
Please cool down, unlike in Jaffna your High Cast does not carry any weight. Serfs, Brahmins and Velalars are all equal here. Please stop shouting like you shout at the Serfs in the North.
Kind Regards
OTC
/
Palmsquirrell / January 12, 2014
” Islam came to Lanka with Arab traders. Moors of Lanka have Arab ancestry. “
Not necessarily. Yes some in Colombo will have Arab admixture but that doesn’t mean most Colombo Muslims are more Arab than Tamil and or Sinhala. Infact judging from the phenotype of the majority of Colombo Muslims (excluding Memoms and Malays) the Arab admixture has to be non exsistent to minor. I lived in the Gulf; Lankan Muslims on the whole do not look like Gulf Arabs. Gulf Arabs also do not consider Lankan Muslims as Arabs.
If Colombo Muslims were more Arab than Tamil, why do they speak Tamil as their mother tongue. Arab culture is very racist and Arabs are acutely aware of their racial identity . They imposed their language far and wide, from North West Africa to Northern Mesopotamia. So why would they ditch their language in Sri Lanka. If you think they ditched their Arabic mother tongue then why didn’t they ditch their religion.
East Coast Muslims are Tamils, evident in their mother tongue and phenotype. Take away the Muslim dress and or beard and the vast majority of East Coast Muslims just look like non Muslim Tamils.
–
“Haven’t you forgotten that the Sinhalese are more Tamil (400% more) than the Lanka Tamils themselves? (See Dr Kshatriya’s report).”
This is some nonsense you created. If Sinhalese were more Tamil than Ceylon Tamils, why do Ceylon Tamils speak a language closer to South Indian Tamil than Sinhalese.
–
“Sinhalese are MORE Veddha than Lanka Tamils are. In fact Lanka Tamils do not have a Veddha connection according to Kshatriya.”
Even if it is true, it is only because Sinhalese conquered, genocided and assimilated the Veddah. So Sinhalese wiped out Veddah culture and now they want to claim Veddah culture. This is like all the White Latin Americans who identify with Spanish culture bringing up their tiny Amerindian DNA to claim they are indegenous.
–
“The Indian indentured labour are Aliens because they are not descendants from either the Sinhalese, Tamils or their descendants who have lived here for milenia and centuries.”
The Indian Tamils share the same ancestral groups as Sinhalese and Ceylon Tamils, so if the former are aliens then so too are the later. Indian Tamils played a crucial role in building up Lankan economy, for it was they who worked in the plantations sowing and harvesting Tea and other crops.
/
Off the Cuff / January 13, 2014
Dear Palmsquirrell,
You are just making scientific looking statements without any scientific foundation. Just because you use words such as phenotype and admixture what you write does not become scientific. Your statements are hollow and carries no weight.
Here are some extracts from the Wiki.
The Moors trace their ancestry to Arab traders (Moors) who settled in Sri Lanka some time between the 8th and 15th centuries.[2][3][4] The Arabic language brought by the early merchants is no longer spoken, though many Arabic words and phrases are still commonly used. Until the recent past, the Moors employed Arwi as their native language, though this is also extinct as a spoken language.
Moors were found throughout Sri Lanka, mostly within urban coastal regions. However, during Portuguese rule in the 17th century they were persecuted on the basis of their religion and were forced to retreat into the Kandyan highlands and the East Coast, which were under the rule of Sinhalese kings. On the east coast,Muslims reside in lands given to them by Senarat of Kandy[6].
The Tamils of Sri Lanka, throughout history, have attempted to categorize the Sri Lankan Moors as belonging to the Tamil ethnic group.[3] Arab traders however adopted the Tamil language when they settled in Sri Lanka.[4] This meant that mistakenly Tamils concluded that the Moors were from their race. The features of Sri Lankan Moors are also very different, they commonly have lighter skin tone and hair color. As a result some view the Sri Lankan Moors and Tamils as two ethnic groups, who speak the same language.[4]
(Wiki)
The reason Tamils want to include the Moors as their own is simply to add Numbers to show that there are more Tamils than their actual numbers.
/
Off the Cuff / January 13, 2014
Dear Palmsquirell,
This is a continuation of my response to you comment of January 12, 2014 at 7:21 pm
Please make logical and rational arguments if you want an intelligent debate. I note that you are deviating from that.
Example
You say “The Indian Tamils share the same ancestral groups as Sinhalese and Ceylon Tamils, so if the former are aliens then so too are the later.”
Sinhalese and Lanka Tamils have Indian blood but they are ALIENS in India. Burghers have European Blood but they are ALIENS in Europe
Australians have English Blood but they are ALIENS in England
Americans have English, Latin and Asian Blood but they are ALIENS in UK, Europe and Asia. Indentured Indian Tamil Labour are ALIENS to Lanka.
Your arguments are like a dog trying to catch it’s own tail. Please desist and keep them logical and intelligent.
You say “Even if it is true, it is only because Sinhalese conquered, genocided and assimilated the Veddah. Even if it is true, it is only because Sinhalese conquered, genocided and assimilated the Veddah. So Sinhalese wiped out Veddah culture and now they want to claim Veddah culture.”
We are discussing Genetics not Culture. Your arguments even if true cannot negate what Kshatriya’s report has stated. Sinhalese are Genetically connected to Veddha and the Lanka Tamils are not.
Kshatriya’s report says that Sinhalese have a 69.86% Indian Tamil Connection and that Lanka Tamils have a 16.6% Indian Tamil connection.
You say “This is some nonsense you created.”
Have you forgotten primary school maths? Let me remind you what a 5th grader should know.
69.86
—– X 100 = 421%
16.6
I didn’t make anything up but you seem to be slipping
Kind Regards
OTC
/
Thippu Sultan / January 14, 2014
you are seperating genetics and culture
we are not
they are two sides of the same coin
white americans also carry some trace of indegenous
our trace is not more than 4%
it is 69% Sinhala (not Bengali) in Tamil, meaning these Tamils have 3% Vaddha (forgetting the Vedar)
KILL THE VADDHA, ROB THE VADDHA, FORCE THE VADDHA, THEN CLAIM THE VADDHA.
claims of rapists!!
/
Off the Cuff / January 14, 2014
Dear Mr Thippu Sultan,
We are discussing Genetics not Culture. Your arguments even if true cannot negate what Kshatriya’s report has stated. Sinhalese are Genetically connected to Veddha and the Lanka Tamils are not.
Secondly if you want to base your argument on Culture the Sinhalese and Tamil cultures have more in common than any other in Lanka. The most important cultural celebration in Lanka is the Tamil and Sinhala New Year. Every Tamil home and Sinhala home lights the hearth for the New Year in synch to the second. They cease work for the old year synchronised to the second. Every other activity connected with the New Year Celebration is synchronised across the Sinhalese and Tamil households to the second. There is no other Cultural event that cuts across ethnic boundaries as the Sinhala and Tamil New Year Celebrations does.
You say “you are seperating genetics and culture we are not”
Genetics is based on Science. Culture is not.
You say “white americans also carry some trace of indegenous”
As usual, you are spreading disinformation. Prove it Please.
You say (y)”our trace is not more than 4%”
Perhaps you meant “your” and not “our”.
Actually according to Kshatria it is 4.73% for the Sinhalese which is more than 4% and closer to 5%.
This is what Kshatriya says,
Quote 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. Unquote
You say “it is 69% Sinhala (not Bengali) in Tamil,…”
Obviously you have been very sleepy while reading Kshatriya and the wiki. Here it is. please read again when you are wide awake.
Quote 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. Unquote
You say “…meaning these Tamils have 3% Vaddha (forgetting the Vedar)”
Genetically speaking, since the Tamils are an Offshoot of the ancient Sinhalese they too will have a contribution from Veddha but that would be through their PARENT, the Sinhalese. That percentage would be 0.0473 X 0.552 x 100 = 2.61%. But since that contribution comes from the parent it is more distant than for the Sinhalese.
You see Mr Thippu Sultan, Though your Grand father contributed 50% genetic material to your Father. Your Grandfather’s contribution to you is is only 25%. This is because of the genetic distance between you and your paternal Grandfather. There is what is known as a genetic distance study which reveals the “closeness” between genetic groups. That scientific methodology reveals who the parental populations are. In the case of Lanka Tamils, the dominating parent is the Sinhalese followed by Bengalis and Indian Tamils in that order.
Anger is no replacement for Logical argument.
Kind Regards
OTC
/
Sultan again / January 17, 2014
DEAR MR CUFF / 2%,
SO NOW YOU HAVE TO ADMIT TAMILS HAVE 2.61% OF VADDHA BLOOD
(THIS IS MY LOGIC YOU HEAR).
Also, it is illogical that 4.3% IS 5% AND 2.6% is not 3%.
AS WE ARE ABOUT THE ARYAN CULTURE & ARYAN SUPREMACY, THE MORE ARYAN-TAMILS CAN STAY HERE AS THEY HAVE MORE BENGALI DNA AND THE DRAVIAN-SINHALESE CAN GO BACK AS THEY HAVE MORE SOUTH INDIAN TAMIL DNA THAN THE SL TAMILS. (rewriting history may be a good idea then!)
SO YOU DUCKED THE VEDAR ARGUMENT.
YOU HAVE BEEN CALLING TAMILS ALIENS OVER THIS 2%.
IT IS YOUR RACISM & IGNORANCE THAT FAIL TO MAKE A FAIR & LOGICAL ASSESSMENT (THE ANGER YOU HEAR IS YOUR OWN)
Wishing you a better mentality, I bid good-bye!!!
/
Off the Cuff / January 27, 2014
Dear Mr Angry Sultan,
As I said before you need to cool down and think.
Re “YOU HAVE BEEN CALLING TAMILS ALIENS OVER THIS 2%.”
The Alien Tamils are the Indian Tamils who were not Lankan Citizens at the time they were brought to Lanka.
The Lankan Tamils are an off shoot (according to Kshatriya’s findings) of the Sinhalese. Hence they are not Aliens because the parent is not an alien.
You need to acquaint yourself about genetic distance before you blow a gasket again.
You contribute 50% Genetic material to your children and you children contributes 50% to their children. Your contribution to your grand children is only 25%. You are more distant to your grand children than to your own children.
The Veddha is a parent of the Sinhalese. The Sinhalese is a parent of the Lanka Tamils. Hence the Veddha is closer to the Sinhalese than to the Lanka Tamils. To the Lanka Tamils the Veddha is like a grandparent.
Kind Regards
OTC
/
Indigenous Survivor / February 6, 2014
@Palmsquirrell says “This is like all the White Latin Americans who identify with Spanish culture bringing up their tiny Amerindian DNA to claim they are indegenous.”
They would be offended if you called them “white”. Indigenous people worldwide are not concerned with concepts of racial purity or colours or “unethical conversions” (whatever the hell that means!). Embracing the indigenous culture and/or religion suffices. Have you heard of La Raza in America? They are Latin Americans that identify as indigenous.
Likewise, I say to our Buddhist brethren. I respect your choice, (if it is your free choice) but Buddhism was not your original religion. You too can go back and embrace your original Vedda and other indigenous religions – take your pick. Thats your choice. Politicians or monks cant force you. You can even embrace Islam etc, if you choose. Thats not unethical or unpatriotic. Its your choice.
Boy am I in deep $4!t now!!
/
JimSofty / January 12, 2014
Sri Lankan came after 1948.
why it was earlier called SINHALA-DWEEPA, SINHALE ?
what was the historic part that was unique to Tamils in Sri Lanka ?
/
pirana / February 11, 2014
JIm softly
The entire Eelam is unique to Dravidian and Tamil. Konamamalai amainthare is a part of a Tamil devotional song particular to Lord Shiva in Tricomalee the capital of Tamil eelam. Seredipity is again a unique pure Tamil word Seran theevu refering to Srilanka in Thamil.
/
Armchair Analyst / January 11, 2014
OTC,
You are so full of yourself, if you don’t watch out, you might burst. And good riddance too.
/
Off the Cuff / January 11, 2014
Dear Armchair Analyst,
Thank you for your concern but please try to make a coherent argument instead of an Ad hominem. Perhaps that’s too much of a task for you. But take your time I am in no hurry.
Kind Regards,
OTC
/
Kutti Machan / January 11, 2014
Dear Levi, Burning Issue, Mahadenamuththa Jr, Anpu, Native Veddha, Pandit Koralage, Ken Roberts, Kattakarawala, Off the Cuff
Why you people talk about the past, get excite and keep fightin among you. Nobody care about what you people talk. nobody even know you people are talkin. Nobody even know you people are living. How can you do this all the time? You people have no job, no family? Are you people bored. Nothing to do at present? you are nobodies now? That is why you people talk about old times always?
Try to live at now time, I meen present time. Then no any problems. You will have piece. No fighting. only love for all people ….sinhalatamilmuslimburgermalayvedda …..one people.
Now boys all together take deep breeth …..and try
/
Off the Cuff / January 11, 2014
Dear Kutti Machang,
You said “Why you people talk about the past,”
I do agree with some of the things you say such as living as One people in One country and I do not wish to belittle you. It is because my belief is the same as yours that I have been writing and countering Separatist misinformation for about 6 years. I hope you have learned something about Lanka from what I have written. This thread is about History and the need to rewrite it. The past is history the present and future are not. The present will shape the future the same way the past has shaped the present.
Kind Regards
OTC
/
Native Vedda / January 14, 2014
Kutti Machan
“Try to live at now time, I meen present time.”
This is an extraordinary advice coming at a crucial time. I welcome it and thank you for your timely intervention.
Would you also give the same free advice to our resident historians, Ravi Perera, Vibhushna, Kautilya, Jimsofty, Banda, Abhaya, NAK, Navin, Senaratne,Hela, sach ……………… and others?
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bbs dayan / January 11, 2014
K. Indrapala, The Evolution of an Ethnic Identity: The Tamils in Sri Lanka, c. 300 BCE to c. 1200 CE (Colombo: Vijitha Yapa Publications, 2nd rev. ed., 2007).
I see these debates are continuing without reference to the distinguished Sri Lankan professor of history’s recent work above. Please read it before debating endlessly on Aryan and Non-Aryan! I attach below a review of the book.
If the practice of writing South Asian history has been particularly susceptible to the dangerous imperatives and projects of nationalism, nowhere is this more flagrantly exemplified than in the case of Sri Lanka. If the legacies of colonial and nationalist historiography of India privileging the ‘Indo-Aryan colonist’ as the founders of Indic civilisation have been the subject of some substantial recent critical interrogation, there have been fewer challenges to the legitimacy of similarly colonialist and nationalist narratives of the ‘Indo-Aryan’, Sinhala- Buddhist founders of Sri Lankan civilisation. In the case of India, one could argue, recent attempts to write post-Orientalist and subaltern histories derive at least part of their appeal and resonance from their attempt to overturn the impact of colonial and nationalist historiography. In the Sri Lankan case, where such historical narratives and their popular deployment in school texts and the media have gone virtually uncontested, there appears to be little resistance to the increasingly-normalised and strident claims made on behalf of the ‘Sinhala-Buddhists’ as the rightful ‘Bhumi-Putras’ (‘sons of the soil’) of Sri Lanka and the so-called ‘minorities’ as later invaders.1 http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00856401.2011.587394#.Us_2ZLRHh-4
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Off the Cuff / January 12, 2014
Here are a few excerpts from Dr Pradeep Jeganathan, Assitant Prof of Anthropology Uni of Minnasota.
“Indeed, as I have argued at length in previous work, the very idea that all of this island is rightfully Sinhala-Buddhist is a very recent idea. It is traceable to Geroge Turnor’s (and Edward Upham’s) colonial misunderstandings of the particular, parochial claims made by the Mahavamsa and the Vamsattappakasini, which they then universalized and associated with simultaneous readings of monumental remains in the North Central Province seen through this foggy lens; the acceptance of Turnour’s work as ‘true’ authorized its continuation throughout the nineteenth century”.
“On the contrary the very idea that Sri Lanka is made of discreet, competing communities of Sinhala, Tamil and Mohemedan is very much a colonial idea; first mooted in Colebrokke Camaron Reforms of 1833, which simultaneous with the misappropriation of Mahavamsa and the Vamsatthappaksini for a parochial European debate about the chronology of South Asian Kings. The idea that the Sinhala need a Sinhala representative and the that Tamils need a Tamil one, that the ‘Moors’ need a ‘Moor’ one is a colonial idea, a rupture in the human history of this island, that had seen settled, civilized human habitation for over 15, 000 years. This idea then, to repeat, was folded into the idea culled from a misreading of the Mahavamsa that history of this island is a series of battles between Sinhala Buddists and Tamil Hindus. There is no historicity to this, what so ever”.
“ We really must abandon this idea, that we are in grip of a 6th century Sinhala-Buddhist historical consiousness; this is a recent, colonial construction. Treating products of colonial interventions as a timeless essence adds to our difficulties, not allowing for the necessary plurality of imaginings of Lanka’s history to emerge in present times”.
OTC
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Fathima Fukushima / January 12, 2014
If you have a history you don’t have to rewrite it.
You rewrite history because you have NO history in SL.
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JimSofty / January 12, 2014
When did Tamil begin as a separate language from other Dravidian languages ?
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pirana / February 11, 2014
Jim Softly
when did Tamil begin as a separate language from other Dravidian languages ?
in order to answer this question i must ask you first when did you become a seperate being from your mother? Tamil is the Mother of all Dravidian language as such there is no date line as to when it would have been seperated from the other Dravidian languages. Tamil gave birth to all the Dravidian languages one by one.
you can date the time in which the other Dravidian languages seperated from Tamil. The word Dravidian itself evolved from the word Tamil.
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JimSofty / January 12, 2014
Sri Lanka has so many ancient books, hundreds. but, Sri lankan schools do not talk about those books in schools. SO most adults do not know about the existence of so those books. Sri lanka should teach students at least a bit from each of those books.
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Mahadana Muththa (Jnr) / January 12, 2014
Jim Softy,
“Sri lankan schools do not talk about those books”
Did you write them?
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Navin / January 12, 2014
Burning_Issue/Anpu,
You can believe whatever you want about your grievances, aspirations, rights, who came first, who built what, who ruled whom when where and more. I will not confront you on those.
Can you accept 25% Sinhala people to N & E? NPC will setup a scheme to attract Sinhala people from rest of the country and settle them in N & E. Both people and where they are settled will be decided by NPC. If you can agree to such an arrangement I will agree to granting land/police powers and a merged N & E province.
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Burning_Issue / January 12, 2014
Navin
The Sinhala have as much right to the N&E as anyone; just like the Tamils and Muslims have right to live anywhere in the country. The issue of altering the demography of the N&E is a very contentious issue for the minorities. If you imagine in a place like Maharagama, the state has decided to populate the Tamil and Muslims in preponderance, what would be the reaction of the locals? The state should create economic conditions for the peoples to move and live wherever they chose to live. The state language policy must be implemented in full so no one should face language impediment regardless of their place of residence. The minorities must be consulted on any issue that is contentious. The NPC must be given full provisions of the 13th Amendment and should be allowed to function without hindrances. What is really the need in Sri Lanka is Good Governance from top to bottom; this MR regime is incapable of offering.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / January 12, 2014
Navin,
Please study the provincial ethnicity map based on the 2012 census. In Google. It is quite revealing. and may make you reconsider your proposition.
Dr, Rajasingham Narendran
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Navin / January 13, 2014
What has changed through government intervention can revert back as quickly once its withdrawn.
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Off the Cuff / January 13, 2014
Dear BI, Dr Rajasingham Narendran, Navin and CT Readers,
BI says “The issue of altering the demography of the N&E is a very contentious issue for the minorities. If you imagine in a place like Maharagama, the state has decided to populate the Tamil and Muslims in preponderance, what would be the reaction of the locals? ”
Please compare apples with apples and not with oranges.
The N & E Provinces comprise 40 % of Lanka. The claim for an Exclusive Homeland is more contentious to the 90% who are excluded.
Eastern Province = 9996 sq km
Total population = 1,551,381
Northern Province = 8884 sq km
Total population = 1,058,762
Western Province = 3684 sq km (where Maharagama Municipality is situated)
Total Population = 5,821,710
How do you justify this aberration? The East has 2.71 times the Land while the population is 5 times SMALLER than the West. The Majority of Land in the East is UNINHABITED PUBLIC LAND. How do you JUSTIFY this apparent GREED?
The same goes to the Tamil majority North and the Sinhalese majority North Central (10472 sq km and a Population of 1,259,567).
All three have excess Land while a majority of Sri Lankans (Sinhalese, Tamils, Indian Tamils, Moors etc) are Landless. All this excess land is UNINHABITED PUBLIC LAND.
Do we pamper to the greed or do we solve the grave social problem of the Landless?
No govt should allow this to go on.
ALL three provinces should be made to shed the excess Land. All three provinces should be delimited and New Central Govt Territories (or provinces) should be created using this UNINHABITED Land similar to the Union Territories of India (they have 7 of them) and the Landless settled in them.
This will keep the current demography of the N and E Provinces intact and the political power within those provinces unchanged.
If instead, the 13A provisions of Land settlement is enforced, the demography will change compulsorily and irrevocably and so will the political power within those provinces.
Note: Personally I would value the observations of Dr RN (my respected Internet friend and opponent)
Kind Regards,
OTC
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Dr. Rajasingham Narendran / January 14, 2014
The following is the link to the provincial ethnicity map(2012 census):
http://www.statistics.gov.lk/PopHouSat/PopulationAtla_2012/02_ProvincialMaps/Map%20P1.4.1%20Population%20by%20Ethnici%20ty%20and%20Province,%202012.pdf
There are several provinces with very large Sinhala populations and only a sprinkling of minorities. The north is the only province where the Sinhalese are a tiny minority. I am sure with economic development and acquiring the confidence that the intention of proposed migration is not a threat to their security, integrity and majority status as a community, the Tamils will welcome Sinhalese in their midst. This is already beginning to happen. Many Sinhalese are being welcomed to Jaffna as masons, carpenters and electricians, though on a temporary basis.
Tamils are a people who yet feel they are under siege, although they are beginning to sense a glimmer of hope. It is a very fragile beginning. If the government acts to make the Tamils feel confident within their current skin, the situation will change dramatically. The issue cannot be forced.
Further, the north is yet not a place where the Sinhalese will willingly live on account of livelihood and related issues. There is unemployment, underemployment and no major economic activities demanding an external human resource input, on the scale (25%) proposed.
On account of the above problems many Tamils who were displaced to Colombo and its environs during the long war years, yet prefer to live where they are.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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Off the Cuff / January 17, 2014
Dear Dr Rajasingham Narendran,
North Central Province = 10472 sq km, Total Population 1,259,567
Eastern Province = 9996 sq km, Total population = 1,551,381
Northern Province = 8884 sq km, Total population = 1,058,762
Western Province = 3684 sq km, Total Population = 5,821,710
What is important is population density, not simply the population.
As you can see, North Central, North and Eastern Provinces have a low population density compared to the densely populated Western Province.
The Majority of land in North Central, North and Eastern Provinces is Uninhabited State Land. Hence there is no justification for this land to remain Uninhabited when the Vast Majority of the Lankan Population are Landless.
The 13A mandates the distribution of Land developed by Public Funds according to the National Ethnic Ratio. Thus it is inevitable that demography and political power, within the current provinces, to change with time, to the disadvantage of the Minorities. The reason that this will happen is due to the large extent of Public uninhabited Land that remains within these sparsely populated provinces.
Hence the best solution to preserve political power within the current demographic distribution is to divest excess Land by delimiting the current Provinces and creating Central Govt Territories similar to the Union Territories of India or to create new provinces using this excess land.
This will ensure that the Political Power of the Minorities to be preserved and they will enjoy an autonomous provincial govt within areas that they form the majority not withstanding the 13A. Then the Landless will get land and the resources of Lanka would be more equitably distributed amongst her Citizens.
Note: The following question was asked by Navin and is not part of my argument “Can you accept 25% Sinhala people to N & E? “
Kind Regards,
OTC
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Native Vedda / January 18, 2014
Off the Cuff
“The following question was asked by Navin and is not part of my argument “Can you accept 25% Sinhala people to N & E? “
How dare you discuss about my ancestral land?
This island rightfully belongs to my people and not your.
I can only accept 0.00% of kallathonies from South India. If you like the deal then go back to your mother land in South India. If you don’t like it go back to your mother land in South India.
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Dr. Rajasingham Narendran / January 18, 2014
Dear OTC,
Thanks. The following data from the 2012 census gives the population densities district-wise:
District Populn.Density Rank
Sri Lanka 323
Colombo 3,438 1
Gampaha 1,714 2
Kalutara 771 3
Kandy 714 4
Matale 247 14
Nuwara Eliya 414 9
Galle 655 5
Matara 638 6
Hambantota 239 15
Jaffna 628 7
Mannar 53 24
Vavuniya 93 22
Mullaitivu 38 25
Kilinochchi 94 21
Batticaloa 201 16
Ampara 153 17
Trincomalee 149 18
Kurunegala 348 10
Puttalam 264 13
Anuradhapura 128 20
Polonnaruwa 131 19
Badulla 287 12
Moneragala 81 23
Ratnapura 334 11
Kegalle 497 8
It is interesting that Jaffna district despite the turmoil, war and migrations ranks 7 in the island in population density. Considering the climate, water resources and terrain in terms of the extensive lagoon system, Jaffna district appears to be over populated. Mannar, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya have low population densities due to climatic factors such as rain fall patterns, pronged droughts, lack of year round irrigation facilities, lack of industry, lack of employment opportunities and large extents of land owned by the state. These lands are either jungle or devoted to timber plantations. Whether this lands should be left as they are in terms of ecological dictates is another big question confronting us. The prolonged turmoil and wars, have also had their toll.
In the east too, Batticaloa, Ampara and Trincomalee have low population densities, due to factors identified with reference to the northern province. Moneragala and Polonnaruwa also have low population densities due to principally climate related factors.
The question is whether the areas with low population densities can support higher populations, given the current realities? It is not the ethnic composition of the various districts or provinces that should preoccupy our thoughts, but whether life of a sustainable quality can be attained in these areas with higher population densities. The reality is that the poorest in this country live in these areas.
I think we should approach the problem we are discussing outside ethnic concerns and in terms of more objective realities. Would Sri Lanka benefit economically from an ethnic percentage based approach to population distribution in the island, should be our over riding concern?
I think a 25 % increase in population in the North, East, Moneragala or Polonnaruwa, whether it be with Sinhlaese, Tamils, Muslims or any other group, would be unsustainable and unrealistic given the objective realities and the emotional dimensions of the issue, in the current circumstances.
The long term solution is to develop the country in such a manner that every Sri Lankan will feel confident to make his/her decision to live anywhere in the island, where he can make a comfortable living, while enjoying the cultural rights in full. We are yet quite far off this ideal.
As I have alluded to in my previous comment, the circumstances and the phenomenon of demand & supply, should drive population shifts. No part of the island should be the exclusive preserve of any ethnic group, while as you have emphasized there should be no attempt to tamper with the cultural characteristics of any part of the island.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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Dr. Rajasingham Narendran / January 18, 2014
NB:
The table has been distorted in its appearence.
The numbers stand for population density ( numbers/ sq. km) first and the ranking terms of that density, second ( range 1-25). I hope the readers can decipher the table.
Dr.RN
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Navin / January 19, 2014
Dr. RN, Thank you for your studied response.
I have no doubt that you are sincere when you say “No part of the island should be the exclusive preserve of any ethnic group”. Unfortunately that cannot be said about the Tamil polity in the country today.
What is the goal of those who are trying to establish war-crimes charges against the government? Is it merely to take revenge from GR/MR? Not quite. The end goal is to establish that Tamil population in the North/East has been and is being persecuted by the Sinhala majority government in the South. Thus de-legitimize GOSL control over N/E paving the way to establish an independent Tamil State. Americans are not in this game to merely punish war criminals. It was America that was instrumental in creating Kosovo where a similar process ensued.
We cannot come to a political settlement based on trust. You cannot even run a successful business based on trust. Hence the political solution that is ultimately agreed upon should not just provide political power to Tamil majority areas but it should equally assure Sinhala community that it cannot be manipulated to launch a struggle towards an independent state.
A solution based on a unitary structure is not acceptable to Tamil people. However, devolution without guarantee of unity is not acceptable to Sinhala people. So how can we devolve power while assuring the concerns of Sinhala people?
We have all heard enough times and over the phrase that to solve the ethnic problem we need to address the underlying grievances of the Tamil people. If we are “sincere”, why is it so difficult to understand that in order to devolve power you need to address the grievances of the Sinhala people?
I’m not proposing that we settle Sinhalese in N & E without any attention to how these people are going to make a living and what impact the new settlers will have on people who are already there.
Unless it is pushed to a corner as in May 2009 to finish things quickly or loose the game, it is not in the interest of the government in the South to make life difficult for people in the North/East. We should have learnt at least that much from past 50 years of unrest in the North and South of this country.
What I’m proposing is a holistic solution that will address a whole gamut of issues from settlements and development to devolution.
As you can see in the list you provided, Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi are 4 of the least populated districts of this country. I agree with you that these areas have very difficult living conditions and lack of development due to negligence of successive governments.
However these are not challenges that cannot be overcome if the necessary political commitment is there. You only need to look at the transformation that is happening in the Hambantota district to understand what I mean.
Compared to the human and monetary cost this country has paid to eradicate secessionist threat posed by LTTE it is no cost to develop these 4 districts and settle Sinhala people to overcome the new threat posed by Eelamist. The only difficulty is the opposition of the local population.
Hambantota and Mannar have equally harsh climate. In fact they have the worst in the country. Hence if we can develop Hambantota we can also develop the 4 districts Mannar, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi. The climate and arid conditions are not insurmountable challenges.
I agree that we should approach the problem we are discussing outside ethnic concerns and in terms of more objective realities. What other solution is there? There is a group of people in this country who want to take a large swath of its land for themselves. While it may have been triggered initially due to injustices faced by them there is no doubt that subsequently human greed and selfishness has given this drive a momentum of its own.
I’m quite open to any solution that is fair by all communities that does not require me to “trust” Tamil polity.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / January 19, 2014
Dear Navin,
Thank you for your well considered response. I hope such responses are the beginnings of a meaningful discourse between the different communities in the country. I hope my Tamil compatriots will also contribute to such debates in a dispassionate manner.
Dr.RN
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Punchieki / January 19, 2014
Dear Dr.RN,
I always respect your comments being added to this and other forums.
If we should achieve peace and reconcilliation, authorities should begin meaningful discourse between all the communities in the country.
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Punchieki / January 19, 2014
Thanks very much for this information. I had been thinking about this.
PE
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Off the Cuff / January 19, 2014
Dear Dr. Rajasingham Narendran,
I posted my Response here in order to take advantage of space (the nesting confines the reply to a narrow space.
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/npc-chief-wigneswaran-wants-sri-lankas-history-rewritten/comment-page-1/#comment-854804
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Anpu / January 12, 2014
Navin,
“Can you accept 25% Sinhala people to N & E?”
BI has answered your question.
Do you thing this is right? Building Buddhist temples where there are no Buddhists.
This is just a small example. Since May 2009, there are many Buddhist temples, street name changes, etc… in N&E.
http://www.tamilguardian.com/article.asp?articleid=9712
“7 new Buddhist temples, 54 Army camps in Batticaloa since 2009
Seven new Buddhist viharas (temples) had been built in Batticaloa alone since the end of the armed conflict, along side a total of 54 Sri Lankan military camps, said P. Selvarajah of the TNA, reported Tamil Mirror.
Speaking to journalists, he said that the rights of Tamils were being increasingly denied, with many Tamils being forced to relocate as their lands are appropriated by the Sri Lankan state. An area of land spanning 122,226 acres is to be acquired by the Ministry of Environment, uprooting Tamils who are resident within the zone. “
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Ajith / January 13, 2014
One of the problem with Sinhalese is how they perceive the issue of ethnic problem. In their perception, they think that Tamils are not belong Sri Lanka and they have the right to do everything including crimes, bribes and murder of Tamils. They don’t see that murdering a Tamil or asking bribe from a Tamil or destroying a mosque is a crime but they think it is a right. It is not their fault because Sinhala politicians gave them free hand to do all these to gather votes from Sinhala masses. It is not only politicians but the Buddhist religuous leaders had the same mentality. The perception created by politicians and Sinhala Buddhist leaders are the same.
They want to keep Sinhala masses under the dark side of the real world. I don’t know how long it takes to bring them to a brighter side of the world.
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Off the Cuff / January 13, 2014
Dear Anpu (BI please note),
Navin’s question:- “Can you accept 25% Sinhala people to N & E?”
You say “BI has answered your question.”
Navin implies attractive NPC assistance for the settlement of Sinhalese.
BI has earlier expressed the view that the Govt should not sponsor settlement. Hence the reply is incomplete and perhaps is evasive.
You ask “Do you thing this is right? Building Buddhist temples where there are no Buddhists.”
No it is not right.
You say ” along side a total of 54 Sri Lankan military camps, said P. Selvarajah of the TNA,”
There was a War and Mr. Selvarajah participated in it. With time, what ever military camps that are unnecessary will get dismantled but of course not all.
You said “Speaking to journalists, he said that the rights of Tamils were being increasingly denied, with many Tamils being forced to relocate as their lands are appropriated by the Sri Lankan state. An area of land spanning 122,226 acres is to be acquired by the Ministry of Environment, uprooting Tamils who are resident within the zone.”
What is the purpose of the Land acquisition? How many have been uprooted? Are they squatters on Public Land or do they have deeds of ownership?
Land acquisition in other parts of the country has caused relocation. So this is not specific to the Tamils in the East as is implied. Many Sinhalese, Muslims and Tamils living in the South have faced the same situation. Many squatters have been evicted in the South to make way for development.
The above utterances have the hallmark of propaganda as the numbers living in the 122,226 acres is not disclosed. Their ownership is not disclosed. The area mentioned is 494.6 sq km or 5% of the Eastern Province. It is too vast to be Private Land. Hence somebody is not telling the whole Truth.
Kind regards,
OTC
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Navin / January 13, 2014
Burning_Issue/Anpu,
I’m suggesting in compromise. Changing demography is a sensitive issue. That I agree. That is why I’m suggesting, let the NPC handle it. Let the NPC make a commitment to increasing the diversity of the province in return for political power. You get the people you want. Leave out the people you don’t like. Settle them where ever you want and integrate them into your population “in good faith”.
If you are wise, instead of ignoring the concerns of the majority community, you will try to address them. No matter how much you may like it Sinhalese community cannot be wished away.
Economic conditions of the N & E will continue improve. If with the developing economy people move by themselves, then the work that NPC will have to do will be reduced.
Asking the Sinhala side to rely on natural migration of people in the context of improving economy is like Sinhala side asking Tamils to have trust in “them” to improve democracy, rule of law, human rights which would make provincial councils redundant.
This is not a simple matter of MR trying to circumvent 13A. MR is hesitant to implement 13A because there are real concerns about it. You can wish for a government of Ranil W but what are the odds of that happening? Besides, Ranil is the only man around who may transfer land/police powers to N/E in full and withdraw the military the same way he signed off the CFA with Norway disregarding what people outside of Colombo thinks. Do you see anyone in UNP who is willing to engage in that kind of adventurism?
It is my belief, as long as you continue to resist any change to demography, covertly building Buddhist temples and setting up settlements and the military presence will continue. Furthermore, there will be lot of wrangling over transfer of land/police powers, if at all.
Politics is the art of the possible.
There is nothing to loose for Tamils in accepting a degree of demographic change. If it is something that will happen eventually anyway, why not accept it now itself which would simplify many of the seemingly unsolvable issues?
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Ukkuamma / January 13, 2014
I know there is very good historian which Native Vedda has lost. That is Annurudha Pradeep of Sri Jayawardenepura University. He is a political scientist who sold trade Union action to get pass his M.A.Otherwise would not in the service.
He is very good in writing history as depicted in his paradoxical thesis on Paradoxes of UNited National Party.
He knows everything of History.
I would like to get his name included into the list.
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Burning_Issue / January 13, 2014
Ben,
You ridiculed me for pointing out the constitutional projection of Buddhism and Buddhist extremism on another forum!
“They claimed the Christian presence was illegal.”
On what basis do you think these racist Monks deem the churches concerned illegal? The clause giving Buddhism the foremost place in the constitution was carefully choreographed and implied such that the state must protect and foster Buddhism. If a group of Monks such as these racists were to deem the Churches concerned an impediment to Buddhism in any shape or form, the police cannot do anything about it! The Trinco “illegal” Buddhist statue showed us what it is all about; no one took notice of it because it did not affect them! This disastrous clause is open to abuse and it is going to be an increasing phenomenon now that the Tamil Separatism has been dealt with. The irony is that, VP deferred it for 30 years!
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Burning_Issue / January 13, 2014
This post was erroniously submitted here it was meant for:
“Video: Buddhist Monk Led Mob Attacked Christian Church”
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Kumardesilva / January 15, 2014
[Edited out]
Please write instead of posting gossip web news – CT
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kabaragoya / January 15, 2014
History is fiction and is irrelevant to the situation. There were different waves of coming of those who call themselves Singhalese (later arrivals were Karaves, Parawars, Salagama) and Tamils (including Arunachalam and Ramanathan whose ancestors came as merchants. Ramanathan’s daughter was given in marriage to an Indian).
What matters is the present reality. There is no Sri Lankan nation. There is no national identity to keep the people living in the island together.
The fact is that the NorthEast are the homelands of the Tamils. The Indo-Sri Lanka Accord states that and despite colonization, Tamils (including the Muslim speaking Tamils) constitute the one people in the NorthEast. They have a distinct identity and have a right to autonomy. The recognition of this fact is the solution to the present mess, not interminable talk of who came first which is not going to solve anything.
The Sinhalese have an exclusive identity which is based on their superiority. They must be entitled to it. They must continue to live in their homelands believing their particular muck which gives them their identity. No one seeks to deny them that right. But, if they want to impose their superiority on others, there is going to be trouble. So, peace is to ensure that Sinhalese enjoy their right to autonomy, the right to practise their own brand of hatred and intolerance in the peace of their traditional homelands in the South. I would even argue that the Kandyans should be left out as they have more credible claims to being the true Sinhalese and have a distinct culture and law of their own and are bereft of the barbarism that characterizes the Southern Sinhalese.
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Appachi (not Thatha) / January 18, 2014
Its a confused plains theory promoted in the island country by an aspiring and conniving group that claims southern Sinhalese as recent when the Kandyan aristocracy and retinue were of recent origin.
Kandyans are also the most mixed with the estate Tamils.
True Sinhalayas (Pandyans) are responsible for the Vaddha genocide.
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Off the Cuff / January 19, 2014
Dear Dr.Rajasingham Narendran,
War in Jaffna ended in 1995. 14 years before it finally ended in 2009. Jaffna has actually slid from 2nd place to 7th as it was second only to Colombo before the war. This means that it can support a population of at least that of Gampaha or 1714 persons per sq km. Which is 3 times the present population.
Badulla, Puttalam, Matale, Hambantota, Batticaloa, Ampara, Trincomalee, Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya, Moneragala, Mannar, Mullaitivu are all below the national population density of 323 ranked in that order.
Compared to Colombo, the size of each of these districts are as follows.
Badulla,,,,,,,, 12.0 (times as great)
Puttalam,,,,,,, 13.0
Matale,,,,,,,,, 13.9
Hambantota,,,,, 14.4
Batticaloa,,,,, 17.1
Ampara,,,,,,,,, 22.5
Trincomalee,,,, 23.1
Polonnaruwa,,,, 26.2
Anuradhapura,,, 26.9
Kilinochchi,,,, 36.6
Vavuniya,,,,,,, 37.0
Moneragala,,,,, 42.4
Mannar,,,,,,,,, 64.9
Mullaitivu,,,,, 90.5
As you can see, Area of Badulla is 1200% larger than Colombo while Mullaitivu is 9050% larger.
The Ancient “Raja Rata” was an arid zone that was transformed in to Agricultural Land by a network of Tanks and Canals. The present day North Central province is a part of that Raja Rata. As you can see from the Map of Lanka’s rivers ( http://www.mapsofworld.com/sri-lanka/river-map.html ) There are adequate Major and Minor rivers available for development and opening up of all the above areas for Agriculture and Habitation. We did it in the past and it can be done in the present.
Re “It is not the ethnic composition of the various districts or provinces that should preoccupy our thoughts,”
I fully agree.
The reason I pointed out the provisions in the 13A is because the Provincial Councils itself derive their legal validity from the 13A. Hence the 13A will eventually change the Demography of the whole of Lanka to reflect the National Ethnic Ratio. The Northern Province and the Eastern Province won’t be an exception. Preserving the Demography is to preserve minority political power. But that cannot be done by holding on to unreasonable share of Land resources.
The ONLY way to preserve the present Demography is to divest the excess Land that these Provinces contain by creating State Territories (or new provinces) similar to Union Territories of India (they have 7 of them). The current provincial boundaries have no currency before British Rule.
Re “but whether life of a sustainable quality can be attained in these areas with higher population densities.”
The “River for Jaffna” or the Arumugam Plan will transform Jaffna and Parts of the Vanni to Agricultural Land with a water table that is free of Salinity.
There are considerable water resources available (please see map linked earlier) that can be developed and hence these lands can support higher population densities. We did it in the past and we can do it again. The Northern Farmer was very industrious and farmed by drawing deep ground water. What we need to do is to empower them.
Re “The reality is that the poorest in this country live in these areas”
Let’s transform them by developing the Land for the benefit of Sri Lankans.
Re “I think we should approach the problem we are discussing outside ethnic concerns and in terms of more objective realities”
I fully agree with you.
But ethnic based political power whether National or Local, brings in Ethnicity to the issue. The root of the problem remains an ethnic one, as the Tamils of the North, quite understandably, wants to keep the North as a Tamil Majority area because it is the Majority that decides who governs in a democracy. But they also want to hold on to more resources than is needed for their sustenance. Here in lies the problem.
The South on the other hand, saw no problem in ethnic dilution of the South. The reason that allowed such dilution to go on without a protest or impediment. Possibly because of the overwhelming majority the Sinhalese had in the South they saw no threat to their political power in that dilution.
The Constitutional Validity of the Provincial Govt is derived from the 13A. But if there is excess Land resources within that province the very same 13A will transform that Majority in to a Minority. The 13A is a double edged sword.
Re “Would Sri Lanka benefit economically from an ethnic percentage based approach to population distribution in the island, should be our over riding concern?”
Personally I think it should not be mandated by Law. But the reality is that it has been so mandated not because a majority of citizens of Lanka wanted it, but because an ethnic minority wanted it. If Singapore is taken as an example where such a National Ethnic Ratio prevails then yes it benefits both the economy and peace.
Re “The long term solution is to develop the country in such a manner that every Sri Lankan will feel confident to make his/her decision to live anywhere in the island, where he can make a comfortable living, while enjoying the cultural rights in full. We are yet quite far off this ideal.”
Sri Lanka’s strength has been agriculture. If we can produce our own food then we will have food security. The billions that is currently spent in importing our food will then go to our farmers. Hence our mainstay, which is Agriculture and Fishery, should be the Foci of development. This underscores the vital importance of Land and the Sea.
Here is a quote from Dr. Pradeep Jeganathan.
“the very idea that Sri Lanka is made of discreet, competing communities of Sinhala, Tamil and Mohemedan is very much a colonial idea; first mooted in Colebrokke Camaron Reforms of 1833″. ….”The idea that the Sinhala need a Sinhala representative and the that Tamils need a Tamil one, that the ‘Moors’ need a ‘Moor’ one is a colonial idea, a rupture in the human history of this island, that had seen settled, civilized human habitation for over 15,000 years.”
If this recent phenomena of competing Ethnicities is removed then we can get back to the ideal that existed before.
If Race based politics cease, then there will be no threat to any Minority in Sri Lanka. Do you see Tamil culture under threat in the South? At least half the Tamil population lives in the South. In fact the Sinhalese and Tamils have so much Culture in common that they celebrate the New Year synchronised to the minute. This is a unique event.
Re “As I have alluded to in my previous comment, the circumstances and the phenomenon of demand & supply, should drive population shifts”
Normally yes. But when any development is done by using public funds then the fruits of the development should be equally enjoyed by those who pay for them. If the Debt burden is broad based so should the fruits of development.
The Development of a River Delta can happen only in that Delta.
Re “No part of the island should be the exclusive preserve of any ethnic group,”
Of course. Totally agree.
Re “…while as you have emphasized there should be no attempt to tamper with the cultural characteristics of any part of the island”
No attempt by the State to be specific.
But if Hindu’s living in the South want to have a Bona Fide Hindu Temple in the South, they should be free to do so. Vice versa in any other part of Lanka.
Kind Regards
OTC
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / January 19, 2014
Dear OTC,
Thanks for a comprehensive, rational and objective response. Rationality and objective dialogue is a rare phenomenon in Sri Lankan political dialogue.
The ‘ Jaffna River project’ you have mentioned is in the process of being discarded. Even the, in my view unnecessary drinking water supply scheme to the Jaffna peninsula from the Irranaimadu tank is mired in inter-district controversy fuelled by stupid fissiparous politicians- our national curse .
The day rationality, objectivity and reason begin to rule politics in this country, all what you and I hope for this country, will begin to come true. Unfortunately, I see very little hope for this in the horizon, although I can describe myself as an incorrigible optimist. I suppose when hope begins to diminish, one has recourse only to prayer.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
I
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Fathima Fukushima / January 19, 2014
Why do we have to put up with this dirt?
Bring back the LTTE.
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Maveeran / January 22, 2014
Oi you Fartima [Edited out]. LTTE isn’t gone anywhere. They still here :)
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Rambuka / February 4, 2014
This Vigneshwaran joker also needs to be taught about history. Before his (Indian) Tamil ancestors invaded the island, there were indigenous people here who had their own language and religion. Now people like Vigneshwaran slavishly want India to intervene on their narrow communalistic behalf?
The Mahavamsa is biased because it tells history from the point of view of Prakrit speaking Indian Buddhists, masquerading as true Ceylonese. Yet, even the Mahavansa records the first Indian and rapist and genocidist on the island was Prince Vijaya, who is treated as a hero by the Sinhala-Buddhist establishment! King Pandukabhaya forced the indigenous Yakkas, Nagas and others to assimilate into a Prakrit speaking Indian-Buddhist culture. They had no choice. If they did not, they would have either been killed or driven to the jungles like the ancestors of the Veddahs.
Now the Tamils, (also either descendants of Indians or their rape victims) from India are fighting with the Sinhala-Buddhists, also from India. The lasting solution for peace in this country is to eliminate preferential treatment for any language or religion. All must be treated equal under the constitution. Even the name Sri Lanka is an Indian name. We do not need this. Ceylon is preferable until the original indigenous name is researched and resurrected. The original Yakka, Naga and Veddah languages and religion must be made state religions, even if in a symbolic way.
The ethnic origins of the peoples of the island must be recognised as at least partially non-Indian. (ie migrants came directly island hopping from Africa and Oceania). Only the can we eliminate discrimination in the island. Not only Ceylon, but everywhere people are tracing their original heritage and seeing it in a positive light. It is yet to happen on a large scale here, but with increased education, knowledge and self-respect, it will happen.
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Native Vedda / February 4, 2014
Rambuka
“there were indigenous people here who had their own language and religion.”
They were not Kallathoni Bengali and did not practiced Sinhala/Buddhism.
“Now people like Vigneshwaran slavishly want India to intervene on their narrow communalistic behalf?”
I want Hindia to take all descendants of Tamil/Sinhala Kallathonies back to where they belonged, Bihar and Tamilnadu. It includes you as well.
“King Pandukabhaya forced the indigenous Yakkas, Nagas and others to assimilate into a Prakrit speaking Indian-Buddhist culture”
Let us assume, Taliban from Pakistan forcibly take over this island and convert Sinhala/Buddhists into turban wearing, beard sporting, ……education denying ……… people. Would that be alright with you.
I would advise you to review your Naga/Yaksa story again.
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Rambuka / February 4, 2014
Native Vedda, read my comment again. I think you missed some points. The forced assimmilation and loss of indigenous culture has been done, but its not too late to be undone. Steps to be taken:
1. Repeal the special status of Buddhism and the Sinhala language. Recognise the latter as one of the many imported dialects into the country, alongside with Tamil and other community languages should those communities want to maintain their language and culture.
2. Elevate Vedda language and research and ressurect the murdered Naga and Yakka languages and make them symbolic national languages.
3. Remove the Indian name “Shree Lanka” and replace with Ceylon, which is more acceptable as a ethnic-neutral name.
4. Recognise that all the major, organised religions in Ceylon including Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Christianity, are imported religions.
5. Recognise human settlement on the island started around 100,000 years ago, not 2,500 years ago by an Indian rapist and genocider.
If Sinhalese and Tamils want to kill each other, please return to your respective homelands in India. If you want to put Buddhism or Sinhala language before Ceylonese unity in diversity, please return to Bihar or Bengal or whatever culture you are putting first. That applies to any other type of communalist also. Us Indigenous Ceylonese have had enough.
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