Ariaratnam Gobikrishna MD
The decades-long civil conflict in Sri Lanka caused immense suffering across all communities—Tamils, Sinhalese, Muslims, and Burghers. While the magnitude of suffering varied, no group emerged unscathed. For many, the pain persisted not just for a year or two, but for over three decades. Those who left the country experienced their share of hardships, though their suffering was incomparable to those who remained amidst the devastation. This isn’t a contest to determine who endured the most; the focus must be on ensuring such a tragedy never happens again.
We must remain vigilant to prevent even the smallest missteps that could unravel the fragile peace and harmony we have today. History has shown us how easily tensions can flare and quickly spiral out of control, a risk amplified manifold in the era of social media. While we cannot bring back those lost too soon, we can take meaningful actions—such as releasing those still unjustly imprisoned—and work tirelessly to ensure that discord does not take root again.
The Tamil people have sent a strong and unprecedented message by giving their mandate to a Sinhalese-led party under Anura Kumara Dissanayake. This marks a historic shift, signaling a desire for change and reconciliation. It is imperative that the current government is given the time and support needed to fulfill its promises. This is not the moment for the diaspora to agitate or create unnecessary noise that could provide fuel for extremist elements to disrupt progress. Any misstep or unnecessary interference risks sowing doubts and reviving suspicions among the majority population—a spark that could reignite old tensions.
The majority of Tamils in Sri Lanka are praying for peaceful coexistence. While it is essential to hold the government accountable, it is equally important to approach this with patience and reason. Previous attempts to address these issues through agitation have failed spectacularly. Why not adopt a new strategy this time—one rooted in cooperation and measured progress? Persisting with the same failed approaches is nothing short of madness.
The diaspora, while often well-meaning, must exercise restraint. Those who claim to safeguard Tamil culture, language, heritage and the territorial integrity must ask themselves: If these values are so paramount, why are they not in Sri Lanka, working to protect them firsthand? Instead, they risk disrupting progress from afar, while enjoying the safety and privileges of Western democracies. It is crucial to avoid becoming pawns in their agendas, often cloaked in the guise of benevolence. Let us give this government a genuine chance to succeed and focus on solutions that prioritize peace and reconciliation for those living through these challenges daily.
chiv / December 3, 2024
Gopi , 💯
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Fairmindedone / December 3, 2024
Tamil /Sinhala conflict is a linguistic conflict that began with disenfranchisation act in 1949 that affected a section of the Tamil speaking community, followed by the Sinhala Only Act in 1956. The majoritarian control of the popular politics got further embedded with certain privileges cemented in the new republican charter in 1972.
AS Dr. Colvin R. de Silva stated in 1956, two languages one nation or one language with two nations. Ceylon Tamils were founding members of the pre-independence Ceylon; and as learned Colvin had stated Ceylon Tamils developed a defensive national interest, culminating in a 30-year war by militants.
A significant Tamil and Sinhala diaspora came out of conflicts in Sri Lanka and they are stored it in the same frame as what was in Sri Lanka. It is up to the government to govern with the nation’s interest at heart, that means respecting the Tamil people rights, and then the unbending theoretical segment of the diaspora will have no issues to contend with.
What Prez Anura had provided through his NPP is for him to ensure that a simple mathematics: two languages one nation theory, as Dr. de Siva had noted more than 60 years ago, is instilled in every Sri Lankan to respect. It will be an effective formula for the success of the nation. A true trilingual Sri Lanka with Sinhala , Tamil and English will be like quadrilingual Singapore in short order.
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SJ / December 4, 2024
True that one Colvin said those things in 1956.
Which Colvin drafted a constitution 16 years later that violated those things?
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Jit / December 5, 2024
“………..AS Dr. Colvin R. de Silva stated in 1956, two languages one nation or one language with two nations. ….”
But then he made Buddhism the state religion in his 1972 constitution! That piece of useless s**t was the foundation to the three decades of modern ethnic violence and terrorism started by by PLOTE, LTTE etc with the killing of Duraiappa in 1975.
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SJ / December 5, 2024
J
What you say is INACCURATE
“Buddhism is not the state religion of Sri Lanka, but it is given a “foremost place” in the country’s constitution”
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Jit / December 6, 2024
SJ, when we discuss crucial national issues, hiding behind a word is quite lame.
This is the definition of ‘foremost’ in Cambridge dictionary.
“…most important or best; leading:….”
Also, these are the synonyms given to the word:
“….principal, leading, main, preeminent, chief, head, paramount, supreme….”
Which part of those meanings you do not comprehend?
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davidthegood / December 3, 2024
AG, Med.Doc. congratulations for clearly stating the attitude that needs to be adopted by the Tamil brothers of this country, specially the diaspora wanting the western lifestyle and finances while yet wanting to be loyal to the home country. Really the whole world must unite instead of warring and producing profitable arms as well as groups needing to feel above the rest. Let sanity prevail in the coming generations.
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Thanga / December 3, 2024
Why speak only about the Tamil Diaspora? What about Sinhalese Dias[ora? Why did they leave Sri Lanka? Unity is fine, but it must be between equals, not between unequal.
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SJ / December 4, 2024
Are Tamils of different castes equal?
Are Hill Country Tamils and N&E Tamils equal?
Could they be united?
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Thanga / December 3, 2024
The author of the article has made an appeal to the Tamil Diaspora to return to their country of birth. Many will gladly do so if they are treated with equality and dignity. They compare the freedoms and rights prevalent in the West compared to what you get in their country of birth.
In Canada, for example, more than 100 different ethnicities live in amity and peace. The country’s religious and ethnocultural diversity is welcomed and not spurned. According to the 2020 General Social Survey, 92.0% of the population aged 15 and older agreed that ethnic or cultural diversity is a Canadian value. In fact, in Canada diversity and inclusiveness are taken for granted. It is a tremendous source of strength.
In Canada fundamental rights like (a) freedom of conscience and religion; (b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press; (c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and (d) freedom of association are not only enshrined in the constitution, they are also practised in everyday life.
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Ajith / December 4, 2024
“Many will gladly do so if they are treated with equality and dignity.”
What prevents Tamils to come gladly?
1. Tamils were branded as Terrorists. Even a person who gave food to his son (LTTE) can be considered as Terrorist. Almost 95% of Tamils of Sri Lanka should come under this category. Tamils who gave funds for LTTE is a terrorist. Almost 95% Tamils who were chased away from Sri Lanka come under this category. There is nothing to hide Tamils supported LTTE because it is fought against Buddhist Sinhala Fundamentalist Terrorism. If that is wrong why Sri Lanka had negotiations with LTTE about a political solution for nearly 30 years? Now the war is over? LTTE is gone. But Tamils still asking for their rights? Why? Why still PTA? Why the Military still hold their lands?
Why 95% of Military is Sinhala speaking? Why still 95% Sinhala only Government?
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SJ / December 4, 2024
“Almost 95% Tamils who were chased away from Sri Lanka come under this category.”
That will exclude most of the Tamils living abroad, especially in the West. Many went of their own will and even spent money to go. True, many left for fear of some kind. “Chased away” is a different category.
It is more appropriate to the Muslims of the North whom the LTTE expelled at very short notice..
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Ajith / December 5, 2024
“Many went of their own will and even spent money to go.”
It is good that you acknowledge that Tamils used their money instead of state money by your gota exported Karuna using state passport.
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leelagemalli / December 4, 2024
“There is nothing to hide Tamils supported LTTE because it is fought against Buddhist Sinhala Fundamentalist Terrorism.”
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It is absolutely wrong to interpret that the srilanken tamils supported the Tigers.
Not all Tamils in Sri Lanka supported them, and similarly, not all Sinhalese who supported Sinhala-Buddhist dominated nationalism inside and outside the country.
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You should be very careful not to blame everyone just because you are not informed enough to see it broadly.
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Without broader knowledge to draw conclusion can only create new form of clashes between communities. I dont think people as a whole today wish any civil war to be back.
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Also, not everyone in the South supported the JVP/NPP in those days because they were against the “JVP-terrorist activities”. As a result, there are still mothers today whose sons were brutally murdered in the 89-92 insurgency who still do not feel like supporting the JVP.
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I personally knew hundreds of Tamil immigrants in Germany, Switzerland and other European destinations in the mid-90s. As an expatriate srilanken, I have been mingling with tamil srialnkens from early 90ties onwards. Most of them are just “economic-refugees” comparablly other folks that sought greener pastures abusing the “political situation in a country whhere CIVIL war occures”:
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SJ / December 4, 2024
“Many will gladly do so if they are treated with equality and dignity.”
They will return for a holiday at best. They are used to different ways of life.
Most of those in Colombo would not return Jaffna, despite the miserable life they lead in Colombo.
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Tony / December 3, 2024
Thamil Nadu is the only answer!
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Tamil political parties, foreign governments, LTTE terrorist organisation, local cher’ch and international organisations should take accountability for the 30 year LTTE terrorism that have cost the Sinhala economy more than $1 trillion, the loss of 100000 Sinhala lives, and other indirect damages Sinhalese have suffered.
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So you are telling bogus Tamil refugee diaspora to be more cunning, instead of being straightforward with their ridiculous demands.
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There are more 110 million Tamil language speakers scattered around the world today. What you need to do is to bring them all together and liberate Tamil Nadu from 1ndia. You will never be able to steal a piece of the Sinhalese’s land. Read the Mahawansa History Book to know why.
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Thanga / December 3, 2024
What about the bogus Sinhalese Diaspora? The Tamils were in Sri Lanka long before the arrival of Vijayan in BC543. He was not a Sinhalese, but a Saivite Hindu from Bengal/Orrisa. His descendants inter-mixed with the Nagas, the dominant tribe at that time. These Nagas who embraced Buddhism in the 3rd century in due course – about the 7th and 8th centuries – took the identity of Sinhalese. The fact that the present-day Sinhalese are descendants of Hindu Nagas/Tamils is borne by the fact that Sinhalese celebrate the Hindu New Year as Sinhala New Year even now.
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Thanga / December 3, 2024
Canada is a constitutional monarchy, but a parliamentary democracy, founded on the rule of law and respect for rights and freedoms.
Now compare this with what prevails in Sri Lanka. The present government came to power on the promise to abolish the infamous PTA. But now it says there is nothing wrong with the law itself, but it was misused for political reasons. It is using the PTA to arrest an individual who had the photograph of the LTTE leader uploaded on his Facebook.
If JVP can commemorate the “martyrdom” of its founder Rohana Wijeweera, who launched two unsuccessful armed revolts to capture power, why call Prabhakaran who fought for an independent Tamil Eelam a terrorist? Logically, if Prabhakaran is a terrorist so is Wijeweera! The latter would have ascended the throne through the ballot not bullet. But Prabhakaran had no such choice.
The JVP has a long and sordid record of anti-Tamil policy. They opposed the Indo-Ceylon pact, the 13A Amendment, and the P-Tom agreement, recruited over 60,000 Sinhala youths to the army and even went so far as to ask the government to use chemical weapons against the LTTE at the closing stages of the war.
Like the previous governments the JVP which claims it is a Marxist-oriented party has rejected UNHRC Resolution 50/1 to shield Sri Lankan officials accused of human rights abuses.
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SJ / December 4, 2024
How well does Canada treat its First Nations?
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SJ / December 5, 2024
Embarrassing question I guess.
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