Udaya Gammanpila
In an interview given to the Daily News of 24.04.14, Western Provincial Council minister Udaya Gammanpila has taken issue with a statement of the National Peace Council with regard to Provincial Councils in the North and East. He has quoted from the NPC statement that “although the government has held elections in the Northern Provincial Council, it is useless unless the Council is allowed to function without undue interference from the centre”.
He says “I challenge NPC activists to name any powers which the center has withheld from the Northern Provincial Council that are enjoyed by the other Provincial Councils” and goes on as follows: “They say that a measure of autonomy must be given to the Tamils. This is to allude that Provincial Councils have no autonomy. All the Provincial Councils in the country, including the Northern Provincial Council have autonomy in regard to their administration,” he adds.
The NPC wishes to reply to this challenge by Mr. Udaya Gammanpila regarding the actual devolution of power to the PCs and to name any powers which the centre has withheld from the Northern Provincial Council that are enjoyed by the other PCs.
Although on paper the same powers are devolved to all Provincial Councils those in the former North-East Provincial Council and the present Northern Provincial Council have been stultified in their functioning by the manner in which the Governors of these two provinces have used their powers with respect to these two Provincial Councils (the former North –East and later Eastern Provincial Council) and the Northern Provincial Council. Unlike the manner in which the Governors have functioned in the South where they have played a largely passive role and allowed the Chief Ministers and the Councils to function as per their initiative, the Governors in the former North Eastern Provincial Council and later in Eastern and the Northern Provincial Councils have stymied the legislative and executive powers of these Provincial Councils.
There are several ways of blocking statute making by the Provincial Councils.
1. Receiving assent of the Governor is delayed withholding implementation of a statute. A quoted example is as follows: It is reported said that the Eastern Provincial Council (EPC hereafter) introduced a draft Bill to set up a Tourism Authority for the province, on the lines of similar Statute passed in the Southern Provincial Council. Since Tourism was a Concurrent subject, the draft statute had to be sent to Parliament in the first instance for its views. Parliament expressed certain views and the EPC decided to incorporate some of them in a redrafted statute. It was not mandatory under the law for the Provincial Council to accept the views of Parliament. It could even reject all the views expressed by Parliament. But the Provincial Council redrafted the draft statute accommodating the views of Parliament and sent it again to the Governor for his recommendation. The procedure stipulated in the Provincial Councils Act No 42 of 1987, is to first obtain the recommendation of the Governor prior to introducing any Bill to the PC vide Section 24(1) of the Provincial Councils Act. (This Section strictly refers to matters involving taxation and money matters). But the Governor insisted that he would not give his recommendation unless the draft was in line with the views of Parliament. With regard to this draft Statute on Tourism the Governor took up the position that it exceeded the scope of the Provincial Council and is in conflict with the powers of the central government ( despite a similar Statute already passed by the “Southern Provincial Council) and wanted the Bill referred to Parliament a second time to get its concurrence. But the law requires only consultation [Art. 154G () (5) (b)] and not the concurrence of Parliament. In the first instance Parliament took up the position that the statute had to be redrafted and that the EPC should not pass the Statute in that form. This was done but there was no necessity for the EPC to consult Parliament the second time to get its concurrence as decided by the Governor. The draft Statute was not allowed.
2. The Governors in the North and East are also insisting that before any devolved subject or function is implemented by a Provincial Council it must necessarily pass its own Statute after obtaining the recommendation of the Governor and then after passing it in the Provincial Council, obtain the assent of the Governor. But the Provincial Councils Act was an enabling Act to facilitate the provisions of the 13th Amendment to be given effect to. There was also the Provincial Councils (Consequential Provisions) Act No. 12 of 1989. which empowered Provincial Ministers in the same manner as the national level Ministers in respect of laws passed before the setting up of the Provincial Councils where the subjects and functions and been devolved to the Provincial Councils. So a Provincial Council was required to pass a Statute only to regulate the manner in which a particular function of a Provincial Council, not provided for earlier, was to be carried out. But it is reported that in practice the Governor is insisting on such a Statute for every exercise of power by the Provincial Councils referred to, despite the Consequential Provisions Act. He is also exercising his discretion in recommending or giving assent to any such draft Statute.
3. The 13th Amendment provides that if the Governor is unwilling to assent to any Statute approved by the Provincial Council he should send it back to the Provincial Council for reconsideration and amendment by the Provincial Council and if it is passed a second time he must either give his assent or refer it to the President to be referred to the Supreme Court to determine its constitutionality. He has no other option. But the Governor of the EPC chose to keep a statute with him and effectively disallow it by default. This is an unwarranted exercise of power to nullify the powers of the Provincial Council. The Governor is also required to give his assent to Statutes passed by the Provincial Council before it can come to force (Article 154H) and he could therefore withhold his assent.
4. Even if the Statute is sent to the President after passage for the second time the Governor can obstruct its passage by delaying its sending to effectively by-pass the one month stipulation in the Constitution [Article 154H (4)]. That would stop the President from referring it to the Supreme Court.
5. Agrarian Services and Minor Irrigation taken over by the Centre:
It would stand to reason that minor irrigation works and rural development activities should be logically with the PC and even the Pradeshiya Sabhas. This is particularly relevant for the Dry Zone where the Agrarian Services play an important role. It was so in the beginning of the operations of the Provincial Councils up to 1990. But the Centre in 1990 appointed the Provincial level Agrarian Service Commissioners as Additional Commissioners of Agrarian Services of the central government department and paid them an extra allowance. This was followed by passing an administrative order which brought all the employees of the Agrarian Services Department at the provincial level to be part of the central government Department of Agrarian Services. In 1994, in a case brought up in the Provincial High Court of the Central Province, the Court held that the subject of agrarian services which includes mirror irrigation was not a devolved subject. This matter was challenged subsequently before the Supreme Court in the case of Madduma Bandara vs. The Assistant Commissioner of Agrarian Services. The Supreme Court held in 2003 that agrarian services was a devolved subject and directed the High Court of the Central Province to hear the case and determine it. The Court included the Chief Justice Sarath Silva and Justice Shirani Bandaranayake. But the Central Government has disregarded this judgment of the Supreme Court and continues to keep the subject under its control. With these proceedings of the Courts on one side the Centre under the guise of laying down national policy on the rights of tenant cultivators, repealed the existing Agrarian Services Act No. 58 of 1979 as amended by Act No. 4 of 1991 and enacted the Agrarian Development Act No. 46 of 2000. The EPC prepared its own Agrarian Services Statute in 2011 and submitted it to the Governor for his recommendation. He refused to recommend the same stating that the Statute of the EPC was inconsistent with the Agrarian Development Act. The EPC thereupon amended the long title of its statute stating that the statute was to be consistent with national policy and submitted the same for the Governor’s recommendation. This was not given.
6. In another instance, the EPC passed the Chief Minister’s Fund statute twice and sent it to the Governor for assent, who in turn referred that Statute to the President to be referred to the Supreme Court as per the provisions of the law (Article 154H(4). But the President did not refer it to the Supreme Court even though this referral to the Supreme Court is a requirement of the Constitution.
Mr. Udaya Gammanpila seems to be unaware of the several studies done by local scholars and by international institutions like the UNDP on the functioning of the Provincial Councils particularly the former North-Eastern Provincial Council. There are several such studies such as
1. Special Report of the First National conference on the Devolution Experience published by Centre for Regional Development Studies
2. Sri Lanka’s System of Provincial Councils :The Second Phase –a Joint Study by Professor G.T Leitan, Dr Shirani Bandaranayake and V. N Sivarajah
3. Sri Lanka Year 2000- Devolution, Democracy and Development
4. Capacity Building for Fiscal Devolution in Sri Lanka ( UNDP Sri Lanka SRL/97/20
5. The Centre for Policy Alternatives has also published case studies of the North Eastern Provincial Council.
Indra / May 1, 2014
So long as the President is determined to treat as enemy territory the geographical area falling within the governance of the Northern Provincial Council, the work the Council is mandated / expected to do will be sabotaged. As explained by the National Peace Council this is what has been happening. The legal framework within which the Provincial Council system works, requires the Governor to cooperate with the NPC. He, thinking of himself as the implement of sabotage on behalf of His Excellency (sarcasm) the President, has withheld his cooperation to ensure that no development work proposed by the Council will go forward. This should be clear to any patriotic citizen.
The President is the traitor to the country. Gammanpila is his cksukr. He has no business talking about this matter concerning the Northern Provincial Council. The Peace Council should ignore him.
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Sunil Mohan / May 1, 2014
Are you still talking even after that young lady trampled you to second place. Next turn will garbage bin . Shut your mouth if you are not really aware of what is happening
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wathie / May 2, 2014
Gammanpila was third (116,144) in manape list in 2009 PC election. It was Duminda that top the list. This time Gamaya has become number two (115,637) in manape. Just 507 votes less than last time.
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Davidson Panabokke / May 1, 2014
‘’According to complaints made, in the Eastern PC and NPC the Constitution works in the opposite direction! The CMs have become non-entities! In the Southern PC, the CM is ‘The Man’ because political homogeneity exists between the center and the periphery’’ – Administrative Failure In The North, Austin Fernando, 20 April 2014, http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2014/04/20/administrative-failure-in-the-north/
http://www.llrc.lk/images/stories/docs/Harim%20Peiris.pdf
Submission by Harim Peiris to LLRC, 7 October 2010:
”If General and Presidential Elections can be held in the North and the East it is impossible to argue that the Northern Provincial Council’s elections need to be delayed any further. However, I would also respectfully submit that the frustrations experienced by the elected Chief Minister of the Eastern Province – incidentally an ethnic Tamil, in relation to the unelected Governor – incidentally a retired Sinhala Military Officer should not be allowed to be repeated in the North, if devolution is to be meaningful, and indeed such issues should be resolved, in the East.”
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Davidson Panabokke / May 1, 2014
”Though provincial council elections were held in the north and east of the country, in effect the two governors of the north and east from the military and the extremely dense security forces present in the form of uniformed, plain clothed and para-militaries and reservists appear to govern that province” – Is reconciliation achievable without separation in Sri Lanka? Lionel Bopage 1 May 2014, http://groundviews.org/2014/05/01/is-reconciliation-achievable-without-separation-in-sri-lanka/
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Park / May 1, 2014
This Gammanpilla is a spent force, he could not even get the highest number of preferential votes. He is a member of a Provincial Council which does not have the powers given to the PCs under the 13th Amendment. Without demanding the powers from the Center, he wants the NPC to follow his lost path of not having the powers given under the constitution. Sad state of affairs, he wants others to follow him as he himself could not achieve the powers and he does not want any one else achieving what he could not. Sign of a Great Looser!
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wathie / May 2, 2014
After being a minister in the WPC for almost four years, Gamaya held on to the votes he got in 2009. (This time 115,637 to last time 116,144) That’s hardly a sign of a spent force. Do not forget that Gamaya had no posters or banners.
I too gave Gamaya Rs 100 and my vote for he set an example to others by controlling his election spending and keeping our environment free from ugly posters.
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David / May 2, 2014
This fool is a part of “Low, Dishonest Governance” [Edited out]
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Punitham / May 1, 2014
Thank you, Jehan
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Silva / May 1, 2014
This Gembanpilaya has no title to speak on important matters like these. His only ability is to wash dirty linen of the Rajapakshas and uttering nonsense and showing off his ignorance. If anybody cares to notice when this bugger speaks he never deals with facts but evades facts by throwing in an awful lot of irrelevant gibberish escapes. This wanker lives on words and not on facts. Those who follow him will end up with lot of empty and hollow arguments and assertions and nothing concrete, factual or real. One can vividly imagine the funny drama this clownish fucker enacted leading up to the recent elections where GOTA, the crimes and criminal protector of the country connived on his election stage and then did all the hilarious things to justify the malpractice; and another of the same typed stanching act was the begging of 100 bucks from the voters on the pretext of election campaign which is totally anti-democratic and tantamount to bribery and election malpractice. The bugger weaved a web of lies to futilely cover his wrong doing which must be investigated when an another administration is set up.
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Native Vedda / May 1, 2014
Silva
“His only ability is to wash dirty linen of the Rajapakshas and uttering nonsense and showing off his ignorance.”
Someone has to do the cleaning.
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David / May 2, 2014
Native Vedda
U can do that job Cleaning!!!!
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Native Vedda / May 2, 2014
David
“U can do that job Cleaning!!!!”
If you haven’t noticed, thats what I have been trying to do in this forum.
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Sirimal / May 2, 2014
Great one:)
Greetings, Grüsse Dich wie immer, Sirimal (Switzerland).
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Native Vedda / May 2, 2014
Sirimal
Thanks for your greetings
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Antipatros / May 5, 2014
Hail Native!!! you snipoffed the Devil Pembokka out of his tail.
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Pisistrates / May 5, 2014
Panbog, do you always shit in a sock and spin it off?
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mechanic / May 2, 2014
The TNA leaders, I mean LTTE proxies have been washing terrorist Velu’s dirty linen even after he was drowned in Nanthikadal with the rest of his gang. TNA buggers compete each other to whitewash all LTTE human bomb blasts, assassinations and murders for so so long, I cannot even find how many they have killed or for how long they have been on killing spree. Yet you buggers elected the terrorist proxies as MPs. Amazing, you want us to give NPC police and land powers.
Derana news line today says: ‘LTTE getting diaspora funds – US’. And it tells us exactly where you buggers stand and what you’re up to. Rajapakse stands like a ton of bricks and keep you buggers in bay. That’s why he gets elected. And it is the likes of Gamaya that backs him to the hilt. No wonder you hate them so much.
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kali / May 2, 2014
Mechanic:
When the CRIMINAL Mahintha is summoned to Chennai he can take a few bricks with him and you the collie can carry it for him as I am sure you are used to lifting heavy stuff.
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Mukunda ki Mukda / May 5, 2014
Karlie, write the Verb Makinda in Sinhala Maa-Hinda not in Tamil Makkuintha.
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Mannie / May 2, 2014
Silva,
He got elected by adhiring to the election laws, without printing posters for making cutouts. Before making such harsh comments please see whether he has done any malpractises during his last term as a minister in WP. Did he engage in mud-slinging during the campaign? Has he awarded any contracts (to his ‘supporters’) without following proper procedures. I am not sure why you are angry about his Rs 100 pledge. He is started a new culture where openness in political campaigns.
He worked with the facilities he has got rather than winghing about what he has not. That is what NPC has to learn from him. Its no point in blaming the darkness. Its better to light a single lamp
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Silva / May 3, 2014
Mannie,
The rogues in the regime employ various tactics to steal the votes. Since they have exhausted other methods this time they adopted this “good governance and green” ruse to catch the gullible fools like you. And it worked! That is why you are here protecting the rogue tooth and nail!
In our rural areas there is a practice of concocting a plate of every imaginable evil palatable thing called the “peretha thatuwa” to invoke evil spirits for exorcism. This Gembanpilaya is a particular variety on that Peretha Thatuwa appealing to loonys like you. This Gemba ultimately reinforces and establishes the evil familial rule of MARA. A golden tooth in a carcass would not ornament the lives of the living but will be buried en masse with the rot. Hitler’s train driver was not spared saying he was not responsible for the mayhem but only drove the train. In the same way this white suite wearing bastard carries the blood of the crimes the regime commits in his hands. Your moronic arguments will not save the day for him when it comes to pay day.
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Kettikaran / May 2, 2014
The predominantly Buddhist Sinhala Govt. of the Rajapakses have absolutely no interest in sharing or providing any meaningful sharing of power with the majority Tamil areas of the North and East. CM/NPC Vigneswaren and the TNA know this all too well. The Rajapakse quisling Pillaiyan mentioned this several times when he was CM/EP. The Rajapakse survival with the racial Sinhala South is largely dependent on how very little they share with the Tamil NEP – notwithstanding the more than 80% endorsement to the TNA. The occasional reference to “minor concessions” here and there by the Rajapakses was merely to please India, the UN and the world. Udaya G is one more “lawyer” – said to have passed out from an Aussie University – in the ranks of the demagogic JHU whose knowledge of the law can be written on the back of a 50cts stamp.
It is learnt today the BJP is likely to gain over 310 seats in the current Indian General Elections, which is well above the magic 275. If this comes by there will be a different face of democracy in Sri Lanka after June 2014. The Rajapakses are counting on their own shill in Delhi – Subramaniam Swamy – to be in the Modi Cabinet to cushion matters. This will also mean Jay Lolita will be obliged to Modi and will do his bid although the BJP, according to the same source, will gain only around 8 of the 39 Lok Sabha seats from Tamilnadu.
Kettikaran
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Banda / May 2, 2014
Kettikaran,
So, you guys have put all your eggs in Modis basket and hope he’ll reset Eelam button for you. Marvelous!
I am telling you, you wouldn’t know what hits you when Modi comes to power. You should know that Modi is a very strong believer of one India and hence a no fool to forget the track record of DMK parties, progenies of Periyar.
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Srihari / May 2, 2014
There is too much hype sorrounding Modi(no doubt he is an accomplished administrator responsible for Gujrat’s tremendous growth) and I guess he is gonna follow Vajpayee foreign policy – no weapons export to SL. For Modi to take decisive action vis-a-vis SL there has to be public support in India and I’m afraid with the exception of TN rest of India is immune to the happenings in SL. Blame TN politicians for failing to build neccessary public support in rest of India(majority of people in India still believe LTTE=TAMILS). The Indian media unfortunately is not supportive to plight of the tamils and I for the life of me cannot understand why the highly infuential Centre-left ‘The Hindu’ still root for the Govt of SL and bats for united SL and it makes even worse when ‘The Hindu’ root for a seperate Palestiane state.
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Native Vedda / May 2, 2014
Kettikaran
“It is learnt today the BJP is likely to gain over 310 seats in the current Indian General Elections, which is well above the magic 275 If this comes by there will be a different face of democracy in Sri Lanka after June 2014.”
If I were you I wouldn’t bet on BJP. You have failed to study two faces of the same BJP.
“The Rajapakses are counting on their own shill in Delhi – Subramaniam Swamy – to be in the Modi Cabinet to cushion matters.”
Note MR has appointed highly respected Prof Sudharshan Seneviratne as the next High Commissioner to India. Probably MR wants him to rewrite the history of this island.
High Commissioner Prasad Kariyawasam a few months ago unconvincingly tried to play the North South card. He claimed during a public broadcast the Sinhala people are north Indian descendants.
Lets see what Prof Sudharshan Seneviratne has to say about the North South divide in India as well as this island.
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Mohammed / May 3, 2014
Native,
Your potential employer, the former diplomut and self appointment historian (or rather his-storian) Mr. Bandu de Silva has written several articles in Lanka Web against the appointment of Prof Sudharshan Seneviratne as the next High Commissioner to India.
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Native Vedda / May 4, 2014
Mohammed
Bandu (I affectionately call him) never gets to the point.
See another article on the same subject
” What makes a good ambassador to India?”
by Amarasiri de Silva, PhD on Lanka Web.
Bandu has not recovered from his olden days. When old codgers become irrelevant they make lot more noise than necessary.
Does he want the job for himself? Hindians don’t need another parripu drop before they invade this island.
I like him.
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Mahinda Wijesekara / May 2, 2014
This Gammanpila is a person who goes to Kade for Government, He supports all the corruption of Government, but act as a protector of Sinhala/Buddishm, I am a Sinhal Buddist but wht this fellow do is an emabarrasment to our nation and religoin, they will do anything fo money, See the face cunning sacarstic look. Must be chased away
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ela kolla / May 2, 2014
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2/
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Ranmal de Mel / May 2, 2014
The recourse surely is, for the two PC’s to file an action in the supreme court to challenge the Governors intransigence or any other other questionable behaviour of the Governor. The sad truth is that the EPC is a puppet of the Government Is the NPC also following suit? Be proactive for a change instead of moaning about the plight of the Tamils.
Insulting Mr. Gamanpila and questioning his legitimate right to express his views,however obnoxious his political beliefs maybe, is denying him his democratic right to freedom of speach. A value espoused by the Colombo Telegraph to such an extreme,that it allows near libelous comment to pass as seemingly truths.
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K.A Sumanasekera / May 2, 2014
Is this the same NPC which sent emissaries to counsel Gopi and his mates hiding in the jungles of NP which are under the NPC….?
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / May 2, 2014
Kettikaran,
This government is not Buddhist. It is pretending to be Buddhist. This pretence that started with SWRD’s government has increasingly diverged from the original Lankan Buddhism to what we see as BBS-Buddhism today. The latest CCTV video clipping of the Fasion Bug episode, shows a yellow-clad thug slapping a civilian. This is face of the political Buddhism practiced and propagated by the government of Sri Lanka. Let us not lump Lankan Buddhism with the rabies that is being spread by crooks and thugs. The majority who practice Lankan Buddhism are a decent and civilzed lot. This government does not represent them in spirit, but does so in name.
All Tamils were not Tigers and all Buddhists are not crooks and thugs. Please do not allienate the ordinary BUddhists and Sinhalese, as they are our natural allies, if we dare to cultivate their frienship.
Curse this government as much as you want, but do not call it Buddist.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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Native Vedda / May 2, 2014
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
“All Tamils were not Tigers and all Buddhists are not crooks and thugs. “
Don’t you think all Tamils and Sinhalese are stupid?
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Dr. Rajasingham Narendran / May 2, 2014
Native Veddah,
Thanks for making me pause to ponder. All Germans were not inherently Nazis and all Italians were not inherently fascists. However , two demagogues- Hitler and Mussolini- made them go along with their nasty ideologies and added an everlasting blot to the histories of two great peoples. There are very few Germans or Italians who would refer to Hitler or Mussolini today in a positive manner, despite their parents and grandparents fighting and dying for these stupid demagogues and embodiments of evil.
All the peoples of Sri Lanka are caught in a similar trap and have been rendered stupid by our own demagogues and evil geniuses. The Second World War helped liberate the Germans and Italians of their curse, while Eelam war fought as bitterly , has consolidated the power of one side of the evil equation, which is giving new life to the elements on the other side of the same equation.
We are stupid for cheering the one or the other side, without coming together to get rid of both. Something, should happen soon to wake us the people from our stupidity. If not all of us are doomed. Our stupidity is a temporary state, mesmerised as we are by the caddish demagoguery that surrounds us.
We need philosophers to lead us as Aristotle contemplated and not different manifestations of the pistol wielding and lifted-sarong thugs, as seen in Hambantota recently.
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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Palmyrah / May 5, 2014
Drr. Narendra Mod, Likewise all Tamils ane not necessarily veterinarians but Rednecks like their Sinhala cousins.
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mechanic / May 2, 2014
I always knew that kallathoni vedda is absolutely stupid.
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Michel Djotodia / May 5, 2014
Mechanically you are defunct, you ought to be in the junkyard, not in this forum.
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kali / May 2, 2014
Udaya:
First of all there has to be a recognition that we have two distinct races in Sri Lanka and that is the staring point. We are not interested in what powers other Councils have but for us being a minority the following are important .
1) Power to protect our Culture and Heritage which has stood for centuries.
2) Power to protect our land.
3) Live in security with our own Police force who are answerable to elected CM.
4) Power to develop our economy and create jibs so that we don’t have to go to the South to look for Jobs.
This is the minimum we require and if the Majority interpret is as a asking for Separation then so be it.
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Dr. Rajasingham Narendran / May 2, 2014
Kali,
We do not have two two distinct races in Sri Lanka. In fact the concept of races is an outmoded and discarded concept, What we have are two communities sharing a common genetic background, speaking two related languages and believing in almost the same religious principles . The Muslims who practice a religion different in many ways also share many common attributes with the other two.
Our discussions, debates and frequent invective, should be built on this stalk fact. Let us not perpetuate meaningless myths and cliched, in our pursuit of solutions. Pursuit of solution without accepting that we are two or three branches of the same tree, is akin to a situation where Abel and Caine chose to ignore the fact that they were the children of same parents- Adam and Eve. Our essential unity should not be ignored amidst our battle to establish a judicious and equitable political equation in Sri Lanka,
Dr.RN
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JimSofty / May 3, 2014
Totally agreed.
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Banda / May 2, 2014
Kali,
Whether you like it or not there are more Tamils in the South among Sinhalese than all the Tamils in the North and East put together. Besides, Tamils are the majority in Colombo, now. As far as I can see, all your listed four points have no meaning.
Majority Tamils chose to live among Sinhalese means they have chosen entire Sri Lanka to be their ‘Home Land’ not just the North or the North and East. And we haven’t seen neither JHU nor BBS nor RB nor had any other group nor did individuals object to that change of demography. And that shows JHU, BBS or RB and etc are not racists.
Tamil problem is, Eelamists cannot accept entire Sri Lanka is their home land and the composition of their community in it. The day they can accept that premise all the misunderstandings will vanish and problems will start to untangle.
I tend to agree with Dr RN that we have one nation and different communities in Sri Lanka but wonder whether Muslims can be in that nation for their Koran degrade non-Muslims as animals and also Muslims believe that the Koran is the word of Allah.
Anyway any effort to form a Bantu land will not help ‘establish a judicious and equitable political equation in Sri Lanka.’
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kali / May 3, 2014
Banda:
I dont know what your background is but you dont have to be a Rocket Scientist to work out the reason why the Tamils are in the South. That is because the Tamil Land has been deliberately starved of any investement since independance and the Tamil Land acounts for only 4% of the GDP. Now you know why the Tamils are in the South and they are like the Sinhalese maids in Saudi and other Arabs countries to earn a living to feed their families.
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Banda / May 3, 2014
Kali,
Since you were inquisitive about my background, perhaps I must tell you that I am simple Sinhala Buddhist who lives in a village. But you sure have a skewed view of Sri Lanka to say: “… they [Tamils] are like the Sinhalese maids in Saudi.”
Jaffna had the best schools and produced the best of the western type intellectuals in the country since 19th century to 1970s. They were mostly Tamils and the key administrators under the British Raj. During that time all Tamil leaders had their residences in Colombo and their money spinning businesses and properties in Colombo or its suburbs. For example, GGP had a massive rubber estate in Welikanna. Ramanathans had a massive coconut estate next to my father’s land. If Jaffna wasn’t developed ‘enough’ those leaders should be held responsible and not Sinhalas.
At least, Jaffna had few industries like the paper mill, cement mill and etc. The South and Uva had nothing of the sort. Not just northerners, southerners too had migrated to Colombo and suburbs as well for economic wellbeing. So, I take your saying lack of land in the North is the reason for Tamil migration to Colombo as a fib.
Tamils keep buying apartments and properties and increasingly engage in all types of businesses in Colombo. What more, if my cardiologist is Tamil, and pharmacist and tile supplier in Nugegoda is also Tamil. Such people, I gather, only visit Jaffna for a holiday. And that’s hardly like the Sinhalese maids in Saudi, is it.
After independence, Chelva promoted better demagoguery than GGP to become the leader of Tamils. I suspect the reason being Tamils realized they cannot become rulers after making the adult universal franchise into law. If Chelva wanted to develop the North, he should have bargained for a powerful position in the government. Not only Chelva hadn’t join the government but put obstacles for GGP to stay in the government and do something to the people of the North.
Chelva’s focus was not development of the North but autonomy, self-determination and whatever that could lead to the separation of the North. To achieve it, Chelva set Tamil mind on satyagraha first, agitations next and finally the violence. Just like Periyar and co of India, Chelva’s aim has been to promote separatism in Ceylon from the very outset.
Tamils let Chelva’s protégé or student, Velu and his terrorist LTTE become their sole representatives. They assisted him to carry on instructions as per Vaddukoddai resolution to the letter. We have drowned Velu and his gang in Nanadikadal. But we know his rump is hard at work looking for new roadmaps to Eelam.
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kali / May 3, 2014
Banda:
If proof was ever needed as to why we can never recocile our differences you have proved it beyond reasonable doubt. I can wait to get out of this unholy alliance. GOODBYE
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R. Varathan / May 4, 2014
I have second thoughts on Banda’s claim “Besides, Tamils are the majority in Colombo, now” This question has cropped up several times recently. There does not seem to be specific and accurate upto date latest data on the figures. But in my talks with officials in the CMC, Census Dept, some Think Tanks and other, Sinhalese continue to be the single large race in Colombo – City and the District. Combined Tamils and Muslims appear to be higher in the CMC limits.
I hope more competent readers will either confirm or clarify to the contrary – for the purpose of accuracy and records.
R. Varathan
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Safa / May 2, 2014
Gaman-peellay and his bespectabled aryan attired friends are Kabaragoyas when it comes to the NPC and matters regarding minorities. When it comes to matters in the South and WPC the become Thalgoyas and climb on the tress and roofs to hide.
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kali / May 2, 2014
Dr Narendran:
I take your point but I am sure you appreciate what I mean
The traditional definition of race and ethnicity is related to
biological and sociological factors respectively. Race refers to a person’s physical appearance, such as skin color, eye color, hair color, bone/jaw structure etc. Ethnicity, on the other hand, relates to cultural factors such as nationality, culture, ancestry, language and beliefs.
As for the your claim about the Common Genetic Background I beg to disagree as we are not born Killers but turned into killers for Survival. It was a reaction to an action and I make no apologies but agree that Buddhism and Hinduism have some similarities, but many things set us apart.
You are beginning to sound like loony Swami who has recently found out that Muslims and Hindus have a common heritage. His enlightenment is the result of having a wife who is a Parsi and a Son in law who is a Muslim and I don’t know what yours is.
Based on your theory what we had in Sri Lanka was not Race riots but Communal Riots and not Racial Hatred but Communal Hatred. In future I will remember to use these words.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / May 3, 2014
Kali,
Since you disagree with my comment on our common genetic background, I have pasted below my comment with the reference in another thread:
” OTC & Ken Roberts,
I spent all afternoon today reading Lanka Ranawana et al, article titled, Mitochondrial DNA history of Sri Lankan people: their relation within the island and with the Indian subcontinental population, Journal of Human Genetics(2014), 59,29-36, in Google, which both of you have referred to.
The results of this study involved different analysis involved the Veddas, Up-country Sinhalese, Low-country Sinhalese, Sri Lankan Tamils and the Indian Tamils in the island. The Muslims were not sampled in this study.
Their most important results with minimal scientific jargon are:
1. The Vedda population was genetically separated from other Sri Lankan ethnic counterparts.
2. Two Vedda subgroups were intermingled with the Sinhalese, both Up-country and Low-country, but not with any of the Tamils.
3. The genetic matrix in which the Tamil and Sinhalese subgroups , that cannot be clearly separated from each other, were observed towards the major branch of the Lankan genetic tree, with the majority of the Vedda people towards the other.
4. Interestingly, some Sinhalese groups were relatively closer to the a Tamils than to the rest of the Sinhala subgroups.
5. Another analysis of the same data also showed that the majority of the Sinhala and Tamil subgroups form close genetics proximities among themselves.
6. The Up-country Sinhalese are genetically closer to the Sri Lankan Tamils.
7. Sri Lankan subgroups were closer to each other, when compared to Indian Tamils.
8. All the Sinhalese and Tamil subgroups intermingle well with the majority of the Indian subcontinental populations forming a large genetic matrix.
9. However, the Indian Tamils were separated from the rest of Sri Lankan subgroups, with only two exceptions.
10. This is further strengthening of the hypothesis that Indian Tamils are genetically distinct from the rest of the Sri Lankan ethnic groups.
11. Up-country Sinhalese, Low-country Sinhalese and Sri Lankan Tamils exhibited similar frequencies of Haploid group M.
12. A package of Indian-specific mitochondrial DNA harbouring a coalescent age of about 50,000- 70,000 years, were present in the ethnic populations of Sri Lanka.
13. Haplogroup U2 was found in all studied populations, with its marked high frequency observed in Sri Lankan Tamils.
14. The western Eurasian contribution to the Sri Lankan maternal gene pool was 19.4 %.
This study is one step in advance of Kshatriya’s study and has more clarity. Future research can only clarify matters further. In view of these studies should we be discussing , debating and wrangling over which community has the greatest claim to the ownership of Sri Lanka?
How would the likes of Gunadasa Amarasekera and and Nalin Silva react to these facts? Have they historical, archeological and literary records to prove what the situation was 50,000 – 70,000 years back? What will Dayan say now about his Sinhala nation only theory? What will both the Sibhalese and Tamils say about their claimed genetic uniqueness?
How will we all try to build a Sri Lankan nation on the premise that we are the same people genetically, who came through the Indian mainland from a journey that began in East Africa millions of years ago, to establish ourselves in the Lanka of old and further evolve over the millennia. This study is also case for us to endeavour to make our essential genetic unity a basis to accommodate our present and very superficial cultural diversity.
I hope sense prevail and nonsense dissipates.”
On google if you type the words ‘The genetics of Sinhalese and Tamils in Sri Lanka’ yu will find the full paper.
Once you read my summary above or the full publication, please let me know whether you agree that the Sinhalese and Tamils share a common genetic heritage. The Sri Lankan Tamils appear to be also less mixed with other inputs and clearly unrelated South Indian Tamils.
Dr.RN
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kali / May 4, 2014
Dr Narendran:
I have enormous respect for you and would love to agree that the Sinhalese and Tamils share a common genetic heritage. But if what you say is indeed true why do the 20 million Racist Sinhalese hate the Tamils.
You might say this is a family at war but my friend we have been at war for centuries and that will never change.
My best friend is Sinhalese and we have been friends for over 40 years and what he said to me after 2009 shocked me. He said to me you have lost the War and now you have to take orders from us. That is not the reaction of someone who shares a common heritage.
Going by the track record I am convinced that we are two different people and we dont have anything in common of any significane that unites us and it is no use pretending.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / May 4, 2014
Dear Kali,
All the Sinhalese do not hate the Tamils. This is a very superficial assumption and cliche. I witnessed how the ordinary Sinhalese and Buddhist temples responded to the needs of the Tamil IDPs in 2009. It was spontaneous and overwhelming. Every Sinhala village participatedin this effort.
They-the Sinhalese- are impotent in the face of what the various governments have done. They are also facing the consequences of this impotence now. The Tamils too made a mistake initially to attribute their problems to the Sinhala people, instead of to the various governments. This mistake continues to this day. The Sinhalese are our natural allies and we have to cultivate their support for our cause. We have to talk to them and not at them!
Further, if you study the more recent sociological and political scene in Sri Lanka, you will note that the recent converts to the Sinhala identity have been the most vociferous Sinhala extremists. The Rajapakses who quite visibly have a very high content of the Malay/Indonesians in them, are the current flag bearers of virulent Sinhala-Buddhism. The likes Nilaperumalge Bandaranaike, Marakkala Mudiyansalege Jayawardene, K.M.P. Rajaratne (a Konar), Cyril Mathew (a Malayalee), were some of their predeccessors.
New converts are always more zealous than the old practitioners. They have to prove they are more of whatever they claim to be than the older practitioners. If not, they will have no success in poltics.
The people have not been at war for centuries. It was only the Kings and Chieftains who were at war with each other. The people played the role of foot soldiersand paid the ultimateprice, as in any stupid war.
Please do not generalise on the basis of what individuals say. The Sinhalese had reasons to hate the LTTE, as much as many Tamils had. When successive governments succeeded in equating all Tamils with the LTTE, it was natural that many Sinhalese felt triumphant in May’2009.
Many Tamils also cheered, when the LTTE won some battles, massacred retreating soldiers (eg. Elephant Pass) and practiced indiscriminate terrorism. This was a mob reaction as much as it is with the Sinhalese. The comments in CT refer to the Sinhalese fequently as Modayas. Is this right and acceptable inn this day and age. Is it not true that the Tamils have been rendered the MODAYAS by the Sinhala political establishment?
Adjectives, however colourful they are, will not solve our problems!
Abel and Caine were the children of Adam and Eve. Did they not fight each, despite their common genetic heritage. In the Mahabharatha, relatives fought each other to death, in a futile war that resulted in the inability to concede even five houses to the Pandawas!
These stories depict the pitiable heritage from our evolutionary history. It is the animal in man that makes us do many things. We have not got rid of it yet. The need to dominate and desire to become the alpha-male/female is inherent in us. Collectively, this leads to conflicts such as ours.
Unless we struggle to think and act at a higher plane, expected of us as humans, our problems will remain unsolved. We need a Mohandas Gandhi or a Martin Luther King (Jr)tp lead is to this plane. We will, regrettably, not do it by ourselves
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
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Anpu / May 4, 2014
Dr RN,
I agree with Kali more than with you.
What do we do now or next?
War ended 5 years ago. People in N& E are suffering http://assistrr.org/
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kali / May 4, 2014
Dr.Narendran:
I agree that not all the Sinhalese hate Tamils but sadly those who hate us outnumber those who dont ( I hasten to add they dont love us) by 80 to 1. Why else do you think that the Race Card is a potent weapon in Sinhala Lanka to win elections. Why do you think Ranil is in the wilderness and actions speak louder than words.
I have a different experience about the Sinhalse helping Tamils during Race riots. My uncle was stabbed by Sinhalese mobs and when he was taken to the Hospital they followed him and threatened the Hospital staff from saving him and he died. What I have is utter contempt for the Racist Sinhalese who are the Majority and please wake up to that fact and it is no use pretending otherwise. I am no Jesus to turn my other cheek and what I have on my mind is revenge for Racist.
I perfectly understand why you hate the LTTE and just like you cant convince me to love Racist Sinhalese I cant convince you to like LTTE. It is each others perrogative based on personal experience. For me I will use any one and anything to restore Tamil rights NO MORE TAMIL BLOOD.
There is a saying my enimies enemy is my best friend.
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Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / May 4, 2014
Dear Kali,
You have a right to feel bitter about what you have experienced. I yet feel the hurt from the episode where my mother and brother were murdered by the IPKF. I however do not hate the Indians. I understood with time that the LTTE precipitated that incident. I however do not hate the LTTE either. I wanted the LTTE out because of the realisation that they were not equipped to deliver what the Tamils needed most -liberty to attain their full potential as humans. I did not want theTamils to fall from a pot of 60C water into a pan of boiling oil.
We are caught in a complicated web of evil in Sri Lanka. Individual strands cannot be isolated and hated. Gandhi did not hate the British, because of the punishments and humiliations they inflicted on him. However, his enormous capacity to transcend hate, won him the adoration of the Indian masses and the British people, who mattered most.
I do not want to be perceived as patronising, but as a fellow Tamil, who has experienced what you have and probably a little more, I venture to say that ‘ Hate’ should not be the basis on which we should seek solutions to our problems in Sri Lanka.
I hope you will pardon me for trespassing into what is your personal domain. It is only a thought of an old man, who has seen the results of hate, the world over in my life time and have learnt of its result in history.
Dr.RN
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Native Vedda / May 5, 2014
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
Hatred drains one’s energy and make them more stupider than one is expected of.
There is also another problem with DNA sharing Tamils and Sinhalese which is their ability to rage on a 24/07/52 basis.
Being Tamils and Sinhalese they are in an advantageous position. They could blame each other for events their forefathers did or did not do until the cows come home. The are not coming home.
Most stupid Sinhalese and and their equally stupid Tamil brethren are determined to drag their future generations into oblivion, with large doses of parochial nationalism and culture of greed.
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Dr. Rajasingham Narendran / May 5, 2014
Dear Native Veddah,
You are absolutely right. Could not have been said better. Is it our genetic curse or is it the curse of the type of democracy we practice in a nation of Sinhala/ Tamil only literate, patient, timid, but largely uneducated people and third rate politicians with big mouths, bottomless pockets, unfathomable greed, no scruples, power hungry and of course with no idea of what democracy means? A very bad combination that cannot pave the way for vibrant and in-depth democracy. I think it has less to do with our genes, but with how we have been educated and governed in the past five decades. We are people benumbed by violence, cowed by politicians and of course ignorant of our rights as a people. A third rate media, largely controlled by the state has also contributed to our present pathetic plight. The tele drama culture has keep us tranquillised and less sensitive to the realities around us. Of course the cost of books and illiteracy in English has made us frogs in the well, who take pride in our unique ignorance.
Dr.RN
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Off the Cuff / May 5, 2014
Dear Kali,
According to an old genetic study by Dr Kshatriya (1995) the Sinhalese are the parent stock of the Lanka Tamils. According to the latest genetic study (2013) the Lanka Tamils do not have any genetic connection with the Indian Origin Tamils of Lanka. We know that the I.O. Tamils of Lanka are from South India. Hence obviously the Lanka Tamils are not from South India.
Not all children of the same parent are alike. You are indeed fighting your own family. Just like Dr RN said, we are branches of the same tree. You may disregard all scientific evidence and claim that the Earth is flat but it is round not withstanding your beliefs.
Re. “You might say this is a family at war but my friend we have been at war for centuries and that will never change”
For centuries, until the Eelam war, we have not been at war. But if you are referring to riots then we have had riots but for centuries we had ethnic harmony between the Sinhalese and Tamils which was broken only in 1939.
However there were Tamil Tamil riots in 1871, 1923, 1929 and 1931. Please look them up and ask yourself why Tamils were fighting Tamils and burning dwellings amongst other things.
Here are some salient facts about the first Tamil Sinhala ethnic riots that destroyed the Sinhala Tamil ethnic harmony that existed for centuries. The source is an Anglo Tamil newspaper “The Hindu Organ” written and edited by Tamils and owned by the Siva Paripalana Sabai of Jaffna.
In 1939 the “Hindu Organ” carried a report with the headline “Mr. Ponnambalam’s N’pitiya speech” and beneath it the strap line: “Mr. Bandaranaike’s challenge.” (p. 4 — June 22, 1939)
The editorial under the title “THE WRITING ON THE WALL”, was prophetic and said “….. A verbal bombshell dropped unwittingly by a Tamil politician at Nawalapitiya appears to have set the South on fire……. A slander against a community by an individual, though unintended, is inexcusable …… Communal differences, though there existed hardly any during the time of the last generation of leaders, have now been multiplied and intensified, thanks to the hot-heads and irresponsible talkers in the country who care more for the plaudits of the mob than for the welfare of the people. Ceylon today is seething with petty problems which have been created by thoughtless gas-bags, and which threaten to poison the peaceful conditions in the country….. Let us hope that wise statesmanship will prevail among leaders who should realize the imperative need for the welding of the communities into a Ceylonese Community for the political and economic salvation of the country. The writing on the wall is too clear to be ignored.”
The Nawalapitya speech was a hate speech on a public platform attacking the Sinhalese which precipitated the FIRST Tamil Sinhala ethnic riots of the 20th century. Which the Tamil Editor chose to lambast in very pithy language.
The ethnic harmony that existed for centuries was torn asunder by a Tamil Politician who adopted Racism to climb the political ladder of Northern Politics. This was in 1935, long before independence when there was no Language Act, no standardization of University entrance exam, no Citizenship act etc to hang the “persecution coat” on.
The paradigm shift of Tamil politics from Caste/class to Racism occurred in the 1930s. The Father of Racial politics was Mr G.G. Ponnambalam the founder of the Tamil political party, the All Ceylon Tamil Congress. The Hindu Organ is evidence to that.
That is an incontrovertible fact.
Today we are reaping what Mr. GGP sowed.
I do hope you have the sense not to follow in GGP’s footsteps.
Kind Regards
OTC
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Srihari / May 3, 2014
Kali,
Most of the muslims in India are converted during Mughal rule from Hinduism and that’s the reason for Swami’s claim.
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kali / May 4, 2014
Srihari:
You are totally wrong and go back and read why Sikhism was born and you will come to your sesnses.
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Theophrastes / May 5, 2014
Mughals ruled all of India except the country of Tamilnadu is a well known fact, forced conversion are controversies propagated by the insane Hindu zealots of the majority may not digest through their intestines to purge off these intuitions spurred by the modern rednecks of Hindia.
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Kettikaran / May 2, 2014
I am grateful to many readers who have critically commented on what I had to say. Some of you are regular readers contributing not merely your valuable and objective opinions here but also helping in the search of that reconciliation necessary for our own survival in that loose entity enforced on the country Sri Lanka, which has been unlucky and somewhat unworkable from the day this was foisted on us extra-parliamentarily.
Our friend Banda, either by omission or commission, misreads me in concluding my remarks on Modi is because he will come out with Eelam. Nothing is further from the truth. While like many Tamils, I believe, even at this late stage, there is still space between Sinhala and Tamils to discover that common sense that saw both races in a united Sri Lanka until the mid- 1950’s. I must say, equivocally, I will not be arguing against the North-East finding its own way if the Sinhalese continue on their obstinate ways – after 60 years of bloodshed – where Tamils were marginalised more than others.
I agree with you Modi is a believer in a strong single India. He is also, I have reason to believe, convinced – and may be even tired – Lankan Tamils have been left in the lurch far too long purely because they do not have the resources to fight injustice back. The days of Periyar you refer to – where they stood for Separation from India – are long, long past. The ancient and highly cultured Tamilnadu, the home of Indian Tamils, is the 2nd most prosperous – agriculturally, industrially and in terms of education, in the entire Indian Union of States. This madness of some Sinhalese believing Tamilnadu dreams 24×7 of including the Lankan NEP in their State is sheer madness.
It is good we have in the readership a liberal and humourous Native Veddah whose interesting comments are a delight to read. I was very pleased with the appointment of my friend Prof. Sudarshan S to New Delhi. He has many good friends in high places there – in the academicia and politically – who have great respect for him there. I must congratulate the Rajapakses, at last, for appointing the right man in the right places in a Capital of the utmost importance to all Sri Lankans. The friendly, highly educated and popular Sudarshan will leave his mark – provided our own Brahmins in the EAM will not sabotage him in their well known pettiness.
Perceptively, you have seen Prasad K’s folly in believing if the North-South Card is placed Tamilnadu can be silenced. I am glad you observed the emptiness in this move which many of our men vainly played earlier. One exception being Mangala Moonesinghe who did a fine job there. I have heard many senior Indians mentioning this.
Sri Hai errs in the belief there is no public support for Lankan Tamils in India and the North is virtually immune to what is happening here. While this may have been true in the past few years, it is no longer so. It is to study the issue at first hand BJP heavy-weight Sushma Swaraj came with a group of MPs 2 years ago. It is true many in the North believe all Tamils are Tigers. This perception is also changing. The powerful unions of students in several North Indian Universities are backing the Lankan Tamils due to work done by students in the South. That is a powerful resource, as they have helped the BJP in many States. Do be assured this is not against the Sinhalese and Sri Lanka. It is largely aimed at bringing the Rajapakses to their senses and their responsibilities. You are right to an extent about the lack of support in the North Indian media but this too, I notice, is changing.
As to Ram of “Hindu” backing the Rajapakses, please link this with why Subramaniam Swamy avariciously and injudiciously backs the Rajapakses and the answer becomes clear. As to the “Hindu” Newspaper, please note in recent changes in the Board N. Ram’s wings are clipped, his politics questioned and his sometimes suspect activities have come under the scanner, although he still occupies a key role in the Board.
Reader Ranmal de Mel may be assured we have no intention of “insulting” Udaya G. To us he is one more non-starter mediocrite in the Sinhala supremacist side. Not merely his but we value the right of freedom of speech to all Sri Lankans. Running behind HL de Silva, Gomin Dayasiri does not make a lawyer capable of offering good legal advise. If you have had a 5-minutes discussion in English with Udaya, you discover the shallowness of this parvenu.
As to recourse to the Tamils in the Supreme Court, please be serious. Even in a far more independent SC under Sarath Silva petitions of hundreds of Tamils for the return of their properties under the HSZ was simply ignored – or not even listed. Besides, the current SC is a virtual joke. It is no longer the legal system relying on “evidence” It is one in which the head of that body publicly told in a case he does not need evidence “because he knows” I am glad BASL tore him to shreds, inter alia, on this. The independent SC died a few years ago. You are no doubt aware a known wheeler-dealer is being nominated to the highest courts. That is the level to which our justice system has sunk into.
Dr. Rajasingham N surely is misquoting me. “Predominantly” Buddhist is by no means “Buddhist” is elementary. The dividing line between the rowdy, thuggish Buddhism of beasts like Galabadda Atte Gnanasara Thero and the true Buddhist are the Mahanayakes in Kandy. When they do not have the backbone to tell off the yellow-robed mafia but merely cow down to them meekly advising them “go out and do what you can” is to let down Buddhism. Fortunately, we have men like journalist Chandraprema who took these time-server Mahanayakas to task in no uncertain terms. I know and respect there are millions of good Buddhists in the country- alarmed at what has happened to their good religion under the JHU and now under BBS, the bogus Senas and Ravayas. It is up to the Buddhists to take up the troubling issue and save their religion from all these shenanigans before we have a repeat of Buddharakha Thero. The absence of this action is resulting in our good society, in the South in particular, collapsing in all areas of life. You see ample evidence of these in many walks of life where we maintained high standards earlier to the appreciation of the world.
There is absolute convergence with what you state here and my thoughts – viz :-
” Something, should happen soon to wake us the people from our stupidity” Looks like the Mahanayakas – 5-6 now from the original 2 – are not up to it. They are clearly silenced by the more rowdy and violent elements in their Order.
“If not all of us are doomed” Let the Tamil Nation be saved from this predicament. Good Sir, it appears to me that great dream of Aristotle for the days “When Philosophers are Kings” was made without having the Miracle of Asia in mind.
Let me also respectfully disagree with you in the matter of races (Your reply to reader Kali) There is no argument there were two different ancient races occupying this island for millennia before the arrival of the Portugese. It is up to the learned in the Sinhala Nation to accept this so that both Nations can forge out a workable formulae to live in an undivided island – making the necessary adjustments for minorities who came centuries later.
Kettikaran
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Srihari / May 4, 2014
Kettikaran,
Sushma swaraj’s visit(and her visit to Rameswaram to console TN based fisherman) is more of symbolism too much significance cannot be attached to it. Mind you, there is hardly any mention of SL tamils plight in elections campaign in India barring in TN. Secularism is the main topic in this election. I just wanna reiterate that unless or until you win public support in India it is next to impossible for the Govt of India to take meaningful action in SL and for that media has to play a massive role. I hate to be pessimistic but what ever I had seen SL issue is not occupying the mindshare of the media – occasional article or once in a blue moon debate on national television is not going to help tamils cause. As for powerful student unions at least I haven’t seen any and I dont think they carry that much weight barring may be in TN.
I beg to disagree on Ram’s support to Rajapaksa’s and I would say it is continuation of ‘THE HINDU’ support to united SL(regular readers of the Hindu can vouch for the fact that Hindu consistently stood for united SL for the past 30-40 years). The only link I can decipher b/w Ram and Swamy is both are Brahmins(which I believe is racist) and please dont generalize as there good and bad people in every caste. I for one cannot give any rational response as to why on earth HINDU support Palestine cause on one hand and oppose the same demand in SL.
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Native Vedda / May 5, 2014
Srihari
“I beg to disagree on Ram’s support to Rajapaksa’s and I would say it is continuation of ‘THE HINDU’ support to united SL(regular readers of the Hindu can vouch for the fact that Hindu consistently stood for united SL for the past 30-40 years).”
Among others Ram and Swamy are the two important analysts who promoted the destabilisation of this island and supported the selection, training, arming and preferential treatment of LTTE in no small way.
Ram even promised VP a safe house to hide when he was wanted by Hndians before 1987. Guess where at his home.
The point is that Hindia will use any means necessary to safeguard or promote its interest in this island. Could anyone tell me what Hindia’s interest is in this island.
Please read this excerpts:
By Express News Service – TIRUCHY
Published: 04th May 2014 08:01 AM
“Ultras Trained in SL to Target India: Ganesan
BJP leader L Ganesan on Saturday charged that Pakistan-backed extremists were being trained in Sri Lanka and would be infiltrated into India to execute terror attacks. He said the training was being carried out despite both Pakistan and Sri Lanka being aware of it.”
A taste of things to come.
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Srihari / May 6, 2014
Native Vedda, Ram & Swamy support LTTE? I respect you but that is conspiracy theory of highest order!!!
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Razeek / May 3, 2014
No minorities have any rights under the Sinhala-Buddhist government. This a government supported by illiterate sinhala masses. Someday they will learn their lesson when this country will be swallowed by debt and disgraced for its prejudicial government and its people.
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Banda / May 3, 2014
Razeek
Unlike for women in Islamic countries, learning has never been ‘haram’ for Sinhala women. To say the least, they went to Buddhist pirivena together and sat together to learn before missionary education came to being. So, Sinhala men and women had equal rights in every respect since immemorial. There is no need for ‘Malalas’ in Sri Lanka for them to be literate.
And that’s why Sri Lanka got adult universal franchise in 1931. There is none who cannot read and write where I live. So, what do you mean by ‘illiterate’?
They all watch TVs and read papers daily. Talk to them, you’ll see that you can learn one or two thing from them about world politics as well. Mass are literate in Sri Lanka and that’s why they have toppled governments many a time. Rajapakses will be voted to office, so long as they fulfil the wishes of the mass. The day they forget the aspirations of the mass they’ll be sent home.
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Jinasena Katriarachchi / May 5, 2014
What is in a Malala, a microcosm within a galaxy of problems. What Sri Lanka needs is wire brushing the pessimistic Sinhala Putrid Brains to understand the concoction of the world problems with an understanding the way how the outer world perceive of. Wake up Banda with the valor of a sound brain.
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