By Gnana Sankaralingam –
Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam
Recently while opening the de-salination plant in eastern Vadamaradchy, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that he would commission river for Jaffna project, which Tamils are not going to take seriously. However it is worth examining feasibilty of it. Already there is one river in Jaffna peninsula, Valuki Aru, originating in Alavedy and confluencing at Araly, which in most of the time of the year runs dry. Hence this would be the second.
One of the problem faced by people of Jaffna is the lack of potable and arable water supply. Ground water is the main source for agriculture in Jaffna through lift irrigation from wells, initially manually and now mechanised using pumps. While it is the preferred method for cash crops, rice cultivation is rain fed, where 90% of rain fall is in October to December. Due to excessive use of ground water, wells in some parts have turned brackish.
In Jaffna peninsula, there are two lagoons, Vadamaradchy of 77 sq. kms and Upparu of 26 sq. kms, flowing over at Thondamanaru and Navatkuli respectively. During north-east monsoon rain water collects in them, mixing with salt water entering at high tide. Proposals to prevent it and improve fresh water situation in Jaffna peninsula had been there for many years, but had not become successful due to financial and logistical constraints.
Project envisages the reconditioning of barrages at Thondamanaru and Navatkuli to make them watertight to become fresh water lagoons; converting Elephant Pass lagoon into fresh water by closing off the openings under road and rail bridges at the western end and building causeway with spill and bund at Chundikulam at the eastern end; and constructing 4 km long and 14 meter wide channel to connect it with Vadamaradchy lagoon.
This concept depends on the rainfall in Vanni region, which is low except during the north-east monsoon, to feed the Elephant Pass lagoon. Even if the two lagoons in Jaffna are made fresh water, the amount of water in them is hardly adequate to meet the demands of people. Augmenting it with water from the Vanni, is not going to make this river a perennial one. Similar to Valuki Aru, this too is bound to run dry in most times of the year.
Water problem in Jaffna peninsula should be solved same way as Singapore, where multiple desalination plants were built to meet the demands for fresh water. If areas where wells have high salinity are supplied with pipe borne fresh water, these wells would become redundant, and plants could be irrigated using tap water. Moreover, there is saline resistant paddy and coconut plants obtainable for cultivation in terrain with high salinity.
Converting the two lagoons into fresh water ones by strengthening the barrages at Thondamanaru and Navatkuli is good, so that at least for few months people around may be able to get fresh water for drinking and farming. This would also reduce salinity in the wells as well as lands around. In reality, it would be wiser to accept the natural condition of these regions and to supply fresh water to them through multiple desalination plants.
Ruchira / August 19, 2024
I am no irrigation engineer to comment on how valid and feasible the ideas presented and projects proposed by Dr. Sankaralingam in his essay this time, nevertheless its good to see articles like this focussing on people’s and developmental needs of the Northern Peninsula, compared to mostly political ones we usually see. Aren’t these the issues the political leaders of Jaffna should raise with the center and make and effort to resolve immediately. Has the Tamil Presidential candidate addressed these issues in his manifesto and speeches? If not isn’t it time to do so? Uplifting people’s lives and livelihoods should not wait until a perfect solution to the Tamil National Question is received. Because perfectionism is a vision not a destination. Meanwhile people everywhere should be able to lead a dignified life and that includes those that are in the Northern Peninsula too. I’m sure with his engineering background and interest in irrigation system Lester might be able to contribute to Dr. Sankaralingam’s ideas positively. Looking forward to see more and more such economically and developmentally progressive ideas from Tamil Speaking Citizens.
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Native Vedda / August 19, 2024
Ruchira
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” Aren’t these the issues the political leaders of Jaffna should raise with the center and make and effort to resolve immediately. “
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These are not new ideas. These ideas were first floated some 60 or 70 years ago (A RIVER FOR JAFFNA, by Engineer Thiru Arumugam.
https://politicslk.wordpress.com/2015/04/29/a-river-for-jaffna/ )
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You are right these are the kind of issues the local politicians should be dealing with however the dump ass politicians and functionaries at the centre traditionally refused permission and provided no technical and financial support to province.
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This is one example where the state structure not only did not support the province but also worked against all initiatives at the provincial level. Had the provincial councils enjoyed enough powers River For Jaffna Project would have been completed many years ago.
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We have been asked to believe in unitary state else the country would be divided in a Federal Form of Government. However Jealousy, ill-will, racism, ….. worked at all levels .
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Good ideas and projects that are bear fruits and beneficial for people are being rejected on the basis of paranoia, recently the cross dresser warned, the Cholas, Pandias ….. Tamils, ….. will cross the planned Ramar Sethu bridge endanger the Bhumiputras of this island.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / August 19, 2024
Ruchira, I have nothing to do with proposal. I have only made critical analysis of the project to show that it will end up as white elephant. Suggestion to build barrages Vadamaradchy and Navatkuli to prevent salt water entering these lagoons and make it fresh water, was first made by Dutchman Hendrile Van Reede in 1665. Subsequently several proposals had been made during British rule in 1879, 1916 and 1930. Plague, recession and war delayed it and work commenced only in 1947 and completed in 1953 and 1955. It was successful but as time passed the barrages made of wood rotted, allowing sea water to pass through. If these barrages are replaced with steel gates, problem will be solved. It is only in 1960, plan to divert Vanni water to north was put forward by Arumugam and others. After independence, attempts have been made to get the scheme started in 1983, 2003 and 2007 but failed probably due to political reasons. My point is, with desalination plants available, the need to augment water in the lagoon with Vanni water becomes redundant and not cost effective.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / August 19, 2024
Only few streams from Vanni discharge water into Elephant Pass lagoon, of which Kanagarayan Aru is the biggest which is not even mentioned in Geography books as important waterway. So to expect these streams to bring large amount of water is far fetched. With this scenario, if it is implemented it will end up as white elephant. Best is to stick to original plan to convert these lagoons into fresh water and augment fresh water demand through desalination plants. 60 years ago in Dehiwala – Ratmalana area there were wells, which disappeared when pipe borne water supply was inaugurated. Same will happen in Jaffna to the wells. Very soon mini desalinators ( like purifiers) will come into use where they can be used domestically to obtain fresh water. When considering modern advancements, attempting to bring Vanni waters to Jaffna is hopelessly out of date. When Northern provincial council was functioning, there was no attempt made to improve fresh water supply. Even this desalination plant in Vadamaradchy was commissioned by Yahapalana government after NPC was dissolved.
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LankaScot / August 20, 2024
Hello Doctor,
If the Government develops the known Oil & Gas Reserves in Mannar they could furnish the power for Desalination Plants. Although the Mannar reserves are found offshore I am sure that if drilling was carried out around Jaffna, in the Limestone Beds, more reserves may be found.
Here in the Gampola/Kandy area we have so much rain that I fail to see why this is not collected and pumped to the Northern Areas. The many Wewas around the Anuradhapura Area could easily be used as Halfway Storage. If they could build a reservoir in Wales and Pipe the Water to Liverpool in the 1880s, I am sure that the same can be done for Jaffna and the North. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Vyrnwy
Best regards
Best regards
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / August 20, 2024
LC, answers to your concerns:
1. Oil and Gas reserves in Mannar basin is not enormous and is not cost effective. This is why they have not embarked on it.
2. While doing my project of Jaffna Metro, I found that there is possibility of extracting shale oil in some areas. When I was trying to get it financed, one Indian businessman told me that India has discovered inland oil deposits in northern province, two in peninsula and one just outside of it in east coast.
3. Power for desalination plants in the peninsula can be obtained from floating solar panels set up in these still water lagoons.
By the way, have you read about my Jaffna Metro project which was featured in this journal four years ago. If you compare that with this river for Jaffna, you will find the difference in quality.
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Ruchira / August 20, 2024
Dr. Sankaralingam- Noted. TY for the clarification.
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Mahila / August 19, 2024
Dr GS,
All this would be mere PIPEDREAM, until and unless you hasten to Taj Samudra Hotel and announce to the “Powers-that-be” HOW MUCH OF ‘GREENBACK’ SACKS (OR Bags) – Non-Serialised Notes, preferably USED – to ensure NO worthy able to prove SOURCE, are at your disposal to dispense or disburse amongst the SALLIVATING “POLITS” AT DINNER after entertaining for some DINNER!!?? Yes, of course, dinner, not for you but the “POLITS”!!?? FOOD alone isn’t SABBATH for MEN & MICE – recognition of their handy work contribution for Northern EMANCIPATION (Jaffna Peninsula)!!!??? These ‘POLITS’ are most CARING KIND AND DIFFERENTIATING TYPE AND DICRIMINATING, CALIBRE DEMAND EXACT ‘POUND of FLESH’ SHYLOCK style!!??
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SJ / August 19, 2024
A River for Jaffna was proposed by the highly regarded irrigation engineer Arumugam in 1950s I think. It was a well thought out proposal that did not take off for various reasons. The subject was revived more than a decade ago. But people with ideas like pumping water from Iranamadu to the peninsula were most discouraging.
Strange that the author has not heard of the idea or the man.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / August 19, 2024
Sivasegaram, I know who Arumugam is, former Director of Irrigation who was a friend of my father. After retirement he worked in Nigeria for few years and settled in UK. His son Thiru living in Australia is married to my second cousin. About the idea, read my article carefully unless you cannot understand, where I have detailed about the project. Similar to pumping water from Iranamadu, diverting of water from Vanni rivers which run dry for six months of the year is also discouraging. Read my reply to Ruchira above to get at the correct picture. Considering usefulness, this project is a white elephant.
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SJ / August 20, 2024
How come that Arumugam did not receive a mention?
That was my concern.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / August 20, 2024
One of my doctor friends, forwarded this article to his cousin who is a retired irrigation engineer who is a water expert and having worked in northern province, knows the water situation there.
This is what he has said:
“I joined the irrigation department at the time when AEC de Silva was the director. This proposal was originally made by Arumugam who was his deputy. There is no vestige of physical fact that can support even one small part of this utterly stupid proposal for following reasons:
1. Topography is simply not there in Jaffna peninsula where the maximum elevation is only 11 meters above MSL.
2. Jaffna peninsula is underlain by Karstic limestone which is like a sieve and cannot hold water ponded upon it.
The whole thing is drawn by some blindingly nostalgic and sentimental feelings. I have heard this total crock of rubbish being pushed. I have debunked it to open the eyes of those who will not. I can counter anyone who has abandoned his critical thinking.”
So much for those who are singing kudos to the project.
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Agnos / August 20, 2024
Dr.GS, SJ,
I recall the late Rajasingham Narendran was an advocate here on CT for the Arumugam river project. He was against desalination plants because of costs, environmental impacts, and the tendency for the govt. to let maintenance lapse, making it dysfunctional. However, right now, some mini RO projects are being attempted with financial support from many in the Diaspora here in the U.S., via the Jaffna Univ. engineering faculty. I guess it will take a few months to know if that will be successful.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / August 21, 2024
Narendran was a veterinary surgeon. He has made comments without experience. What is the environmental impact that he is talking of other than carbon emission. You have to get the opinion from Irrigation engineers who have worked in North and know about the terrain and water situation there. One desalination plant has been commissioned in Jaffna. Allowing it to lapse by not maintaining it properly is the fault of Tamil politicians. Let us see how it functions. Get support from Singapore.
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SJ / August 22, 2024
Dr N talked more sense than this MBBS degree holder.
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SJ / August 21, 2024
A
I am no advocate of desalination projects for the peninsula.
I always held that Arumugam’s proposal made sense.
I do not get sucked into diaspora projects of any kind.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / August 22, 2024
This is what Irrigation engineers say:
For such project to succeed, it must meet following conditions:
1. Adequate water resources – Vanni catchment area has meagre rain fall other than last four months of the year.
2. Elevation of land – To divert water to north, high bund has to erected on eastern side of Elephant pass to raise water level. In rainy days this may inundate rail and road bridges.
3. Water conservation – Due to limestone belt, water seeps down which together with evaporation due to hot climate will result in low water levels in the proposed river.
Are these not valid reasons to say that this project will fail. Arumugam lived in an era when technology had not advanced. He would have never heard of double curvature dam (One in Victoria) shaped like a half cut orange.
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Ruchira / August 20, 2024
I hear a new technology that could convert atmospheric water vapor into its liquid form will be soon made available to the African continent where similar shortages of water exists.
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My father having seen how Indians use rain water harvesting was a big proponent of domestic RWH systems, obviously he never got an opportunity to implement his ideas either.
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Depending on the rainfall in Jaffna whether this is a feasible and adequate question I am not certain, but coupled with the technology I mentioned above may be there’s some hope in the future.
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Most projects in Sri Lanka are so called Vanity Projects, proposed and at times even successfully completed, to boost the images and satisfy the egos of various politicians. From Khettarama International Cricket Grounds to Mattala International Airport, examples are plenty.
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I’m sure Ranil & Co. have some folks somewhere to whom they want to give some “Kuttiya” ( a cut) by initiating the River to Jaffna Project, whose political suppport is crucial to Ranil & Co.
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That said politicians in these parts of the world are quite good at appearing to be solving an issue rather than actually solving it. Ranil’s International Climate Change University (ICCU) in Sri Lanka I believe is another such Vanity Project, so is the newly proposed international airport in the last budget.
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R
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / August 20, 2024
Proposed international airport at Hingurakgoda will be another white elephant, slightly better than that at Maatala. This was first suggested by late Premadasa, but after he died, it was shelved. Only international airport other than at Katunayake which will be financially viable is one constructed at Mankulam which is equidistant to Jaffna, Trincomalee, Anuradhapura and Mannar. As this will be primarily beneficial to Tamils, no government in Srilanka will embark on it. With the road bridge to come up connecting India to Srilanka, even Indians in deep south would be using Mankulam airport.
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SJ / August 20, 2024
This is after a thorough study of economic feasibility by this expert one may guess!
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / August 21, 2024
Sivasegaram, you are suffering from attitude problem assuming that you know everything and under estimating others.
Airport at Mankulam is not my idea. It was the result of study by group of Tamil experts commissioned by LTTE. They recommended two sites for airport for the north: Poonagary and Mankulam. Poonagary is equidistant from major towns in northern province but Mankulam is approachable by outside north also and will be patronised by more people.
As for your statement that pumping water from Iranaimadu to Jaffna is discouraging, what about pumping water to Colombo from Labugama and Kalatuwava tanks and from Kelani river at Ambatale. The envisaged fresh water lake of converted Elephant pass lagoon, will also end up with having to pump water into the channel, due to its low water level.
Does all this demonstrate that you are an educated fool.
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SJ / August 21, 2024
Have you done a serious economic assessment?
NO. You have not and you cannot. You lack the capability for that.
All you can do is to scream when told that you are talking nonsense.
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Native Vedda / August 22, 2024
Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam
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” It was the result of study by group of Tamil experts commissioned by LTTE.”
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Tamil experts, you mean by Thesiath Thalaivar Methahu Thiruvengadam Velupillai Prabaharan himself? He was a very capable person.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / August 22, 2024
Prabaharan at least accepted that he does not know much of development projects and sought advice from experts. One of those who recommended these airports is late Thurairaja, who stands head and shoulders above egoistic Sivasegaram.
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Ruchira / August 21, 2024
“With the road bridge to come up connecting India to Srilanka, even Indians in deep south would be using Mankulam airport.”
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How so? As it involves cross border travel? Or are you thinking of a scenario where Jaffna is part of Tamil Nadu? In which case wouldn’t it be disingenuous to expect the government of Sri Lanka to finance these projects?
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leelagemalli / August 21, 2024
Hello R, this is my answer to your comment you added somewhere else.
R@
“I am neither mentally ill nor socially isolated in my own world.” I hope so.
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I wish you and even the most seriously ill all the best. May all living beings be blessed with a better life.
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I wonder, though, what your father would say about you? I am not a psychiatrist, but I studied human psychology part-time for two semesters at the University of Heidelberg. That was in the mid-90s.
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You always rely on the crazy ideas Lester adds. Is that a healthy sign of a healthy person?????? I disagree.
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Lester even badmouths this decent LS for no good reason. He attacks everyone because Embecile cannot see a truth that most people hear.
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As a medical graduate, you should be able to see how one can agree with him or similar people who are sicker than you?
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We have a thousand and one questions for you. We were horrified when we read your comments full of pornographic content. We even have AKD and similar PIMPs cheering in the stands to get elected in the next election. This world is full of more crazy people than normal. That’s why yours are allowed in CT.
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Fairmindedone / August 21, 2024
Jaffna has never been part of India and it never will be.
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The value system of India , even that of the South, is different after Jaffna evolving separately for several thousands of years; if ever there was a land mass at Rameswaram via Pamban from Mannar.
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Several DNA studies have identified that Jaffna man has closer link with Sinhalese; and they both have originated from common origin but crystallised into two linguistic entities, one retaining the old Tamil. It is believed Tamil Buddhism was on par with Saivite philosophy in the early Jaffna that gave way to Saivisiam eventually.
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Up until independence, there was no conflict between these linguistic groups. One day there will be absolute peace in Ceylon. Thutta and Ellalan were of the same stock. Chola, Pandya and the Sinhalese had long connections and mutual occupations. Jaffna was out of it.
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Meanwhile, let’s work on the diversified linking of Mahaweli Ganga to Iranamadu.
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SJ / August 21, 2024
“The value system of India , even that of the South,”
Is there an identifiably Indian or South Indian value system?
India is a subcontinent as diverse as Europe or Africa.
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Rohan25 / August 22, 2024
Yes, you are correct. If you go by James Gair, preeminent expert in Sinhala language, Sinhala is an isolated Indo-Aryan language and clearly has no close linguistic connections to Oriya or Bengali. Only discernible connections are to Konkani and Marathi. And recent genetic DNA studies also confirm this. That the island’s original Sinhalese and native Tamils are the descended from the same or very closely related Dravidian tribes, who migrated prehistorically from South India (Naga and Yaka), with some minimal genetic input from a Maratha like people, from northwest India. Sinhala has substratum influence of a Dravidian language, presumably Old Tamil or Pre-Old Tamil, that is the significant portion of the founder population shifted their language from Dravidian to Sinhala-Prakrit. Almost all kinship terms, father, mother, brother, sister, uncle, aunt and close body parts like head, neck, leg are all terms retained from a Dravidian language indicating that the most conservative terms are Dravidian.
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Rohan25 / August 22, 2024
The least Sanskritized of all Tamil dialects is Batticaloa Tamil dialect of Sri Lanka. It came about it organically not due to any efforts. But Tamil is not the least Sankritized Dravidian language although it has shed many Sanskrit words starting from 1915, that distinction probably goes to Kurukh or Gondi or any number of other smaller Dravidian languages such as Toda, Kota, Irula, Yannadi et.
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Rohan25 / August 22, 2024
However, Tamil is the least Sanskritized out of all the major Dravidian languages and high Tamil hardly has any Sanskrit. Sanskrit has borrowed quite as much from Dravidian as Dravidian has from Sanskrit. Tamil has borrowed more words from Sanskrit than Sanskrit has from Dravidian. It is a trivial thing for a language to borrow vocabulary. But when it uses another language’s syntax to form the way it expresses things, and uses another language’s phonology for its sounds, that is really profound influence. The fact is, Sanskrit HAS been influenced in this way by Dravidian. Of course, some Dravidian languages have also borrowed Sanskrit sounds (bh, etc.) But none of the four Dravidian languages I have read has borrowed anything from Sanskrit syntax. Much of the syntax of Sanskrit is Dravidian (Tamil) , and it has a large Dravidian (Tamil derived) vocabulary. Its system of phonetics is profoundly influenced by Dravidian — Indo-Aryan is the only IE family with retroflexes.
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Rohan25 / August 22, 2024
Lastly it is very funny to see a Sinhalese Buddhist extremist and racist belonging to one of these recently Sinhalized South Indian Tamil immigrant caste, trying to compare and like the native Eelam Tamils from the north and east to Tamil Nadu, when it is his so called Sinhalese ancestors and the ancestors of half the present day so called Sinhalese both low and high born, who have arrived from then Tamil South India( Tamil Nadu and Kerala) a few centuries ago and taken a Sinhalese Buddhist or Christian identity and now beating the claiming to be Sinhalese Aryans( sic) and beating the anti-Tamil drum and linking the native Tamils who have been on the island for at least 2500 years to Tamil Nadu and asking them return to the very same place from where their own Sinhalized ancestors arrived from a few centuries ago.
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LankaScot / August 22, 2024
Hello Rohan25
“Indo-Aryan is the only IE family with retroflexes”.
No it’s not; Norwegian, Swedish, Sicilian, Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Bulgarian and Polish all have retroflexes.
Austronesian or Sino-Tibetan are not Dravidian or Indo European, however they also have retroflexes.
Best regards
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Rohan25 / August 23, 2024
These languages may have retroflexes, however Indo Aryan retroflexes and syntax is derived from Dravidian and not from other language groups and this is a fact, and all linguists agree on this. As for the self-hating all-knowing idiotic Tamil constantly running down his own people and what is found out. Go and fly a kite nasty spiteful hateful man. Constantly comes and nitpicks and finds fault on every Tamil blogger comments. Only people challenging the Keeladhi Tamil Brahmi scrips are some north India Aryan loving extremists and academics
https://www.ancientpages.com/2019/09/25/keezhadi-excavations-reveal-tamil-brahmi-script-older-than-previously-thought/
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Rohan25 / August 23, 2024
This is from Professor George Hart
https://tamilnation.co/literature/sanskrit.htm
All knowing self hating Tamil knows far more than these people
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LankaScot / August 23, 2024
Hello Rohan25,
This is from your Link “New radiocarbon testing and accelerator mass spectrometry dates have been obtained for the site of Keezhadi, show that the site was occupied as early as the sixth century B.C., or about 300 years earlier than previously thought”
Now please show me an Archaeological Report that shows the actual tests performed on the Brahmi Script samples. These have to include “Context, Depositional Data and likely Range of age in years plus or minus. A translation by a Linguist would also be useful on dating the likely era of the actual Language of the Script. A Script is not a language. Brahmi Script has been used for many Languages.
Best regards
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SJ / August 22, 2024
A language can have many alien words and even grammatical features. Tamil has much borrowed from Sanskrit and other non-Dravidian languages.
Languages are classified is based on well defined linguistic criteria.
Sinhala, although surrounded by Dravidian languages, has strong features drawn from Sanskrit and Pali. that does not make Pali or Sanskrit its sources either.
*
The oldest recorded text in Tamil is a little over two millennia. Most potsherd inscriptions do not constitute significant text.
But we still love to gulp BS like 3 Sangams, Kumarikk Kandam and Tamil being the mother of all languages.
How much has Tamil developed in the past 5 centuries?
Its utility value has stagnated at pre-industrial revolution levels. Let us work to fix that than get intoxicated by myths.
The Tamil of the overwhelming majority of speakers is a corrupted language— corrupted less by the flood of foreign terms than by the lack of grammatical sense. Take a look at the Lankan Tamil newspapers.
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LankaScot / August 22, 2024
Hello SJ,
The discrimination against the Highland peoples that spoke Gaelic in Scotland led to its outlawing at various times e.g. 1616 by James the 1st (also the 6th in Scotland). Later the support they gave to the Jacobite Rebellions also led to it being banned in the 18th Century. My ancestors were Picts in the main on my Mother’s side. They spoke a language similar to Welsh, however after the 10th Century the language disappeared only leaving clues in Place Names.
As Historian Adrian C Grant says “The suppression of Gaelic following the failure of the Jacobite rebellions has led to chip-on-the-shoulderism and an inferiority complex manifesting as its antithesis – arrogant assertionism”.
This seems to me to also apply to the position of many Tamil contributors to CT.
Best regards
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SJ / August 22, 2024
LS
You have a good point there.
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leelagemalli / August 23, 2024
Mr. Scot, I drove from Kiel to Lübeck today to some business meetings. I had to think of you, because the culture in Germany is clearly different from place to place. Is that the case for you in Sri Lanka?
I think that, unlike others, you already know Sri Lanka inside out today, even though your life in Sri Lanka only began three years ago.
At least 5-6 times a year I travel to this region for duty bound tasks.
I stoped talking lanken politics anymore because our people would never change towards positive side, they will surely.
To tell the truth, I was thinking of our baby RUCHIRA as I passed by red light districts in Hamburg yesterday. His comments on pornographic content made me keep my distance from CT today.. Former teacher from Bandarawella did not utter a single word about Ruchira Baba’s filthy comments. .
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Rohan25 / August 23, 2024
We know that you are married to Sinhalese woman, and her opinion about Tamil people, is clouding your judgement. Constantly trying to come here and defend that Sinhalese. pathetically trying to prove that they are Indo Aryan and make general derogative comments about Tamil people. Maybe you have a chip on your shoulder, we do not have and stating the truth is not having a chip on your shoulder. Lying suppressing others and supporting this is. Yourself hating Tamil fried definitely has a chip on his shoulder, will never miss an opportunity to run down his own people and damn them
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Singar A. Velan / August 23, 2024
Hello LankaScott:
Indeed, England has, in the past, been open to immigrant labour where there is shortage. When they rn out of kings, they James I. More recently, they have been getting seasonal farm workers, doctors, software engineers, nurses etc. Similarly, the Sinhalese also have been very forward thinking and, when they ran out of kings, invited South Indian Tamils to provide leadership. The last king of Kandy managed to hold off the Brits for a while until he got stabbed in the back. The Veddas, however, tried to be purists, living in isolation and not interested in interacting or assimilating. They lacked th forward thinking attitude of the English or Sinhalese. Look what happened to them.
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Rohan25 / August 23, 2024
Oh yes you know far more than well know Sinhalese linguists and anthropologists. Constantly wants to nitpick and criticize every Tamil blogger comments, to prove to the Sinhalese racists and their supporters he is all knowing and is a wonderful neutral person and ends up looking like a fool
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LankaScot / August 23, 2024
Hello Rohan25,
Now you have become the Tamil Lester.
I have stated my position regarding the Atrocities that the Sri Lanka Government/Military have carried out against Tamil Civilians and Non-Combatants. In a War you must not deliberately kill Civilians. Under International Law it is a Crime to do so. You must also take every reasonable Precaution to ensure that Civilians do not suffer Collateral Damage.
Is the above a foolish position to hold?
” Constantly wants to nitpick and criticize every Tamil blogger comments”. Ask Lester or Ruchira if I respond to their posts.
I am not a Linguist or an Anthropologist, however when I see something claimed by a Lay Person (unless you ARE a Linguist) I want to see their Evidence. We are all capable of weighing up Evidence (within Limits) and deciding if it is outside our “Bailiwick”. Give me the name of a recent book by a Sinhalese Linguist supporting your position
By the way my Sinhalese wife thinks that the Rajapakses and their ilk stoked the fires of resentment against the Tamils, Muslims and Indians etc. She speaks English, Arabic and Hindi pretty well. She also speaks a little Tamil and Malayalam.
Best regards
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LankaScot / August 23, 2024
Hello Rohan25,
This is a direct quote from your George Hart 1997 Link ” Neither Sanskrit nor Tamil are particularly old in the world scheme of things. Sanskrit is documented earlier than Tamil”.
Is this true and if not why did you provide the Link?
You said “All knowing self hating Tamil knows far more than these people”.
George Hart was the one that said “Indo-Aryan is the only IE family with retroflexes” not you.
And by the way try to abide by the advice given in the “Tirukkura” especially Chapter 19.
Best regards
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SJ / August 23, 2024
LS
Tamil has a larger number of nonretroflex-reroflex pairs of consonnts than any other language as far as I know:
l-L; n-N, r-R, y-zh, a dental t and its retroflex.
Besides, the borrowed s and sh offer another pair.
Several languages have retroflex sounds but not as nonretroflex-reroflex pairs
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Fairmindedone / August 23, 2024
Sinhala is a well developed modern language heavily influenced by Buddhist text – Pali; yet just look at the script style; it is of the south Indian style, easily be Kannada, and not that of the north. It is pertinent to note that Mahavamsa was not written in Sinhala.
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Rohan25 / August 23, 2024
Sinhalese may be classified as an Indo-Aryan language due to the large amount of Pali/Prakrit words found in its vocabulary due to the influence of Buddhism and now Sanskrit also being deliberately added. However other than this large amount of borrowed vocabulary from Pali, Prakrit and now Sanskrit, everything about the Sinhalese language is Dravidian, its syntax, lexicon, grammar, alphabet and even the Sinhalese people are Dravidians with only very slight admixture of Indo Aryan. It only has Indo Aryan super structure in the name of a large amount of Indo Aryan borrowed vocabulary but has a very strong Dravidian foundation based and built on pro-old Tamil or old Tamil
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Rohan25 / August 23, 2024
Even now 33-35% of its vocabulary is purely derived from Dravidian/Tamil, especially all kinship and conservative terms. Even well-known reputable Sinhalese linguists and anthropologists admit to this truth and acknowledge this but not self-hating Tamils and Sinhalese racists and their foreign supporters, who come up with silly stupid arguments, that go against all genetic and linguistic findings and keep on quoting old, outdated theories.
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LankaScot / August 23, 2024
Hello Fairmindedone,
Then in what language and script was the oldest extant version of the Mahavamsa written?
Best regards
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old codger / August 23, 2024
“The language employed was Pali, which had long passed out of use,”
If you are interested in some heavy reading, try this:
https://mahavamsa.org/mahavamsa/original-version/
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / August 21, 2024
The road bridge will be financed by India. In addition to it, India plans to build an expressway linking Mannar to Trincomalee, keeping within northern province. This route will be about 40 miles south of Mankulam and 20 miles north of Vavuniya, and will give a link to these towns to the airport at Mankulam. very soon visa free travel will be established between India and northern province which solves this issue.
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SJ / August 21, 2024
The planning commissioner for India is letting us into his precious little secret.
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Ruchira / August 22, 2024
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Native Vedda / August 22, 2024
Ruchira
–
“Or are you thinking of a scenario where Jaffna is part of Tamil Nadu? “
–
Don’t be stupid.
As far as Hindians are concerned Sri Lanka is the Sinhala state of Akhand Bharat, North East forms part of Tamilnadu.
–
If you have any doubt ask Amit Shah or Jaishankar (on one of his roving visit to Sri Lanka).
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Native Vedda / August 22, 2024
“It was a well thought out proposal that did not take off for various reasons.
–
Under the power hungry Nayakar and his weeping widow nothing was possible except to shoot down all good projects, proposals, initiatives, ideas, ……. on the basis of what is good for Sinhala/Buddhism, Sinhala/Buddhists, ……… followed by other fellow racists who also believed in one nation, one country, one religion, one language, ….. one leader, one ….. as a result created fascists in the North as well as South, …. killing tens of thousand innocent people all over the island.
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Ajith / August 20, 2024
“President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that he would commission river for Jaffna project, which Tamils are not going to take seriously. “
Where was the President Ranil Wickremasinghe until now since he took the Presidency two years ago or of his 50 years political career? Why should we discuss this now?
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Native Vedda / August 22, 2024
Ajith
–
“Where was the President Ranil Wickremasinghe until now since he took the Presidency two years ago or of his 50 years political career?”
–
What do you exactly mean by your question?
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Ruchira / August 21, 2024
The motivation is to obtain a certain fraction (a 15% ) of investment money to be channelled to develop Sri Lanka that a project proposal of mine would attract directly to themselves by condemning me as insane. The total investment could be in the range of 100 to 200 billion USD. Therefore 15% means 15 to 30 billion USD. If 1% of it could be retained by those who spend these funds locally by way of commission that amounts to 45 to 90 billion LKR. I hear that there’s a total of 500 in this group. Hence monetary benefit each would receive could be estimated to be about 90 to 180 milion LKR.
.
In addition to this monetary benefits various others have been promised various specific benefits and rewards to. Apartment complexes, PR in various countries like Australia, top jobs and career breaks, admissions to top universities like Cambridge and Yale for their children, Sins to those who do not gave male children, and of course President’s Council appointment for Illangatillake .
These are in addition to sex bribes I mentioned above in relation to LS. These sex bribes were promised for pthers too.
.
Funny if these people corporated with me they could even have gained more benefits. How short sighted these people are i wonder?
.
TBC
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Ruchira / August 21, 2024
Getting back to LS:
In fact me and LS together attacked (if you think diasagreeing and criticisms are attacks) people like Wigneswaran, Sankaralingam, and even Gobikrishna for making barious claims about genetics of Sinhalese and Tamil speaking people in Sri Lanka without a proper scientific basis. In fact LS even wrote to Professor Vajira Dissanayake of Colombo Medical Faculty seeking clarifications on the topic upin my suggestion.
.
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / August 21, 2024
What do you mean by without a proper scientific basis. Do you say that three genetic studies done within last 20 years by Sinhala scholars in Colombo medical faculty, Kelaniya science faculty and Colombo science faculty which have been peer sanctioned, is cooked up.
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Ruchira / August 22, 2024
Sankaralingam- I have addressed this in the articles relevant published by Wigneswara, Gobikrishna and if i can remember right by you also. If not comments you have made previously on the subject under related articles. You may benefit from revisiting them as I have no intention of going through another lengthy explanation here repeating thw same comments.
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LankaScot / August 22, 2024
Hello Doctor,
Archaeology and Human DNA Studies are both branches of Science. Archaeology is older than Human DNA studies but has still had to change its mind about the Interpretations that it makes on the Data. DNA studies are in their infancy and what DNA Scientists believed 10 years ago may no longer be true. I find the ideas on Human History expressed by the Hindutwa Political Pundits to be based, not on Archaeology or DNA Studies, but on Religious or Mythical Legends. The Evidence for all of Human Civilisations deriving from India is non-existent. Historical/Archaeological and DNA evidence shows that the Rig Vedic peoples probably brought their Horses, Chariots, Gods and Culture into India about 4000 years or so ago.
I am also fairly sure that Tamils and Sinhalese peoples in Sri Lanka have been interbreeding (not the best term) for a few thousand years. But that does not negate them having different DNA Histories. Legends sometimes (but not always) have a basis in reality. Anyone that believes that the Mahavamsa, The Christian Bible or any other book from Ancient times is 100 % accurate is fooling themselves.
Scientists never claim infallibility, only probabilities.
Best regards
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Native Vedda / August 22, 2024
Lanka Scot
–
“I am also fairly sure that Tamils and Sinhalese peoples in Sri Lanka have been interbreeding (not the best term) for a few thousand years. “
–
Please look at the past 75 years history of this island, don’t you see similarities in the pattern of their behaviour, both self destructive, bigoted, greedy, supporting racists, believe in fascistic leader(ship) and follow him/her like sheep, shared stupidity, cult worship, nepotism, corrupt, undue respect for saffronistas, ……. having pointless arguments until cows come home, …… caste conscious, ….
Therefore they must share the same stupid gene.
–
What more proof do you need?
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SJ / August 22, 2024
LS
We are an island of immigrants, most of whom date back less than a millennium.
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old codger / August 21, 2024
“Funny if these people corporated with me they could even have gained more benefits.”
Really? To form a company, ( corporate) the parties have to declare that all are of sound mind. In your case, isn’t that doubtful?
“These are in addition to sex bribes I mentioned above in relation to LS. “
I doubt LS or anyone else would be interested in your services.
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Ruchira / August 22, 2024
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LankaScot / August 22, 2024
Hello OC,
That would be something new for me. Being bribed for Sex has never been on my “Bucket List”😉.
By the way a learned Professor of Archaeology has posted a Youtube Video completely demolishing the Baghdad Battery Myth. He has spent many Seasons digging the Ancient City of Ur and did a little extra research for the Battery Story. They were used to store Papyrus Paper Rolls that contain exhortations to the Gods to save them from Curses or to help put a Curse on their neighbour etc.
The Video is fascinating.
His name is Dr William (Brad) Hafford of the University of Pennsylvania https://upenn.academia.edu/WilliamHafford
Here is the Link to his Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZBsNGPVK2s
Best regards
on the Baghdad Battery
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old codger / August 22, 2024
LS,
Even that Milo guy seems to think that 1 volt can give you a shock, as one vociferous CT denizen tried to convince us.
I like the quip about giant scissors and archaeologists.
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old codger / August 22, 2024
“They were used to store Papyrus Paper Rolls that contain exhortations to the Gods to save them from Curses or to help put a Curse on their neighbour etc.”
That’s still commonplace in Sri Lanka. Copper scrolls in little glass bottles.
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LankaScot / August 22, 2024
Hello OC,
I wasn’t going to mention that we buried a hollowed out Concrete Block in our Foundation Trench containing various names, photos and other Juju. Maybe there were some curses included?
When we were children in Scotland some would write a letter to Santa Claus and then burn it in the Coal Fire wishing that he would deliver some good presents. I never did, because the Adults never answered my questions about how he could read it after it was burned. I kept my suspicions quiet that Santa Claus wasn’t real until after I started School. Before then I thought that if I said so, I wouldn’t get anything.
Best regards
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Ruchira / August 21, 2024
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / August 21, 2024
Can you please write about your proposal in this journal, for us to see and admire your talent, without accusing others. I have presented my proposal to build light railway for Jaffna peninsula four years ago, and received commendation by many, though Srilanka government did not entertain it, obviously for political reasons.
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SJ / August 21, 2024
“received commendation by many”
Like GS Lingam, Gnana S Lingam, Dr GSL, Dr Sankaralingam, Dr Lingam…..
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old codger / August 22, 2024
SJ,
“Like GS Lingam, Gnana S Lingam,”
🤣🤣🤣🤣
You are pushing your luck….
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / August 22, 2024
Sivasegaram do not ridicule others because you are jealous. I launched this Jaffna Metro project three years ago at a luncheon meeting attended by 160 people. I put out 50 copies of ten page document and all were taken up. I also presented this project at a session of Tamil professionals last year attended by over 200 people. I distributed 100 copies and all were taken up. One civil engineer friend had got this project catalogued at the library of Institute of Civil Engineers in London. To be honoured this way without being a civil engineer demonstrates intellectual capability. Last month when I met Prof Balasunderampillai at a education forum discussion, I gave a copy to him. He would have come back to Srilanka and you could get the copy from him.
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SJ / August 22, 2024
I ridicule none but ridiculous utterances and their authors.
You fit in well.
Are you still jealous of your twin brother whose achievements you tend to slight?
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SJ / August 22, 2024
‘you could get the copy from him’
Thanks, but I do not collect wastepaper.
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Ruchira / August 22, 2024
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Ruchira / August 22, 2024
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Ruchira / August 22, 2024
“I have presented my proposal to build light railway for Jaffna peninsula four years ago, and received commendation by many,…”
.
May be, but you need money to implement noh…? Commendation by many were recieved for Dammika Paniya too during Covid19, if you know what I mean. There was even resuts of a research done being even featured in electrobin media.
.
“…though Srilanka government did not entertain it, obviously for political reasons.”
.
Possible… In my experience too they usually do not entertain such proposals from citizens. If at all tjey would steal the ideas. Some corporate entities too are like that… even international and multi national ones. For example Astra Zeneca and Serum Institute in India. Culprits include educational establishments such as the Oxford University, Vellore Institute of Technology etc,
.
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Ruchira / August 22, 2024
* electronic
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LankaScot / August 22, 2024
Hello Ruchira,
I dislike Social Media, so you were right first time “electrobin”.
Best regards
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Native Vedda / August 22, 2024
LankaScot
–
“I dislike Social Media, …………………………………………. “electrobin”.”
–
Any chance you belong to the pre baby boomers generation?
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LankaScot / August 22, 2024
Hello Native,
Yes/No! I wrote my PGCE Dissertation on how the Internet and the WWW (World Wide Web) would revolutionise Education, Business and how we communicate. I wrote about Online Learning, Video Conferencing, Email and extensive Networking of Businesses. Social Media at that time was mainly Chat Rooms (I disliked these intensely). This was around the time of Windows 95. I gave my Daughter and my Granddaughters Laptops around 1999 (Dell) and pretty soon after they found Social Media. After harassing me to join their Favorite ones I looked and was forever Anti . They graduated from Bebo to Facebook later on, which we (my Colleagues working in IT) christened 2facedbook. I was born in the early 1950s so does that make me a Baby Boomer?
Best regards
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Native Vedda / August 23, 2024
LankaScot
“I was born in the early 1950s so does that make me a Baby Boomer?”
–
What Is a Baby Boomer?
“Baby boomer” is a term used to describe those who were born from 1946 to 1964. They formed the largest generational group in U.S. history until the millennial generation slightly surpassed them.
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/baby_boomer.asp
–
You know, Baby Boomers mean many things, post war born kids, they as a large group made differences to and impacted on education, politics, technology, markets, film industry, Music, fashion, science, sexual freedom (f**k for peace), drugs, ……..
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Native Vedda / August 23, 2024
LankaScot
“I was born in the early 1950s so does that make me a Baby Boomer?”
–
What Is a Baby Boomer?
“Baby boomer” is a term used to describe those who were born from 1946 to 1964. They formed the largest generational group in U.S. history until the millennial generation slightly surpassed them.
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/baby_boomer.asp
–
You know, Baby Boomers mean many things, post war born kids, they as a large group made differences to and impacted on education, politics, technology, markets, film industry, Music, fashion, science, sexual freedom (f**k for peace), drugs, ……..
/