28 March, 2024

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Sinhala Only Police Summons: An Open Appeal To The Governor, Northern Province

By Laksiri Fernando

Dr. Laksiri Fernando

Hon Reginald Cooray

Governor

Northern Province

17 July 2017

Dear Governor,

Summons Issued in Sinhala Only and the Full Implementation of the Official Language Policy

Although belatedly, let me extend my sincere appreciation of your appointment as the Governor of the Northern Province, as I have known you for a long period, since your undergraduate days. It is also because of my confidence in you, that I make this appeal for your intervention on this matter.

As the Colombo Telegraph has revealed yesterday (16 July 2017), police summons has been issued to a Tamil Journalist based in Jaffna in Sinhala on the 12th July by the Achchuveli police. As reliably reported, this journalist has no knowledge of Sinhala language. Even otherwise, this summons appears a breach of the official language policy, the publicly announced reconciliation policy of the President and the government and even common sense of issuing such summons to a person.       

I wish to bring to your notice the whole format of the summons. The Seal of the Achchuveli OIC is in Sinhala only. The Message Form used for the summons is in Sinhala and English, and no Tamil. I consider this is only a tip of an iceberg, where the official language rights of the Tamil speaking people particularly in the Northern Province are being breached. There are also reported incidents of parking tickets being issued only in Sinhala, among other matters. Prof. S. R. H. Hoole has brought this matter to the notice of the LLRC before.

I have some experience in visiting Jaffna during 2004 (or even before) as the Director of the Peace Building Project under the Ministry of Constitutional Affairs. I have noticed many instances of public notices and notice boards not being available properly in Tamil language. I had discussions with different ranking police officers on the initiatives of the Jaffna office of the National Human Rights Commission. One of the police grievances or claims was the lack of competent staff and facilities to properly implement the official language policy. I believe these should have been sorted out by now, or if not, I wish to draw your attention to that matter as well.

On particularly the summons issued to that journalist in Sinhala, I believe that there should be a police apology. Equally important is to make sure that such breaches of the official language policy would not be made in the future.

The most important is the full implementation of the official language policy in respect of the Tamil language in the Northern Province. While this principle is equally applied to the Eastern Province as well as some other provinces, I trust that you are better placed to take the leadership on this matter.

I also trust that your possible actions on this matter would be taken in full consultation with the Chief Minister of the Northern Province as a measure of cooperative devolution.

The full and sensible implementation of the official language policy in respect of the Tamil language is a primary necessity for national reconciliation.

Yours sincerely,

Laksiri Fernando

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Latest comments

  • 22
    7

    There is no secret or hidden agenda in the smallest country of Singapore. Late, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew was the visionary to respect the different languages, religions & culture. With those fundamental respects to people, Singapore became one of the richest countries in the world. On the contrary
    Sri Lanka is eroding by unethical & chauvinistic ideology mixed with religious rhetoric. By promoting these actions; from the top to bottom forgets the development of the country.
    Talking ‘RECONCILIATION’ will never improve by continuation of divisive methods.
    Double standards cannot promote PEACE & RECONCILIATION in Sri Lanka
    It is becoming evidence that the Sri Lanka is losing the right path of uniting the country.
    Very sad to see Buddhism is being used by unreligious elements.

    • 13
      13

      Looks like what Prabaharan could not achieve for the Tamils through his madness, Sinhala racists are going to deliver on a platter to Tamils with their madness.

      • 9
        9

        Sinhala racists are going to deliver on a platter to Tamils with their madness.””
        Ha ha ha having wet dreams??
        Seems like the viper woman is looking for another Billa te Denda demala like premadasa. May be native vakio vedda or you can sell your wares.

        • 1
          2

          Dear Fatima Fukushima,

          Dr Laksiri Fernando has kept it as simple as possible. Let us keep it at that level. It will be quite easy to stop irritating the Tamils by ensuring that this sort of correspondence is sent in Tamil. Let us do so.

          Some people have doubts about the qualifications and the sex of Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam. He is an old man with whom I’ve had some nasty altercations to start with, but his attitudes have improved – a great deal, actually. I see that, but other readers running in to him now may not.

          Some of the things that he says are valid, but he must get rid of that biter tone if he is to be listened to.

          Dr. Sankaralingam, you have not addressed me direct for a long time. I think that you now know me better than when you attacked me for various things that you imagined me to stand for. Will you now acknowledge that I’ve been consistent and rational? I don’t think that there’s any guarantee, not a remote possibility even, that Truth and Justice will triumph in the long term. The question does arise as to how long we give it by saying “long term”. To me it seems that these trivial questions based on myths, ethnicity and the religions man has devised will soon be forgotten. We will soon be dead, that alone is certain.

          Let’s stop philosophising, just send that correspondence in Tamil. Let’s stop posturing, start communicating.

      • 6
        6

        You really are a Doctor, Doc?

        Deliver what on a platter. Eternal life, Eternal abode, Eternal wealth, Eternal motherland ?

        How long are you going to live Doc? Live as a decent human being for the time you are given on this earth and leave a peaceful place to our future generations to live. Don’t seed hatred and divisions and spoil your life and of others.

        One Commentator above has mentioned about Singapore. Read, learn and mend yourself for the sake of our country and the generations to come. Enough of bogus nationalism and self esteem, live and let live and die.

        It’s a shame that I had to tell a supposed to be a learned Doctor, all these basics of life. Grow up will you Doctor.

        • 8
          9

          I pity your ignorance and do not be hasty about the future. The solution for a peaceful Srilanka based on justice and equality has already been formulated. Srilanka is being given a chance to achieve it on their own. If not, it will be forced from outside. Present government knows about it, but due to political expediency, it is towing Sinhala racist line, hoping that they will be bailed out by their friends abroad. Do not compare Singapore with Srilanka. It has attained this present state because of one man – late Lee Kwan Yew. If the leadership had fallen to any other person, this may or may not have happened. I have travelled to Singapore several times as I have relatives there, and I know what is the situation there. Sinhala supremacism will never allow Tamils to prosper. Even in Malaysia with all their racist laws and practices, they have not interfered with Chinese dominance in controlling the economy of the country. In Srilanka legislative and executive acts were done to change Tamil dominance in education and Tamil economy was deliberately destroyed by state sponsored pogroms and violence unleashed by security forces. After all these you cannot expect Sinhalese to rise up to the magnanimous level of Singapore government in practicing equality and justice.

          • 0
            7

            Pity, the leaders of Tamil Nadu did not emulate the vision of late L k Yew to transform that squalid state and give their citizens a quality of life at least on par with the Sri Lankans. The donkeys there will never get anywhere near Singapore. Ever. Nor did the racist Tamil political leaders of Sri Lanka did anything as visionary as L K Yew excep,t play the racist card to agitate the illiterate Tamils for them to stay in power. At last you admit you need help from outside for, your leaders have dragged your people to a humiliating and unbearable defeat at the hands of the Sri Lankan military. Get yourself help too to get over that defeat and face reality.

            • 5
              4

              Please remember that it is the LTTE that suffered a humiliating defeat and not the Tamil people. Also the defeat is unbearable only to sycophantic supporters of LTTE and not for Tamils at large. Also note that no minority in the world got their rights on their own without any outside support. When LTTE was there due to the atrocities committed, Tamils who were banded together with LTTE and lost sympathy of the world. Now it is different as Tamils have regained their moral high ground as an oppressed people with Sinhala government not only not willing to arrive at a fair political solution, but are also continuing unacceptable methods as abduction and torture. Time is running out and stick will come on Srilanka sooner or later. If you go through history, justice will always win at the end, and Justice is on the side of Tamils.

              • 2
                1

                “”and Justice is on the side of Tamils.””
                On whose side were these so called tamils when the expulsion of tea estate tamils after independence took place?
                during 83 riots what were these same tamils doing in the refugee camps of colombo – distinctions??
                poda poriki even the whites on project work present at colombo 7 were stupefied beyond belief.
                More estate worker tamils have been violated than the suicide bombing tamils of north and east.
                At the “Tamil Capital of Australia”! The Anglican Colombo Bishop’s reply was amusing. According to him it is the Tamils abroad who clamour for militancy, violence and Eelam.-
                civil servants son civil servant you are personification terror on CT.

                • 0
                  2

                  @ Mudiyanselage

                  He He He have you been at the hospital in Coma till recently ?

                  Why the hell there was Banda-Selva…Dudley-Selva .Rajiv -JR pact ..just they have passed times?

                  You Sinhalese can’t even manage an Airline shame ..BTW where were you till May 9th 2009 ..hiding under bed hugging Nona .

                  You cowards your cardboard Army couldn’t touch the Tigers for 30 years and with the help of 34 countries …shame you are celebrating.

                  Rats are dancing while cat is not around

                  • 3
                    0

                    porriki kotiya – you boast about tamil being `stand alone` language its true!
                    Sinhala, English, Hindi are patchwork languages and they are proud of it too because it is easily understood by many.
                    Chinese have modified their stand alone Mandarine to accommodate other versions and make matters easier- They have also come out with their own wikipedia which is superior because staff are paid to do it.
                    you have no land find a boat or build a yacht like 10 acres like any billionair and live in the sea with your fishermen- put your kotiya flag there. stop farting he he.

                    • 0
                      0

                      He He He Joker
                      Do you know when this cursed country got independence there were only 3(three) Sinhala encyclopedia copies .this is the KUWALITY of your Sinhala language .

                      He He He now you compare Sinhala, Hindi,English ??? Do you know 100 years ago there was no Hindi and 700 years ago there was no English.
                      Probably you have some relationship with Chinese this is why Chinese are ruling here.

                      Coward, we all know how you shivered when you heard Tigers are coming to attack Colombo on 14th July 1983 you all ran while ball dancing.

                      Entire SL belong to Tamils ..you all came from Kerala ..then Tamil Sera Kingdom …even a mentally retarded person will not believe Mahavamsa con stories in these days.

                    • 0
                      0

                      Mudiyanselage

                      “Sinhala, English, Hindi are patchwork languages and they are proud of it too because it is easily understood by many.”

                      People must have the right to be proud of their language, culture, religion, their parents, guruvarayo, friends, their trade or vocation, history, heritage, ………………. even though nothing particularly special about these people or their abstract assets.

                      Do you see the difference between 1950s use of Sinhala Language in particular the vocabulary and the present day one? My Elders tell me Sinhala language has improved a lot since it was given state patronage.

                      “stop farting he he.”

                      Don’t you do it. If you don’t something wrong with you. Please visit your local doctor or Veddha Mathya.

                    • 0
                      0

                      [Edited out] Comments should not exceed 300 words. Please read our Comments Policy for further details.

                    • 0
                      0

                      Native Vedda,
                      “”People must have the right to be proud “
                      Rights? Have you listened to the music of the red Indians `rights` when the rivers meet? Rights have been overloaded by Libturds so 90% of the refugees who get a place are fraudulent and cross the seas to provide the block vote which destroys the quality of life. You can be proud of what you are and we can see it but showing off kills the cat and it’s not anyone’s fault.
                      Rights are anathema because it’s a never ending fight where resources are stretched. To understand welfare and assist is the done thing- it calls for structure change not action plans living in the same tainted well.
                      “Do you see the difference between 1950s use of Sinhala Language in particular the vocabulary and the present day one?”
                      I wasn’t born then but inferred it as a child born free at Colombo and spoke all three unlike you- jumped over hedges and every one was uncle and aunt even the goni billa.
                      The Tamils, Sinhalese , and Muslims joined hands to kill the mocking bird that sings- the breadwinner for the island from the estates and my mum told me the story when I was young and asked me never to hurt them- I never did hurt them but found their feet were like goats now to climb the hill in the cold with a baby hung in front.- it is sad I know but it is not my direct field as technical men we provide tools for the doctor to keep his hands in his pocket and perform an operation and within 3 hours the patient walks out having seen the operation (just local anaesthesia at the point only) without the Victorian saws and chisels.

                    • 0
                      0

                      Native Vedda,
                      “”My Elders tell me Sinhala language has improved a lot since it was given state patronage.”” By its very nature a patchwork language grows- its portuguese tamil, english hindi sanskrit pali so everyone can chip in and feel free because they are part of it unlike a stand alone with academia.- Romantic manifesto!
                      “”“stop farting he he.”
                      Don’t you do it. If you don’t something wrong with you. Please visit your local doctor or Veddha Mathya.”
                      I am sufficient as I am` and understand Senna flowers.
                      Flatulence is controlled by what you eat and how you eat it. When you eat lots of periumkayam you smell and when you eat lots of garlic which cleans the blood you flatulate. You know not how to eat garlic alone without flatulating Vanni Vedda but I do. Anything else, from sound of silence??

                    • 0
                      0

                      cholan,
                      “”Coward, we all know how you shivered when you heard Tigers are coming to attack Colombo on 14th July 1983 you all ran while ball dancing.””
                      ???
                      When the jaffna surrtu kaddi were set ablaze in the wee hours no demala from the north had the ba**s to come to colombo but were quick to killapone to meet the kotiya inspector Nadesan to get false papers to board the flight I even saw the the family set on fire.
                      stop dreaming because i am not a translator but interpret well in several languages even at killinochi.
                      you are porriki kotiya with wounds on fire and from a smuggler’s den.
                      you never frighten the fbi. I am ? ? but i don’t sell. I am sufficient as i am. the magnificent idler.

            • 0
              0

              lal loo

              We are not undermining your position as the “quintessential” member of Sinhala/Buddhist fascists however we do question your sanity.

              $89.46 billion. Sundar Pitchai who made it from squalid state to the CEO of Google. Its turnover in 2016 was $89.46 billion.

              Sri Lanka GDP 2016 $81.32 billion.

              While the island is being dragged down by the Sinhala/Buddhist fascists I doubt Sri Lanka will ever beat Google’s turnover, incidentally run by a Madarasi from a squalid country.

        • 0
          0

          @ Ansar

          He He He you are always an artificial Patriot.
          What is wrong with Singapore example …don’t you know this country today has got the living standard of Switzerland?
          Pity you Muslims in SL now can’t expect help from fake Islamic countries …they are fighting with each other …forget about a caliphate in Katthankudi and remember you all SL Muslims are converted Tamil Hindus.
          Do you know Muslims in Tamil Nadu called themselves as Tamils?

    • 11
      1

      Uk cannot imitate LKY Singapore how can village terrorist imitate Singapore?
      Demala with 29% bangaladeshi DNA is terror. inside traders. foreign exchange rackets, drugs for guns.

      I have said this on many a previous occasion: that had the mix in Singapore been different, had it been 75% Indians, 15% Malays and the rest Chinese, it would not have worked. Because they believe in the politics of contention, of opposition. But because the culture was such that the populace sought a practical way out of their difficulties, therefore it has worked.
      . President’s Address, Debate on President’s Address, Parliament of Singapore (March 01, 1985). Retrieved on January 16 2015.

      • 0
        0

        @ take_that

        another Modaya comment for laughing.
        according to Bangladesh historians, their ancestors migrated from today’s South Indian area.
        Coward before 2009 when you heard the name Tiger you all wet trousers he he he .
        If this cursed SL run by Asawatte Asrisya Ayotullahs ..has majority Tamils population today it will like Singapore
        So the biggest drug dealers ..racketeers…killers in cursed SL are Demala ?

    • 4
      4

      I agree that Sri lanka missed several opportunities to become a developed nation because of its incorrect political path thorough out the period after independence. The political leadership of Sri lanka emerged after independence took a path that damaged the nations basic and fundamental principle of law & order and justice system. The Buddhism & Sinhala came first over democracy. Two major political parties competed each other on how to destroy the law and order system and justice system. The violence against Tamils by political hooligans and thugs became a govt accepted policy. This culture is now fully integrated and institutionalized into the system and I don’t think it can be reversed back.
      If we come to the matter of the fact about the issue of summon notice in Sinhala would not have happen if the central govt devolved the police power to the North East Region as in the 13th amendment. What can the governor or Sinhalese policeman do rectify this matter? There is a policy in many government services that all government servants should pass certain level of language. For example, a sinhalese officer should pass written & Oral examination. In my experience, most of the Sinhalese officers got through the exam with the knowledge of one or two words.

    • 0
      0

      Dr L Fernando,

      thank you for this highly valuabe letter which came up in the right time.

      I THINK ALMOST EVERYONE WILL JOIN WITH YOU – OF COURSE EXCEPT RACISTS like DJ OR OTHER THAT MAKE EFFORTS TO HURT FESTATED WOUNDs.

      Some govt authorities stay doing nothing – they must focus on the kind of issues than high promises being made to them.

      Language issues are the main issues in such areas. If people cant understand what is being informed there, nothing can work for them – they loose so much of time instead.
      If the kind of actions had been the case in FRENCH speaking or German speaking parts of Switzerland, people would have gone on protests from DAY1.
      But our notherners seem tolerating them EVEN today: EVEN after so long 30 years of war.
      State should be ashamed to have failed to do the least in the improvement of the kind of simple issues.

  • 8
    4

    The 16th Amendment to the constitution of Sri Lanka stipulates that “‘Sinhala and Tamil shall be the languages of administration through out Sri Lanka and Sinhala shall be the language of administration and be used for the maintenance of public records and the transaction of all business by public institutions of all the provinces of Sri Lanka other than the Northern and Eastern Provinces where Tamil shall be used”

    This means that Tamil is the language of administration in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

    It is not Sinhala and Tamil, but exclusively Tamil.

    Of course there is provision for minority languages in the 16th amendment.

    Again quoting from the 16A,
    ;” Provided that the President may, having regard to the proportion which the Sinhala and Tamil linguistic minority population in any unit comprising a division of an Assistant Government Agent, bears to the total population of that area, direct that both Sinhala and Tamil or a language other than the language used as the language of administration in the province in which such area may be situate, be used as the language of administration for such area”

    The 16th Amendment was certified on 17 December 1988.

    Yes 1988, Now 2017

    What is the reality?. Do we have a constitutional government?

    Is it true that constitution is the supreme off the land?

  • 4
    3

    Prof Laksiri Fernando,

    Why appeal to the Governor? Is it to mislead the affected that remedy is possible by appealing to the good sense
    .
    Minority rights depends on the goodwill?How rediculus?

    Does the constitution prescribes power to the Governor in respect of implementation of Language provisions?
    Why not go to Supreme court to ensure strict implementation of the constitution?

    What else is the remedy?

    Should not we make violation of constitutional provision is a punishable offence, if not constitutional guarantees are meaningless!

    Should we seek international gurantees?

    • 5
      4

      Sri Krish,

      You should know better than anyone else that the main purpose of an open letter or appeal is to highlight an issue. At the same time, there is no wrong in drawing the attention of the Governor in this case, to use his good offices to sort out this matter. Provisions in a constitution do not implement themselves. Don’t be too idealistic. Of course, one can go before the Supreme Court as you point out. I request you to do so and report to the CT. This is something I have been personally requesting many Tamil friends at the University of Colombo when they were rightly complaining about the non-implementation of the official language policy or more particularly the 16th Amendment. If democratic and legal processes were taken up for many issues, many lives of the youth could have been saved in my opinion.

      • 4
        0

        “”This is something I have been personally requesting many Tamil friends at the University of Colombo when they were rightly complaining about the non-implementation of the official language policy or more particularly the 16th Amendment.””
        Despite the fact that it’s far less economically developed?? Developing world & third world political scientist only consume – belch and fart so the
        The greatest wisdom seems like stupidity- quality of the old rogue.

        Britain, Australia, America all function as power of the world with a patchwork language without it being official. Even the pope stopped the west from teaching Latin in 1968 though patchwork constitutions , medicine, still need the language. Where is the tamil language in the international forum? Even CEO Google Sunder Pichai is onto Alphabet the language before Brahmic script.
        For 10 % population extending the concept Making Distinctions ethnic, religious of SWRDB walawe and JR ge walawe both married too.

        The fracking revolution has not yet extended beyond the U.S., and may never do so. Interestingly, almost the entire increase in global oil production has come from an increase in U.S. oil production.

  • 6
    7

    The liberal Prof. Laksiri Fernando registers his objection to this engineered
    aberration – loud and clear. Fortunately, for the country there are very many
    decent Sinhalese in the country- who have seen, and protested, the deliberate
    acts of discrimination inflicted on the Tamil Nation. This began 60 years ago
    and has only gained in momentum. If in doubt – ask the Most Ven. Gnanassara
    Thero!!! So why blame the Tamils for looking for alternatives for their future?

    Margaret Thatcher scoffed at the ANC and mocked Nelson Mandela. But
    Black majority South African rule was inevitable. Will Sinhala extremism
    eventually enable the coming of 2 Nations in one country – which that brilliant
    Lawyer-Historian-Politician Dr. Colvin R de Silva rightly predicted in a different avatar before the temptations of office seduced him.

    Or did Doris Day become apolitical when she then sang “Que Sera Sera” (what will be will be)

    Kettikaran

    • 5
      2

      Mr Kettikaran, when arrangements were made for the Tamils in the hill country to live in an environment of their own language, religion and culture, to live with dignity among their kith and kin they refused. They prefer to live among the Sinhalese in that pathetic existence. What is your explanation? Why don’t we see anyone leaving Wellawatta to Jafna during or after the war? Are you prepared for a referendum among Tamils living outside NE for a separate Tamil homeland? Then what is this alternative you are talking about? Mr Kettikaran there is no alternative other than living in one country so long as +50% of Tamils (Tamil speaking people) live outside NE. Let’s sort out these issues amicably. For all issues faced by Tamil speaking people which are of non political nature I am in your camp.—-
      Soma

      • 1
        0

        [Edited out] Comments should not exceed 300 words.Please read our Comments Policy for further details.

        • 0
          0

          Mr Kettikaran
          I am sorry for the restrictions imposed on you by CT. Kindly present your comment in two installments.
          Soma

          • 1
            2

            Dear Soma
            There were dozens of high profile opportunities to “sort out these issues amicably” between now and from 1956. But the Tamil peaceful and legal efforts to negotiate were scoffed at and not taken seriously. This was by both SLFP/PA and UNP led successive Sinhala majority governments. This does not include the period when some Tamil youth were forced to take to arms in the late 80s – left with no other peaceful alternative. Do you remember that incident when unarmed Tamil political leaders, Members of Parliament all, were laughed at, stoned and mercilessly assaulted by Sinhala mobs at Galle Face green (the late 50s)– many of them bleeding profusely. The then Oxford-educated himself jeered at them when they came into the House bleeding. And then that State-sponsored pogrom of 1983 – that betrayed the true colours in this country to the whole world.
            I believe you refer to the Indian-Pakistani Citizenship Acts. Remember, these multiple thousand Plantation workers have made this country their home for over a century. They gave their blood, body, heart and soul to produce the wealth of the land for nearly 200 years. In the process they delinked their physical connections with India. Was forcing them out – virtually in a single day – legal, moral or ethical? I know of (Lankan) Tamils in the 1980s who took to the streets in England appealing to the Thatcher Govt to grant citizenship to our people in the UK in continuous stay there for 10 years. And that democratic Govt gave in. I repeat 10 years!!! You speak of a recurring problem of over a hundred years. Where is the justice in this law? As to Tamils in Wellawatta and other parts of WP – who have made this their home – some since the late 19th century. They have given all of their lives and fortunes to their homes and assets here.

            • 0
              2

              (Page 2)
              Since you write under a veneer of assumed justice and goodness, I ask you is this fair and reasonable? A future Referendum for a Tamil Homeland, I suggest, should include the Tamil-speaking people in the North-East Province – and no other Provinces.
              As to living in one country for all – that you suggest, for this to be meaningful it is necessary to create the plural conditions that existed in the country before the 1950s so that Sinhalese, Tamils, Burghers and other communities can regain their earlier communal harmony. Can you get the new reality and actual source of political power – the apolitical Sinhala Buddhists priests, the Police and the Army – all under the umbrella of Sinhala extremism – to agree to this?

              Kettikaran

              • 0
                0

                kettikaran

                somass ji is not interested in your comment.

                However he is interested only in his little Sinhala/Buddhist fascist ghetto for the noisy minority. As usual he is not interested in solution but deepening the crisis after crisis in this island.

      • 1
        1

        Soma,

        You repeat the same old nonsense ad nauseam!

        “when arrangements were made for the Tamils in the hill country to live in an environment of their own language, religion and culture, to live with dignity among their kith and kin they refused.”

        Can you substantiate this with deeds? When and where it was made and who refused it?

        • 0
          0

          B.I.
          I know you don’t like it. Are you prepared for a referendum among Tamils (Tamil speaking people) living OUTSIDE North East for a separate Tamil Homeland?. I know your next question – who asked for a Tamil Homeland, when, where?. ——
          Soma

          • 1
            1

            Soma,

            Please stop digressing! I asked you a question; please answer with deeds. If you cannot answer, you should have the decency to retract your claim.

            • 0
              3

              B.I.
              You are challenging me or the inteligence of CT reader community? Read the responses of Mr Kettikararan above who doesn’t ask me the same idiotic question you do.though his answeres are totally off the mark.
              Soma

              • 0
                0

                soma,

                Please do not flatter yourself. You made the following comment:

                “when arrangements were made for the Tamils in the hill country to live in an environment of their own language, religion and culture, to live with dignity among their kith and kin they refused.”

                Where is the evidence? What Mr Kettikararan writes is his business. I want you to show this forum in deeds as to where and when such an offer was made and who refused it. You cannot pluck something out of the blue and write on this forum. You did that to belittle the Tamil community as a whole. There is nothing “idiotic” about me wanting you to substantiate your utterance! Come on I am waiting….

                I have debated with many on these forums and in Groundviews about many ideas to move forward with mutual benefits. In you, I find an insidious individual who is suffering from the fantom Sinhala Buddhist insecurity. The fear that you embody is indeed endemic among the Sinhala. You cannot create a plural society; it is evident in everything that is afoot since the end of the war. Your mere words will not cut it!

          • 2
            1

            somass ji

            “Are you prepared for a referendum among Tamils (Tamil speaking people) living OUTSIDE North East for a separate Tamil Homeland?.”

            Are you being serious?

            When can the Tamils have it? Will you be campaigning for a separate state of Tamil Eelam. At the same time I will be campaigning for a separate Sinhala/Buddhist fascist ghetto for the noisy minority.

            I promise you I will help your campaign and I expect you to help mine. We really don’t want to live with the noisy Sinhala/Buddhist fascists.

            We meaning, Sinhalese, Buddhists, Tamils, Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Burghers, Malays, my people, Maldivians, all other asylum seekers, …….. etc.

      • 0
        2

        he he he

        London cleaner Soma

        Do you know though Indian Tamils live in Sinhala area over 200 years they never marry Sinhalese?
        Without these Tamils today cursed SL will export Ganja instead of Tea

  • 6
    4

    Why a Sinhala gentleman as governor for the Northern Province. Aren’t there any Tamil or Muslim fit to be a governor for the Northern Province. What does it mean? It is the subjugation of the minority Tamils by the Majority Sinhalese. If there is a will there is a way. If the Police in the North wants to issue police summons in Tamil, it is not difficult to do so. But they do not want to do it. And there is no intention on their part to do so.

    • 5
      0

      Sellam——-
      My worry is why can’t there be a Tamil governor for a Sinhala province. Ethnicity should not be the basis for appointing governors. Just the cailibre and demonstrated integrity. Our major parties UNP and SLFP did a fundametal mistake from the beginning by not fielding some Tamil candidates for Sinhala majority electorates and a couple of Sinhala cadidates in the North. I have always maintained that all facilities must be made available for Tamil language users in interacting with the state machinery.——
      Soma

      • 2
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        Soma!
        As there is no genuine Tamil leader for the Tamils , I proposed a Sinhala moderate academic like Dr.Laksiri Ferndado to lead the Tamils. Will he? No it is not possible because the two main races in Sri l;anka are divided on linguistic basis. The Tamils will not accept him and he too not be willing. Similarly there cannot be a Tamil governor for the South as the Sinhalese will not be willing and a Tamil governor cannot function in the South effectively. The Tamils have not accepted Mr. Cooray as Governor whole heartedly.
        The current situation is such after the war. Reconciliation is a dirty word as far the Tamils are concerned. A fresh human species should evolve in Sri Lanka.

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          Sellam
          “”Reconciliation is a dirty word as far the Tamils are concerned.”2

          you think dirty so there aren’t even toilets there for the new homes built.

          Blended tea is the best as it suits most palates. FBOP in the morning, BOP in the afternoon and FBOPF in the night for a mellow mood.
          But you drink like idiotic famers howl and bark barking.
          The patchwork Sinhala language goes well with 90% of the island.
          Learn to blend because you can’t even bend it like Beckham or Suppiah former Ratnams football player of the 70’s a nattame of Pettah.

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    Sri-krish & Socratis,
    For me it looks like the OIC is mono lingual. Also it looks like police administration is an indepedent body and his responsibility is to take instruction from his police bosses. For him the CM & the Governor have nothing to do with police administration.

    One posiibility is, that the Police OIC has taken the advise from either
    HLDM or DJ

    By the way the seals ( the rubber stamps used by the Governor of NP has hiw many languages. ?

    In what language the CM of Jaffna conducts his business in the NP?. I have a feeling he also uses Sinhalese or English..

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    A structure fed on corruption has gotten established. There group behind this structure will do everything possible to impress Lankans as to how brutally efficient they were. One way the group showed “patriotism” was to make the armed services 99.9% mono-lingual and police nearly.
    The reason for the summons in Sinhalese was to bring disrepute to GoSL.

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    [Edited out] Comments should not exceed 300 words.Please read our Comments Policy for further details.

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    I am sure it would have been ok to issue summons in Hindi as we are an Indian Colony.

    The world is changing. It is time the majority take over the control of the country.

    The Sinhalese jave to stand up to the Indian Colonial Parasites who running the country.

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      We all know the bravery of the majority Buddhist Sinhalese. . JRJ begged in 1987 in the backyard of India. We all know how Mahinda & Gota licking the tails of Indians. Mahinda himself said he massacred tamils for Indian order. We all know how Premadasa surrendered to LTTE to send back Indian army. It is only Tamil who fought and sent Indian army out this island

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    How is that Fernando has start new campaign against for anti- Sinhalese politics in North. He has enlarge into North by hatred voice among people in North Tamils against Sinhalese-Buddhist ? Is these people are up-to what? What they have learn any lessons of modern politics of post-Independent of Island?
    Be broad minded on politics are more complex issues the to be resolved and ethnic issues of by political mainstream that any one has long-way to go.
    The Playing “bourgeoisies democracy” and “lip-services” them of the another political agenda by covered operation of Fernando;, but outside country is NOT that difficult no body has been challenges as long as your living sovereignty of Hegemonies..
    You are personally in safe by democracy is not well being of People of nationalities of Sri Lankan.
    He want show that how he is fair paly for Tamils in North? How is that pretty politics of who are talk of grand vision of globe Democracy ? Fernando also contributed substantially to created “Federal regime ” State by step by step build Tamil separatism regime in North. That will leads to myth of homeland for Tamils in North of Island.
    The instead of liberation of two cores of People of Sri Lankan the form of bondage that York of bourgeoisies democracy ,you are trying pave way for disintegration Sinhalese and Tamils of linguistic process is not realizing the new idea of modern democracy of Sri lanka.

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    Can someone enlighten the readers whether this is a one off incident or in the Nothern province people receive all communications from the police in Sinhala.———
    Soma

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      somass ji

      “Can someone enlighten the readers whether this is a one off incident or in the Nothern province people receive all communications from the police in Sinhala.”

      Your caring thought itself will be soothing medicine to the Tamil Speaking people for years to come, more than enough for them to further endure all run of the mill problems.

      However why don’t you take a walk (a long walk) in and around North East neighbourhood to find out yourself about it?

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      The Sinhalese minority living in the north and east of their motherland often receive their official correspondence in tamil only , even if they cant read a letter in tamil ! !. But since they are poor peasants their voice is never heard in public.

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        ADAHAS

        Oh dear. I want to help them. Could you ask them to send those official correspondence to CT in pdf format I will get someone to translate them in no time and return it in no time.

        If you could give us the exact location of this office we may there to give the official(s) (the faceless little people behind the desk) a good bollocking that will never forgotten.

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      Soma,

      The police in most cases insist the speaking complainants sign the reports written only in Sinhalese.

      Along with Prof Laksiri Fernando then ministers DEW Gunasekara and Vasudeva Nanayakara also tried to encourage government servants to learn Tamil and many of whom were given special payments of Rs 25,000 for attaining proficiency in Tamil. You can see that none of these worked as there is no will on the part of the government to implement the dual language policy.

      It is a curse for this country that the minorities are used by the elitists only to win elections by promoting hatred. Even USA could elect a black president but in Sri Lanka the polarised extremism will not permit the voters go beyond nationalism to elect their representatives or leaders. They prefer to harbour hatredness to promote peace and prosperity and hence dwell in dire poverty.

      Unless there is some fairness and an element of equality in the treatment of different ethnicity there cannot be peace and reconciliation. This is universal and not confined to our country.

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        “”Even USA could elect a black president “”
        We all know the truth that the Kenedy girl left and his girlfriend has to say plus the muslim refugees at europe Libya, and the forces he never pulled out of Iraq.
        He was sponsored by the american billionaires holding bonds in the arms industry (now they are surrounding The Donald) to get at Bin as if they and Musharraf the american toy boy did not know till he spent a luxurious life of over 2 years at london all on london tax payers money.
        Obama legacy- last 2 years he printed $4 trillion at will left the country and citizen with an internal debt of $$18 trillion. Killed more americans and world’s people than a stuttering Bush Jr.
        It all has a purpose – he was tip cut and elected for purpose but escaped death unlike Lakshman Kadir

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      Please Soma grow up

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        Burning Issue

        “Please Soma grow up”

        You are asking the wrong person. He is suffering from arrested development.

        Have you noticed his typing is limited to ethnic cleansing and his obligation to carry MR/GR’s b***s?

        It is the fascist mind that prevent him from growing up. I am sure his children would be taking him to task three times a day for believing in Sinhala/Buddhist fascism.

        Poor fellow.

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    At times I feel this is a carefully planned one to create a difficult situation for the government. Therefore thorough investigations must be done.

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      Now if you pulled your head from where it is then you can clearly see/feel it yourself if you haven’t seen/felt it since 1956.

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        I carefully see not from 1956 but from 1922….may be if you pull your head and see..you will know…but I know you wont..

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          You would have seen HLD M carrying the public racist Anagarika Dharmapala’s padikkam (spittoon) as well as his b***s in 1922 only few years back the Brits could have executed some of the Sinhala leaders (D. S. Senanayake, F. R. Dias Bandaranaike, . H. W. Amarasuriya, A. H. Molammure, D. R. Wijewardena, Dr. Casssius Perera and E. T. de Silva ) if not for Ponnambalam Ramanathan’s intervention in the UK.

          The public racist Anagarika Dharmapala did not go to UK to fight the case instead he pleaded with Ponnambalam Ramanathan to save Sinhala leaders. And Ponna duly did his best without any hesitation given that he could have lost his perks and pays.

          Please pull your head wherever it is now. HLD M find it difficult to sit properly.

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    Here is a remedy to start off. I believe Hon. Mano Ganesan is in charge of a subject which covers this problem. My guess is that ALL forms used by the State and Depts. are printed at the Govt. Press. This Hon-M-P. should seek the cooperation of the Govt. Printer to refer to him ANY printing matter that is to be put out for public use failing to incorporate all three languages, except where separate Forms are printed in the 3 languages. The Hon.Minister should also find out the staff numbers in each and every Dept. which can/cannot deal with this language issue and make amends via the “dead” PSC! I also think that there are some Officials working on a hidded Agenda in these matters. for example – the I/E Dept. wants applicants abroad to
    return to Sri Lanka to obtain their Passports if they be 20-22yrs age at time of
    applying. This is NOT disclosed in any written document or web-site !!!!!!!!!!!!!

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    Laksiri Fernando
    [Edited out]This is the time we all should join together to fight against minority uprising. Threat from these terrorists are real and imminent !

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      This is the time Sinhalese reject all traitors.. Rajapaksa clan tops the list.

      Heroes have become traitors. The entire-Rajapaksa-clan is betraying the country. The funny thing is they betray each other too. They betray their political allies. They betray armed forces. Therefore, betraying the country is nothing. Rajapaksa who supports Ranil’s Federal Constitution hides behind Sinhala Buddhist mask while having secret pacts with Tamil and Muslim political parties in order to come back to power. Rajapaksa clan paved the way for Ranil to pass OMP-Bill. What other example one needs to see their real face?

      They want to come back to power by hook or crook. They suppressed my voice in the past. Pathetic Rajapaksa losers are using an IMPOSTER to post comments in my name. This is what Rajapaksa clan did during their regime. This is how they suppress opponents. The latest is distancing themselves from all crimes and corruption the committed. Now they are betraying Tri Forces. Tri Forces personnel have to go to jail for their crimes. This is a serious injustice. This should never happen. Doesn’t matter how much I tolerate other things, I will never forgive them for betraying Tri Forces. They should pay for it.

      The IMPOSTER-CHAMPA gave me more courage and determination. I should thank Rajapaksa clan. They have met their match. I don’t do dirty games like them. I never did. It is I who will win, not them.

      I am one person but I have the strength of 100 Rajapaksas. Go ahead, do you dirty games, who cares, I don’t care. In two days, when I get free time again, let’s begin the game. I will never let Rajapaksa clan ruin the country and bring suppression, terror, crimes and corruption back to Sri Lanka’s politics.

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        When did you get your ends cross implanted ? Champa?

        I happened to read you insisting only good of Japakaskhe few months ago. But to date, to have changed your mind as if a reptile left his outer skeleton – i think your thoughts are increasingly inconsistent.

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      “” to fight against minority uprising. “”
      Words in the wind!
      Hey, you are not a one man band but an organised EDOS virus originating from Modawanse the fascist looter.

      NO master (school drop out or PhD) can make me swear blind obedience.

      The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities- Rand.

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    Laksiri,
    You were quick to bring this to the attention of the Governor. Appreciate that.
    Now, you should venture into some research as to why such things happen. Was it because of pure racism to show Sinhala domination or there are other underlying reasons such as unavailability of Tamil literates in this particular police station?
    We always need to take care of the root cause.

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      Eusense,

      Oh the libtards can dream of excuses till the cows come home….he argues over a goat’s hair.
      challenging financial times, increasing workload, extra responsibilities without the added time to do them, the second most difficult language in the world….

      this above all the libtard pensioner down under would not want to accept even
      Curiosity: English language does not have official status in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

      Another tree climber riding to and fro upon tigers which he dare not dismount. And the tigers are getting hungry.

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        E.T.A. Spanish Basque country the classical basque language is not taught. Yet there is zero unemployment. There is Gugenheim stainless steel on the water.
        gihilla ballanda- you can sleep on the village pavements it’s so clean and there are beautiful flowers of the pyrenees in bloom at this moment in time.
        Madonna sings that song about San Sebastian Julius Caesar respected them.
        Who respects these demala suicide bombing villagers? Only the Walawe built on race and religion distinctions now running with a posse of armed men as security.

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    Dear, Laksiri Fernando,
    Thank you for your public appeal to Governor Srisena Cooray. I have met him several times regarding improvement of education. He approved the recommendations that needed his approval. You know that he is fluent in speaking Tamil. His public meetings to Tamil audience is in Tamil. He is aware of not only the police even the Line Ministries eg Education and Sports send their letters to the Northern Ministries in Sinhala. It is not something that an ordinary translator could translate as they have professional Terms. Only one person, an Additional Secretary can translate them accurately.

    The problem has existed since the Sinhala Only Bill was implemented. Srimavo and her Ministers implemented the policy that contributed to the War. You know The late Charlie Abeyasekara who was Commissioner of the Language Commission. He told me in 1999 that he is unable to get the Sinhala leaders or the staff to implement the Official Language Policy of that time.

    The only way the language policy of parity of both languages is for the new Constitution entrench such a policy and the decision making of administration of all key sectors are devolved to the provinces. Another is to allocate police staff in proportion to the ratio of Tamil to Sinhala speaking population of the province. I hope such measures are part of the new constitution. The events of the rest of 2017 will decide peace or continued conflict in Sri Lanka.
    Ethir

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      “”Only one person, an Additional Secretary can translate them accurately.””
      Now, that is a load of cow dung on CT. None can translate prose or poetry `accurately` as the essence is lost. When Kashmiris recite Ghazals( is a poetic form with rhyming couplets and a refrain, each line sharing the same meter) most north indians do not understand the essence. Why did the tamils of nadu embrace sufi music? there lies the answer.
      Don’t over do pole vaulting your days are over – just a one off from the village.

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      “”The events of the rest of 2017 will decide peace or continued conflict in Sri Lanka.””
      Now that statement is a veiled threat!
      No, you’re wrong now, and always will be.!
      Curiosity: English language does not have official status in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
      Here in england we get along with patchwork english you are asking for what imported Crusader SJVC did not achieve via his hell bent strikes and Fatso VP did with suicide bombing.
      Demala insistence is by less than 10% of the population while 90% enjoy the variety of the patchwork language Sinhala.
      What a canny sod! (underneath the sod was a layer of humus)

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        You say that,”Here in England we get along with patchwork English”. English as an official language in UK is not proclaimed as there is no written constitution in UK. But for all intents and purposes English is the official language. You seem to be a Godaya used to “Kaduwa”, who has come to England with your broken Ingireesi. That is why the English that is used in UK appears to be patchwork to you.

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          “2there is no written constitution in UK. “”
          you are living on the edge like an idiot. it is colloquial to say no written constitution. if you have the ba**s walk over to the library lincoln’s inn reference section and see the number of of barristers reading portions of the constitution.
          Demala from royal college (you joined with a chit because oyur pop was government servant) No it is very clear, neither has English got an `academy` as in french.
          Go to the university meet the HoD and ask before playing KOTIYA with me.
          Kotiya :That is why the English that is used in UK appears to be patchwork to you.
          Do refer the meaning of patchwork and what is stand alone
          28% latin, 26% French….. Kotiya find the rest.

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    It is clear that there orchestrated efforts are in place to tarnish the image of SL and profit from this. The Ath-thuvely police was simply manipulated into doing what they did.
    The policy of 99.9% mono-lingual armed services and nearly so police is unchanged

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      Even the Kingdom of England where the Kings did not speak Old English for 100 years but Latin a classical language succumbed to the wishes of the majority Anglo Saxons English. The British constitution which is a patchwork constitution still exist as it is with the 100 years of additions in Latin but not in English. Even with Brexit UK is going to install the laws of the EU that was bestowed into its constitution.

      Pillai, you are a thickhead of a terror outfit masquerading as a moderate.

      “”The policy of 99.9% mono-lingual armed services and nearly so police is unchanged””

      I am aware of Jaffna villagers who joined the forces with difficulty because of crusader SJVC and they shone within to stay at Colombo learnt sinhala were respected by the sinhalese for being impartial. So please don’t fart with your 99.9%.

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    The island was ruled by patchwork English language and the place remained picturesque. Then two `thickheads` (JR&SWRDB) went to Nadu imitating motherland Hindustan and met another `thickhead` Churchill who rewarded the sub-continent with partition and freedom because the English had lost the war and EEIC was blitzed and to top it the Indians had more guns than ever.

    Naked Fakir (a branch of the Deccan of the Marathas) got shot by a Maratha priest because of religious differentiation as the Marathas who were the last rulers were Hindu/Muslim warriors.

    SWRD brought a load of language differentiation and got shot by a priest- the priest understood the culture better than politicians who are there to rob the island of its resources.

    Now the same dynasties of JR& SWRDB who are intermarried are churning the incubator for war by sitting on tigers and finding it unable to dismount the tiger because the two (Sinhala official and Demala official) are Looters of the island’s population.
    Sri Lankan Follow Curiosity: English language does not have official status in Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

    Let there be no official language or faith in the constitution just follow the majority – match over all’s well anyone who stops it is a terrorist sponsored by diaspora Tamils who should be taken care of by a Gotabaya type of Defence Secretary.

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    This Police Summons in Sinhala Language in Tamil speaking Jaffna looks like a planned affair to discredit this government. I am sure this is done on purpose with a hidden agenda. Whoever is behind this knows very well that the media will blow this out of proportion and finally it will end up in UN making the government and their reconciliation process look like a big joke. As per the SL constitution, the person who received this has all the rights to take legal action against the police. Now that it is fully exposed, the government should look into this and take all the necessary steps so that such things will not happen even by mistake in the future. The country faced 30 long years of brutal terror due to such things, lets not go back to square one.

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    The solution is sinhala youth learn Tamil and employed in these police stations.

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      You are courting for more trouble. – legal tamil and proscution would lose every case.- its the second most difficult language in the world and a dying one at that.
      let the status core remain and concentrate in employment and making at lanka.

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      No, no Jim, those jobs are for Tamils only. Jobs in the rest of the country should be for everyone but in the North they must be for Tamils alone. I believe it is called discrimination against a majority. It has been going on since independence.

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      Jim softy the dimwit

      “The solution is sinhala youth learn Tamil and employed in these police stations.”

      Tamils are as equally stupid as the Sinhalese, why not appoint Tamil speaking stupids in their habitat rather than Sinhala speaking equally stupid ones?

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    Asgiriya and Malwatte Ayotullahs and Modaya politicians are trying their best to take back this cursed SL back to 1956.
    Thanks for this now another generation of Tamils here and in South India seriously thinking about the separate country.
    Bandaranayaka `s Sinhala only policy not only divided these communities but also end up in sending podi menike and punchi banda to clean toilets in Arab countries.
    Bangladesh was created simply because of Urdu imposed on Bengalies ..in then East Pakistan.Bengali langue is an ancient language today in the 3rd place in world languages

    Malayali origin Sinhalese are jumping too much …and even today believe con book Mahavamsa.
    Cheers

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    Doctor Laksiri fernando

    sri Lanka is the country of sinhalese speaking people. Tamil speaking people have separate land in India called Tamilnadu. If Tamil need all communication by Tamil, they should go to Tamilnadu. if you live Germany or UK you get all government communications in German or English language. No clear cut policies may push country into another bloody war. This time either Tamil or Sinhalese might get wash out on earth i suppose.

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      You Ranjith, I am telling you, more of the kind of men of your nature, we had inthe country 30 years ago. That was the reason us to go for a brutal war.
      So pelase see it right let alone today.
      Do you think french speaking part of Canada would ONLY use English for their official work ?

      Do you think German speaking Swiss regions would ONLY use French or otherway around in French speaking swiss regions ?

      No any single civilized folks or adminsitration woudl ever allow the kind of practises to be caught after a long war ? But this si a greater harm to reconciliation of the nation.
      We should finally realize, we should see it right today.
      We the majoratarian folks made mistakes.
      Admitting them let alone today is the least we can do.
      Govt has to work on the doing the due not HARMING the minorities anymore.

      You ask them to go back to TN or india.

      Then Veddas should ask us sinhalese to leave country and go back to BENGALI or what ?

      What BS have you been bubbling you the stupid man ?
      Let SORCERY parents to burry in their dead ends, and give us a life BALLIGE puthas of your nature. can help achieving sustainable peace for all in this LOST island.

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        LEELAGEMALLI

        “Then Veddas should ask us sinhalese to leave country and go back to BENGALI or what ?”

        I do very often tell them, unfortunately the Kallathonies have had it so good and shameless they refused to go back to either South or North India.

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      ranjith (sprrw) scatter brain anthropologist

      “sri Lanka is the country of sinhalese speaking people.”

      To begin with some years ago it was the country of my people the harmless happy Veddhas until the Kallathonies from South India invaded this island.

      In fact Sinhala/Buddhists should consider going back to either South India or Bihar. One cannot accept a group of politically manufactured people on this land.

      Indians like magic shows. Their swamis make interesting magic shows.

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    America black community’s ancestors were not English speaking lot. They Might be speakers of Different different dialect of Africans. even west Indians are same. Likewise State Tamils have same thing. As such your theory is bullshit.

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      ranjith (sprrw)
      Be proud like the English or the Indians with Hindi to have a patchwork language because it is easily understood than a stand alone language. Greek is a standalone classical language but we still have to refer to it when it comes to flora and fauna- empirical naming in the western world. Sanskrit, Persian are standalone one is dead and the other is dying with patchwork taking over from old crocks.
      It is very costly for a third world to have a parallel language for official purposes when its standalone. that too for 10%
      When I studied at Leuven I have experienced the problems along with my friends the issues created by french speaking immigrants coming in drones to Brussels and refusing to communicate in Flemish but French and a bit of english to the annoyance of the Flemish who are the breadwinners for Belgium and speak fluent French, Flemish and English. so the French speaking Belgians sit and laugh- 2 years they had no government and now the terrorist hits by french speaking muslims.

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    Since Dr Laksiri Fernando has given a link to Prof. S.R.H. Hoole, I worked backwards and came to this article:

    https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/an-evening-with-jayampathy-a-response-to-hoole/

    in which another Tamil gentleman refutes certain things said by Prof. Hoole in this article:

    https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/an-evening-in-jaffna-with-hon-dr-jayampathy-wickramaratne-mp/

    I stopped there. A quite balanced article by Prof. Hoole.

    Taken together, these articles show us the dilemmas that we are faced with in trying to solve this problem, that we MUST indeed solve. The “real politick” of having people swayed only by slogans cannot be ignored. We have to study all these aspects, either through these articles, or by other means, and arrive at a compromise.

    I have seen disparaging remarks suggesting that “the Hooles” are survivors. Very negative thinking. How many Hooles there are, I don’t know, but only two seem to be prominent – and they are very different people, both very honest. Dr Rajan Hoole, who never became a Professor owing to being a vagabond for 15 years is secular in outlook, and I have got to know him again after 50 years(i.e. school days). His brother is more committed Anglican Christian. Both always speak the truth, but they are quite different individuals.

    Mr Reginald Cooray has been a successful English private tuition master. He ought, therefore to appreciate the problems faced by people when confronted with a language that they don’t understand.

    Now, having relegated all the huge, important and complex questions to the background, can we please take the one little step suggested by this article: write those letters in Tamil.

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