19 March, 2024

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Tamil-Muslim Relations In The Eastern Province

By Ameer Ali

Dr. Ameer Ali

The deterioration of Sinhalese-Tamil Relations (STR), Sinhalese-Muslim Relations (SMR) and Tamil-Muslim Relations (TMR) are three interconnected segments of the same macro-issue of plurality mismanagement. I have discussed this problem in an earlier piece (Colombo Telegraph: 1 November 2017). However, among these segments, the last, TMR, has not been well understood by many and received scant reference in published writings and discussions. I drew attention to this problem in another piece in this journal (Colombo Telegraph: 11 January, 2018).

The Eastern Province (EP), which has nearly 43% of the country’s agricultural land and produces one quarter of the nation’s paddy, is emerging as the next theatre where TMR will come under severe strain due to issues that are peculiar to this province. An aggressive post-civil war policy of state aided colonization of this province, especially its Batticaloa District, with Sinhalese-only ex-army men and their families; and an equally aggressive mission of a few ultra-nationalistic Buddhist monks, who, basing their claims on invented myths and dubious archaeology, are on a spree to plant Buddha statues even on private lands legally owned by Tamils and Muslims, have already put STR and SMR in this province to a gruelling test. It is as a by-product of these two has TMR risen to add fuel to the fire.     

Demographically, EP’s population in the 2012 census showed nearly 40% Tamils, 37% Muslims and 23% Sinhalese. On district basis, the corresponding ratios were roughly 17% for Tamils, 44% for Muslims and 39% for Sinhalese in Ampara, 72% Tamils, 25% Muslims and 1% Sinhalese in Batticaloa, and 31% Tamils, 40% Muslims and 27% Sinhalese in Trincomalee. It is the very low percentage of Sinhalese population in the Batticaloa District, which is agonizingly worrying the ultra-Sinhala nationalists, who believe that Sinhala Buddhists must form the majority in every district and province of the country.  Populating the Batticaloa District with more Sinhala Buddhists is their strategy to thwart any attempt by any government to bring into reality either a federal state or a merged North-Eastern Provincial Council in future. Thus, the deteriorating TMR in EP is an unfortunate consequence of what Michael Robert described as “majoritarian part subsuming the whole”.

What is at stake in this ‘Great Game’ in EP among the three communities is the distribution of land.  Muslims are the biggest losers in this distribution.  Being one-third of the population of EP, Muslims hold only 3% of the land. Just as there was hunger for land amongst the Kandyan peasantry on the eve of independence there is now land hunger amongst Tamil and Muslim householders in EP.  While the government is refusing to allocate crownland to the two national minorities, for fear of angering the Sinhala-Buddhist nationalists, the minorities in turn, with encouragement from their respective political leaders, are engaging in a mutually destructive game of encroaching into each other’s lands.  It is this competition for land between Tamils and Muslims that is at the heart of the rouble in TMR, and the failure to solve it will cause another Tamil-Muslim riot in EP.

The concentration of Muslims and the massive size of their vote bank in the Ampara and Batticaloa districts has led to the emergence of a new generation of Muslim parliamentarians, of whom at least one entered the current legislature through the back door. Their lack of political far-sightedness and patriotic spirit has driven the Tamil and Muslim communities to the edge of another violent confrontation. The most disastrous outcome of their short sightedness and parochialism was the founding of the SLMC. This monster has caused enough trouble to the entire Muslim community in the island and unless it is dissolved it is bound to engender even more trouble particularly to the Muslims of EP.

A few examples will help highlighting the danger that is facing the two communities in the Batticaloa and Ampara districts. In one of the recorded messages that has gone viral in the social media, one Muslim parliamentarian, who is also a minister in the MS-RW government, appears to brag that he had singlehandedly engineered to grab a piece of land that belongs to a Hindu temple and given it to the Muslims.  Did this parliamentarian ever think of the repercussions that his act would cause within the Hindus? Is this not a blatant abuse of power? Very recently in another location, Attapalam near Addalaichenai, a Muslim landowner appears to have illegally acquired a few acres of paddy land that belonged to some poor Tamil peasants. Obviously, he could not have done this without some support from the Muslim politician of the area. Similarly, in the municipal area of Batticaloa itself, some Hindus have acquired land belonged to the mosque at Kalliyankadu, and built on it a Hindu prayer centre. Finally, it appears that the Urban Council of Kattankudy is planning to convert it into a Municipality by extending the area within its jurisdiction to include the adjacent Kallady, a Tamil settlement. Kattankudy is the most densely populated township in the country, where, according to the 2012 census, over 40,000 Muslims cramped into a land area of just 6km2. The Tamils of Kallady feel that the hidden agenda behind this plan is to acquire land for Muslims to spread out. They are already demonstrating against the move. A similar agenda may be the reason for the agitation for a separate council by another thickly populated Muslim township, Sainthamaruthu, with over 25,000 Muslims living in 8km2 area, and lies next to another Tamil settlement Karaitivu. 

What all these instances show is the absolute shortage of land for Tamils and Muslims. The obvious solution is for the two communities to join hands and agitate under a single banner for the release of more crown lands from government. The Muslim parliamentarians, who are all corrupt and holding ministerial positions in the present government, are obviously gutless to advance this cause, because that will jeopardise their status and positions with the regime. They do not want the two communities to join because they fear that such cooperation if succeeds, and there is no reason why it cannot, may pave the way for an eventual North-Eastern Provincial Council, which the Sinhala-Buddhist ultra-nationalists also reject.  Such is the painful dilemma facing both minorities under leaders who do not realise that there is strength in unity. 

The Tamil and Muslim settlements in EP are delicately balanced. If this balance is disturbed and mismanaged, in the interest of political point scoring, some small pockets like the Muslim settlement at Kankeyanodai and Tamil settlement at Karaitivu, trapped between larger entities of Tamils and Muslims respectively, are bound to face grave danger. It is time that these two communities realise their common interests and join hands to make their voice heard by the rulers.    

*Dr. Ameer Ali, School of Business and Governance, Murdoch University, Western Australia

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Latest comments

  • 5
    2

    Sinhala government time to time used Muslims against Tamils and Muslims went along with the Sinhala government and return all the ministers got the benefit and not the Muslims. Sinhala Government didn’t want ant other nationalities get together and get strength. On other hand the government couldn’t use Tamils against Muslims. In history few bitter moments between Tamils and Muslims seems no one didn’t proof what war wrong but it came in light as the military personnel told openly to the media Muslim was spying for the army on LTTE
    I didn’t want to bring this up but this article brought the Tamil Muslims relationship on this time to create more mess and I want the country in peace not piece by piece with the politician’s gain

    • 4
      0

      You are correct that Muslims played a key role collaborating with Sinhalese hate criminal armed forces against Tamils, spying while corrupt and power greedy Muslim leaders failed to stand on fair Justice, democracy, rule of law and Justice. It is disgrace that Muslim leaders due to their greedy position/status and corruption, failed to prevent Sinhala hate criminals attacking Muslims from time to time.

      Muslims in Tamil Nadu go as Tamils and not as Muslims and there is no such Muslim race in this planet. Muslims’ mother tongue is Tamil and not Sinhala.

      Sinhala hate crimes are exposed worldwide and Tamil Diaspora is stronger than ever before to bring the perpetrators to accountability!

  • 6
    0

    I do not like to divide land on the basis of race and religions..
    This is wrong ..
    There is an arguments among sinahalse that they enjoy less percentage of land .M&R said this openly.
    What a non sense is this?
    Yes; realistically it be true..but please do not behave like Mugabe of Zimbabwe ..
    Yes. Look from Nawalapita up to Badullla a large percentage of upcountry Tamils live ?
    Does not mean they own all land ?
    No way?
    They have been exploited in tea plantation by sinahslese governments..
    In the same way ; Muslim community in Ampara or Tricolamala may have some percentage of land and still they work hard to feed Sri Lankan people …
    Do not divide the country on land base ?
    It is SINHALESE people who have the laxury of all top jobs …more than 85% top jobs go to them..
    Consider all GA/AGAs; or High commissioners/ or all other top jobs…
    Still they want grab land tòo..
    GOD is watching you ?
    Do not expect another tsunami or and slide .
    GOD protect us from earthquake..
    But some politicians beg for destruction..
    Injustice brings natural disasters and wait and see

  • 10
    1

    The friction between Tamils and Muslims in the east is waiting to explode. During the war years the Muslims with the help of the Sinhala army and Mulim Home Guards drove thousands of Tamil civilians from the border villages using force. Hundreds of Tamils were slaughtered by the combined Sinhala army and the Muslim Home Guards in several villages in the east. The guards operate with local army and police units, going out on patrols against the LTTE and manning sentry points. They also expand the colonised areas by carrying out panic-inducing attacks on nearby Tamil villages.
    On August 02, 1990, 150 Tamils were picked up from Pothuvil by STF, Police and Muslim Home Guards. only 30 were released. The whereabouts of the remaining 120 are not known.
    On September 5, 1990, 158 Tamils were reported missing from Vantharoomulai refugee camp., after being taken into custody by the security forces and Muslim Home Guards.
    On September 9, 1990, 4 days later, 167 people, including 38 children, under 10 years old, were taken into custody from 3 villages in the same district.
    On 21st September 1990, 17 Tamils from the village on the Batticaloa-Kalmunai Road were stabbed or shot to death by Muslim Home Guards. The victims included women and children.
    One hundred Tamil Villages like Meeraodai, Thevadduvan, Oddamavadi (40% Tamils) are 100% Muslims now. Former Minister Hizbullah in a YouYube interview brags that Muslim Guards operated with the local army and police units, going out on patrols against the LTTE and manning sentry points. They also expanded the colonized areas by carrying out panic-inducing attacks on nearby Tamil villages.

    • 8
      1

      Muslims are brutal and behaving like Al Qaida and ISIS against Tamils in East. Sinhala Muslims riots in South and Kandy a wake up call to Muslims. We hear that Muslims exploiting young girls who lost their mostly male family members (eg: father, brother) and ruining their lives.

      Muslims played a key role and collaborating with Sri Lankan alleged war criminal armed forces for petty benefits, Tamils’ land and business grab and also in committing genocide against Tamils.

  • 4
    12

    Amir,
    By writing lies and bullsh1t, you put Muslims at risk. And what the hell do you mean by “invented myths and dubious archaeology”?????????????? During Arseroff tenure, he behaved like a mad dog, bulldozed Buddhist archeological sites, encroached 15000 acre Digawapiya, encroached 10000 acre Muhudumaha viharaya, produced fraudulent land deeds for them. 99% Muslims in Eastern province and other parts of Sri Lanka are kallathoni Marakkala from fishing villages of South India. Those Muslims came to Sri Lanka to escape famine, poverty, caste discrimination, religious discrimination, etc and to live off naive but extremely generous Sinhala-Buddhists. Muslims live like leeches and pests, their contribution to Sri Lanka is in minus.

    Muslims could not be bothered to join SL Army and fight LTTE terrorists but now thousands of Muslims have gone abroad to join 1S1S.

    REMEMBER- It’s Sinhalese who, mostly without owning a square inch of their mother land fought to save Sri Lanka from invading LTTE terrorists. So, it’s government’s duty to re-settle Sinhalese in their ancestral land. Thirikuanamalaya, Madakalapuwa, Ampara districts were part of old Ruhunapura kingdom.

    Tamils and Hindu festivals have been attacked by local Muslims in Grandpass, Mattakkuliya, and other parts of northern Colombo.

  • 10
    1

    How did Tamils who were around 70% in the Trincomallee district and elected two members of parliament ( Trincomallee and Mutur) from this district even in 1970s get reduced to a mere 31% within 20 -30years. The reason is most have been ethnically cleansed and chased away from their lands by both the Sinhalese ( government) and the Muslims during this period and now many of them are languishing in refugee camps in India or in the north.

    • 0
      6

      Real Siva Sankaran Sharma
      Bullocks, they having the good life in Toronto, London………….

    • 1
      0

      It may be prudent to go back to 1948 ,when Ceylon gained independence?
      What was the Sinhala population in the east? Not even 4% of the total population. What is it now almost 40%. Who was the architect of this colonization move from Galoya- the so called Father of the Nation. DS. Senanayake. Whether one likes it or not the Sinhala leaders irrespective of the party is hell bent on Colonizing the North/East with Sinhalese from far beyond to change the texture of the population. To be successful in this project they put the Muslims against the Tamils and the Tamils against the Muslims.Muslims of course thought they could get the best of both worlds as openly indicated by Hizbullah. Muslims leaders will never learn like Faize Mustapha who went to Geneva to dissuade the Muslims from Demonstrating against the recent onslaught against the Muslims. It appears Faiza Mustapha and Sumanthiran has something in common?.

  • 1
    4

    Dear Friend,

    You are an academic based in Australia but you are writing some double standard article supporting racism based on your ethnic background. What you are basically saying is that the Central Government can not have population policies to redress the land shoratge in the western part of the country. Your subtle argument is that the Eastern Province of the country to be dedicated as a Tamil and Muslim majority province. This entire argument is based on racisam and does not have a vilidity in setting country population policies.

    You live in Australia and can you tell the Australian government your bulshit arguments . Based on your theory, some of the people who migrated to Australia may say, in 100 years time, that certain areas of Australia is highly populated by certain ethnnic communities and other communities should not be settled in those areas. What a bulshit argument ? Are you an academic and if so, write some thing with sense and validity.

    You also need to read the history. I think that King Senarath in 1500s made a real blunder by allowing your people to settle in the Eastern province. He should have allowed Portugese to finish off your community people who lived in the Western province.

    My principle is that Sri Lanka is belonging to all the Sri Lankans without the community lines. They should be allowed to live freely any where in the Island. That the Government should be able to have population policies without considering the ethnicity.

    • 2
      0

      Sunil Dasshanayake

      “What you are basically saying is that the Central Government can not have population policies to redress the land shoratge in the western part of the country. “

      If Western part of the island is overpopulated why doesn’t the state get Chinese help to reclaim land from the sea and resettle the excess population? Alternatively sterilize the men or kick the men and women out of the country, deport them back to India. Or sell them into slavery there is a ready market in some part of former Soviet the Union or Middle East.
      How about exterminating the excess in Gas Chambers or plunging them in imported acid? Dr Gota may have some experience in acid bath.

      • 0
        4

        Native
        Overpopulation of western part of the island is due to too many Tamils moving westward to escape from VP and his LTTE thugs (besides those like the author who moved to Australia and yoursel to wash plates in some rat infested corner in London). Better Redress would be to move any excess Sinhala to the North in order to get the right balance.

        • 2
          0

          Eagle Blind Eye

          “Overpopulation of western part of the island is due to too many Tamils moving westward to escape from VP and his LTTE thugs “

          And to escape from carpet bombing, shelling, Lalith Athulathmudali innovative s**t barrel bombing from helicopters, mass arrest and disappearance, starved of food items from government blockade of the north restricted transport of all essential supplies including food and medicine, which resulted in severe food shortages by late July, ………………… above all the exodus started immediately after independence because no development program was planned or implemented in the North or East while Sinhala only was imposed, hence the exodus.

          You should consult a gene editor to make some adjustments in your head.

          • 0
            0

            Dumb Native
            “escape from carpet bombing, shelling, Lalith Athulathmudali innovative s**t barrel bombing from helicopters, mass arrest and disappearance, starved of food items from government blockade of the north”

            Barrel bombing was abandoned in 1985 but exodus continued even now, how does one escape mass arrest and disappearance in North by escaping to Colombo? Did LTTE or government keep North supplied with food and essentials despite more than half of it being looted by LTTE?

      • 0
        0

        Native
        In order to create a Tamil Homeland Tamils (Tamil speaking people which includes both Hindus and Muslims) presently in the South will have to be resettled in the North East. Now with this TMR issue that project it looks like is going to face further obstacles.
        Soma

        • 0
          0

          soma,

          Are all Sri Lankans equal?

        • 1
          0

          somass

          Before indulging in your fantasies get ready for your next move, relocating your family and friends to your treasured Sinhala/Buddhist Fascist Ghetto. Unlike free rice from the moon you need to pay for the land.

    • 1
      0

      OK. Then why all colonging schemes are only for sinhalese sir.? While the previous legal land owners are made to landless refugees.example all so called welikada oya. In Trinco and andankulam (now andankulama), pankulam (now moraweva) saraswathipuram ( now sardhapura) panikaddimurrippu (now panikattiyawa, mankindimalai in mullaitheevu ( now janakapura) …etc etc. All tamil lands were acquired from them by killing threatening and with forged documents by sinhalese government. And given them to sinhalese from south. All made for destroy the tamil home land claim.still it continues.
      The war us over but the root causes are persisting.

      • 1
        0

        Sahara, forget the names. Talk numbers. Sinhalese in NP 2%, EP 23%. Tamils n Muslims in Colombo MC 60%. Either drop traditional home land theory or let’s talk how to redress imbalance.

        • 0
          0

          Even if 60% of of the Muslims and Tamil population of Colombo is spread out all over Srilanka they cannot become a majority any where. It will be like digging a hole to fill up another hole. However if the Sinhala population of Srilanka is ‘pinched’ out little by little and spread out to the North and East, the Tamil population and the Muslim population will become a microscopic minority without any representation in the Parliament. That is exactly what the successive governments are trying not only in Kandy , Digana. and Amparai. Please note, even Dutugemunu never extended his rule beyond Anurdhapura.

  • 2
    8

    I hold a high respect of Dr Ameer Ali, since he is a versatile scholar in the field of Muslims in SL or Muslims of SL. However, I beg to disagree with certain arguments he brought forth in the above article on “Tamil Muslim relations in EP”, which appeared in Colombo Telegraph.

    In fact, some of the facts he has put forward are totally distorted and misleading. For example, his allegations that Muslims misappropriated lands of Tamils in Addappalam is baseless and is a farce. When you write something against an issue that puts a community at dock, one should have done the home-works very well. In fact, 30 perches of 12 acres of deed lands of Prof.Ishaq( present Chancellor of SEUSL) expropriated by Tamils for their burial ground. Subsequently, he filed a case in the court and the case is on pending. He has recently held a press conference to clarify certain distorted information circulating in the media regarding his land in Addappallam. Tamil diaspora has been in the forefront of tarnishing the image of a Muslim guy( Prof. Ishaq) alleging that he expropriated the lands of Tamil burial ground. It is naive to collude with Tamil diaspora to lambaste our community without eliciting facts and figures correctly in support of the account.

    Same is the case with the fear-psychosis of Tamils, he illustrates in the article, in regard to land expansion agenda of Muslims in Kattankudy and Sainthamaruthu. In fact, the struggle of Sainthamaruthu people to have a separate local government authority has nothing to do with land expansion agenda of Tamils in Karaitivu, which is right next to a Muslim village called Maligaikadu from Sainthamaruthu, which has clear demarcated area.

    Thus, it would be good to write articles hereafter after doing all the homework perfectly and having the facts and figures correct in support of the argument. Otherwise, this would provide fodder for those diaspora and Islamophobes to further demonize Muslims in SL.

    Sorry for being harsh towards a fellow versatile and towering scholarship. Hope he would take these critiques in the spirit of understanding and get his facts and figures correct before writing such articles in future.

    Dr.A.Rameez
    Head/Department of Sociology
    South Eastern University of Sri Lanka

    • 2
      0

      OK. Then why all colonging schemes are only for sinhalese sir.? While the previous legal land owners are made to landless refugees.example all so called welikada oya. In Trinco and andankulam (now andankulama), pankulam (now moraweva) saraswathipuram ( now sardhapura) panikaddimurrippu (now panikattiyawa, mankindimalai in mullaitheevu ( now janakapura) …etc etc. All tamil lands were acquired from them by killing threatening and with forged documents by sinhalese government. And given them to sinhalese from south. All made for destroy the tamil home land claim.still it continues.
      The war us over but the root causes are persisting.

    • 3
      0

      Dr Rameez,

      Thanks for presenting the facts and figures that you have access to regarding Addapallam. What is your opinion about the following?

      “In one of the recorded messages that has gone viral in the social media, one Muslim parliamentarian, who is also a minister in the MS-RW government, appears to brag that he had singlehandedly engineered to grab a piece of land that belongs to a Hindu temple and given it to the Muslims. Did this parliamentarian ever think of the repercussions that his act would cause within the Hindus? Is this not a blatant abuse of power?”

      Would you challenge the above minister? Muslim intellectuals.activists within the country except a few like Nuhman and Shreen remain silent on the behavior of Muslim politicians. When is this trend going to change?

    • 0
      0

      Rameez, you are saying that there is a court case pending regarding this land problem filed by the Muslim gentleman. If so without judgement passed about this matter by courts, how can he with Muslim officials go into the land leave alone do measurements. Is this not contempt of court for which all those Muslims should be punished. When Muslims want Sinhalese miscreants punished, how can these Muslim law breakers go unpunished. The correct thing is for the government to intervene and acquire the land paying due compensation to the said owner and give it to Hindus as conducting funerals is more morally important than putting up buildings.

  • 0
    4

    AMIR ALI…..You Are Resident In Austrailia May Be The Best To think Had Gone There To Get Yourself Fit OnTo Luxory Life………….But The Foreigner There Do Not Think That ……..That Is The Best Part And You People Are Making Mean Advantage Of The Sympathy And Kindness That These Countries Are Extending To People Like You……..While You And May Be Your Other Family Members Enjoy Jolly Life ……….People Of Your Own Kith And Kin Suffer In The Tensions You People Create From That End …………..May Be Letting Down The Country Where You Were Born AS MOST Of The Political Asylum Seekers Do………..And Then Again Setting Fire Within The Communities Livin In Your Mother Country……………….So You Do Not Fall Into The Category Of Patriots…………..You All Are Not Mother Lovin ……….But MOTHER F——G …..A—S HOLES…………..Why Not Shut Your Foul Mouth And Let The People To Live In Peace WITHOUT SETTING FIRE

  • 1
    0

    All communities from Muslims, Tamils and Sinhalese suffered in the east and other parts of Sri Lanka. Amount of damages may vary from place to place, at the end we have lost valuable lives. There is no point of pointing this or that community or even government to find fault of past wrong doings. Now we are at a crucial stage to save the nation by building solid bridges between communities urgently.

  • 0
    2

    Dr Ameer Ali
    You overlooked to provide demographics of Colombo as per 2012 census – 40% Sinhalese, 60% Tamil and Muslim and still increasing. One wonders. Who is responsible for this colonisation?

    • 1
      0

      The Tamil people living in Colombo and elsewhere in the South of Srilanka have come on their own using their own resources spending their own money to buy lands, construct houses,find employment etc. However the Sinhalese in North and East have been planted there by the State on state funds, providing them with state lands for residence or grabbing such lands belonging to Tamil people, granting generous bank loans to invest in agriculture and business, giving them employment in govt. departments which should have been given to local inhabitants, terrorising the areas with the help of Sinhala Army and Police – all this with the view to change the demography of the traditional areas inhabited by Tamil people.

      On the other hand Muslim Ministers and MPs led by Rishad Badiyuddin , Hizbullah, Amir Ali and Masthan use their political clout with each government to encroach and apporpriate the lands in Eastern and northern provinces , converting entire tamil villages into Muslim populated areas and ruining the livelihood of the Tamils there. One good example is the denuding of the Wilpattu forest reserve and colonizing that area with thousands of Muslims hailing mainly from Puttalam, Mannar and Kalmunai. This high handed act has been tolerated by a spineless government. Very soon Muslims will be the masters of this island their only competitors will be the marauding Chinese millions of whom are getting ready to set foot on this land.

      • 0
        1

        Uncommon man
        How did a community, downtrodden from 1948 by so called blood thirsty genocidical Sinhala chauvinists, deprived of educationa and employment find “their own resources and their own money to buy lands, construct houses and find employment etc.” In Colombo in th South? How did they survive and escape genocide? Who owns some of the palatial houses in exclusive residential areas as Rosmea/ Barnes Place? Where does Wigneswaran have his house in Col 3 and did he attend Jaffna Central or Royal College? Had Sinhalese insisted on their own Thesawalami outside Northern Province, this mess could have been avoided. That is why state aided resettlement is required, to balance Tamil exodus southward and neutralise Thesawalami.

        • 1
          0

          Eagle Eye has been focused wrongly. They escaped genocide because we were under the British . The moment they left in 1948, “Franchise Genocide’ started with the upcountry Tamils in 1949.. Thesavalamai” is a clear indication that Tamils had a separate Kingdom in the NORTH prior to the British rule who merged NEWS.Even the Brtishers did not disturb the Tesavalamai.
          After the’ Franchise Genocide’ in 1949 ,regular genocides took place in 1956,1958,1961, 1977,1983 and finally in 2009. More to come, after the genocide of MUSLIMS. Tamils came to the south because all developments took place there. If at all they bought properties it was bought from their hard earnings and not a free gift from the Government like the Colonization to change the texture of the population.

  • 1
    0

    Living land is very small in Batticaloa district. Most of the land under Tamils are paddy field, and forest. It wrong to say only 3% of the land belong to Muslims. Do you want to divide the paddy fields for muslims for settlement. This is land for economy belongs to everyone in the country. Every one should look after the size of the population and growth as you do for your family!. Already we are tapping all the resources in the island. Because you made your family big, you can’t grab the neighbour’s land!

    And Dr Rameez, just look under your feet, the land that your university built is belongs to whom?.

  • 4
    0

    Dr.Ameer Ali
    Thanks for the mostly neutral article. But the strain on TMR is due to multiple reasons may be.
    1. Muslims may have less land comparatively and now intend to grab lands from tamil society with more force in postwar condition .the reason for their land scarcity is for many reasons
    – they were mostly merchants than farmers.but tamils mostly were farmers owning lands.
    – tamil were the traditional landlords of those areas for several centuries.
    – excess growth rate of muslims . From 1981 census to 2001 census muslim population had a growth rate of 78%. But tamils only 20%. ( sinhalese 38 %)
    With their higher growth rate but with low education they were unable to buy private lands other than encroaching state lands. they have done it in Trincomalee north Kinniya thambalagamuva Ds divisions and in for example. But in Amparai they have acquired most of state lands which were in their reaches. Now what left is tamil owned lands . As tamil had or have no political protection with their ministerial powers and muslim administrative authority they try to aquire tamil lands. Land claims by forged documents is a recent trend at once. Mr
    Hisbulla have he himself accept in a video proclaim that what he hadid done to Hindu kovil land in Oddamavadi.
    – those treacherous acts of muslim home guards in east was the single most cause for TMR division .see In a previous record another comment .
    The resultant LTTE attack was secondary to these happenings. I know several persons killed by JIHAD in mutur in 1985.
    – unreasonable eastern provincial council employment opportunitis and resources. All vacancies were filled by muslims whether they had qualification or not. Tamils were grossly neglected . The central government kept eyes shut purposefully.

  • 0
    0

    Please don’t allow people’s anger expressed in filthy words. They discourage deent readers from active participation.

  • 1
    0

    The problem in the east is due to the greediness of the muslims,who want to grab the lands of tamils as well as state lands by false documents with the support of muslim politicians and officials.The goverment turn a blind eye towards these activities.Also,tamils blame the leader of T.N.A,for his inefficiency to rectify the problems faced by tamils in the east.Further,if the muslims want land,they must ask the goverment to allocate some state lands for them,they multiply like rabbits.If this trend continues,not only tamils but sinhalese also boycott the establishments of muslims,it is necessary to bring down their economy,otherwise they will try to take a upperhand.

  • 0
    0

    Thankssssssssssssssssssss, Ameer Ali.

  • 0
    0

    dr.ameer ali, thanks for trying to be neutral and rational in your facts and interpretation. pl.note that here all are racist minded and attack you if your writings are not favourable to their interests.their are a few who are reasonable. your ideas about integration of races is only a dream or very utopia. things are-race relations are in the bottom and there is no leader to think in terms of your ideas..there is no one to create history we do not have that kind of personality. all overtly and covertly perpetuate division, calamity and .even pograms. i am sorry to be very pessimistic. despicable comments on your learned article is testimony.
    -DAYAL

  • 0
    0

    I think the main issue here, is the lack of land. Is it safe to say, that the Island is running out of farming land caused by urban growth? Reclamation may work, but it may not be suitable for cultivation. It now is a question of urban growth and food production.

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