19 March, 2024

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Unscrambling The Ceylonese Achchāru

By Kumar David

Prof. Kumar David

I will use the designation Ceylonese instead of Sri Lankan because it has scientific inclusivity more suited to my topic. What got me excited was when a cantankerous buddy (ask his wife about him), for a change, sent me this most welcome YouTube link. I will not attempt to summarise it but every Colombo Telegraph reader should watch it and circulate it among compatriots. In one sentence, what authors (Drs Gayani Galhena and Nandika Perera), two local genetic (DNA for fools like us) researchers, have established from DNA studies is that Upcountry Tamils, Moors, Ceylon Tamils and Sinhalese differ very little genetically. In crude terms they are much the same DNA clique notwithstanding their resolve to slaughter each other in political space. A simple summary it is to say that the four tribes which inhabit this island are a common achchāru that is not easy to unscramble in DNA-space. Let me refer to this lot collectively as the Ceylon Cluster of Four, or CC4 for short.

Surely this must arouse your intellectual appetite. Now turn from the video which is for popular consumption to the scientific paper. Yes, it was mostly Greek to a moron like me, but if you are persistent, look up hard words and reflect on a watered-down understanding (no doubt to the chagrin of the authors) you can learn quite a bit. However, before proceeding allow me to make three mild criticisms. The Introduction says the Tamils turned up in the island in the “fifth century AD”. Then who the devil was Ellalan (எல்லாளன்); didn’t he rule Anuradhapura from 636 to 604 BC? Secondly the paper always uses the term “Indian Tamils”, not Upcountry Tamils – this is gibberish, all of us are from the Indian Mainland. And third, among its historical references I see lesser works but no mention of Professors Leslie Gunewardana and Karthigesu Indrapal, clearly the best and most relevant historians in this field. That’s all; now call me a knit picking bastard and get on with the paper, it’s worth exploration even if you are not in the field.

An interesting finding is that CC4 people can be marked off from other populations. Polymorphism is when several traits or tendencies co-exist (O, A, B and AB blood groups are universal in all populations). The researchers had to combine many findings together to deduce recognisable group features. They plot on each of two axes two such composites that they call a “multidimensional scaling plot” of 18 world ethnicities including CC4. To keep things within laymen’s comprehension let us say the two axes represent combined DNA information that is significant in studies of this type. The plot shows all CC4 ethnicities clustered close together in the middle, and far away from Africans and East Asians and moderately distanced from Europeans. (The Bhils are a 17 million strong tribal group in North-western India – Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan – and the Bangladeshis of course are Bengalis). The researchers contend that this illustrates close correlation among the four CC4 ethnicities. Historically this makes sense.

The reason may also be that the data selected in some way gave prominence to stuff that mattered in the last three millennia, but not to origin theories of homo-sapiens (the East African human cradle and the Out of Africa 2 theses). I have had a brief email exchange with Dr Galhena who said: “Anyway our study does not explore the origins, but has explained present day genetic composition on the basis of the known historical context”. In so far as known history goes, the diagram makes a lot of sense. The Sinhalese, Ceylon Tamils and Moors have inter-copulated for one to three millennia, while the Upcountry Tamils have been physically separate for most of this time whether in Sri Lanka or in India.

Once you get started you will find much stimulating stuff to explore about global and national population dynamics. A non-science side-benefit is that Lanka has been ethnically polarised by religious quacks, nationalist degenerates and political opportunists for too long; anything that undermines this wickedness is welcome.

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Latest comments

  • 16
    8

    I am from a different school of thought. Genetic studies may establish our roots. But, that not required.
    If one has a birth connected to two consecutive generations, he is qualified to be a citizen of this island. This practice is what the world is comfortable with. Why complicate matters.

    • 7
      4

      Nathan
      Please explain a bit further.

      Soma

      • 9
        8

        Soma,
        Don’t try to play too smart. Tell me what you understood from my comment, first.
        If necessary, I’ll correct you!

        • 5
          9

          A most sensible riposte, Nathan!
          .
          No response from soma?

          • 3
            0

            Sinhala_Man: I am always of the opinion that all “Living Beings” are “Equal” and of “Comparable and Contrasting” in “Cultures”. Please watch the following link:

            youtube.com/watch?v=Xs3dt1A1tTM presented by Ruchira Wijesena.

            His Youtube channel is Science with Ruchira.

            It could be very interesting for you and others who “FIGHT” on “Race”.

          • 6
            2

            Sinhala man
            Can YOU clarify what Nathan is trying to say?

            Soma

        • 8
          4

          Nathan
          Couldn’t understand what you are trying to say.

          Soma

          • 1
            1

            soman

            “Couldn’t understand what you are trying to say.”

            I believe what both Sinhala_Man and Nathan are saying is that you are an unadulterated bigoted stupid smart ass.

            Why would they it?

    • 7
      2

      This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.

      For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2

  • 24
    2

    If you are good at racism, bigotry, jingoism, bogus-nationalism ……. rousing anti minority hatred ……….. you don’t have to do any real work ……….. can be assured of a thumping majority at any election ………

    If you reduce price of goods and gasoline from day one (not just during election time) …….. increase salaries from day one ……… people will even deny you your parliamentary seat!

    This is not just conjecture, but reality.

    Does anyone still remember Ranil?

    What did the 69 million want? ………. Your guess is not as good as my certainty ……….. :))

    • 12
      5

      nimal fernando,
      For being your admirer, you are now forcing me to be an admirer of Ranil. Is that fair.

      • 13
        4

        Nathan,

        It’s not about admiring anyone ……. but the truth. Ranil really did that ……. probably the only Lankan politician who was able to do it. We should be man/big enough to acknowledge/admit that.

        He had other faults ……. but that’s a different kettle of fish ………

        • 9
          4

          nimal fernando,
          Ranil did that, – Granted. Ranil did so many other things as well. Ranil had a chance to save us from Rajapaksa. He did not move a finger.
          You are taking 69 million to task, when it is easy to take Ranil to task.
          You kind of misunderstanding me. I can live with that.

          • 6
            3

            Nathan,

            “He did not move a finger.”

            True. But it’s just not the ordinary citizens who fear the murderous Rajapakses: Ranil and other pols too. ……… Now, after this debacle, you can take the Rajapakses to task; people know their true colors ……. but not in 2015, Mahinda was still hugely popular and didn’t lose by much ……

            Ranil shouldn’t have taken up politics: he is grossly unsuitable for Lankan politics. Should have left when he lost the first presidential election he contested. That happens in most other advanced democracies/countries ………. people don’t hang around like bad-smells once they lose …..

    • 21
      2

      Nimal,
      The likes of Gotler know exactly what the 6.9 million want. It isn’t higher salaries, cheaper gas, milk, etc. Nothing will thrill them more than beating up Tamils and Muslims. Even now, MR has a party to celebrate a Muslim festival, and bans beef on the same day! Can you beat that??

      • 7
        1

        This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.

        For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2

      • 6
        0

        OC,

        If I’m not mistaken …….. the representatives the Muslims elected ……… abandoned the leaders/party and voted for the Rajapakses’ 20th amendment! :)) ……… That’s not the first time it has happened ……. it’s pretty regular ……….

        Where do we start OC? Where do we start? ………. We all know how it ends! :))

      • 7
        2

        Nimal,
        Mahinda R is the virtuoso Marketing Guru of Politics in Sri Lanka now! He is unbeatable.
        Even after 2 increase in prices for common daily consumer items in thousands in respect of Gas at least, the population are dumb founded and not stirring a bit into action!
        They are stymied!
        No wonder RW did not get elected and appointed.
        The populace should be exposed to morehardship, before they would revolt, then of course MR would ‘Smile’ and do the needful before PC!
        After that Screw them again to condition for GE and PE in 2024!
        Well done

    • 6
      1

      This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.

      For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2

  • 16
    4

    Obvious. There is hardly andy Aryan amongst the Sinhalese and Arab amongst the Sri Lankan Moors. 99.5% of our genes are from South Asia and that too is from Dravidian South India. Descended from immigrant Dravidian South Indians, who migrated into the island from prehistoric( Naga/Yakka) ancient (Chera/Chola, Pandian) medieval to quite recent times. We have always been stating the so-called Sri Lankan Moors are not Arabs but converted Tamil Dravidian Hindu immigrants from South India. The similarity to the Sinhalese than to the Sri Lankan Tamils, which itself is negligible, maybe due to the fact, many Sinhalese communities and castes both low born and high born, are descended from South Indian Tamil immigrants who migrated to the island from the 15TH century onwards. At the same time, the so-called Sri Lankan Moor migration started to take place on the island. The Sri Lankan Tamils are descended from the prehistoric/ancient migrations in to the island mixed with the 10Th century Chola migration. Descended from older migrations, this is why they are closer to the Kandyan Sinhalese. Need not have to DNA analysis, if you read actual history, even the Mahavamsa fairy tale and looking and observing the people., you could have come to this conclusion. Commonsense.

    • 8
      18

      Rohan25,
      Are you challenging the conclusion made by eminent Tamil historians S. Arasaratnam, K. Indrapala and Sinhala historian K.M. de Silva who say that Dravida settlements in Yapanaya started after 12th century and the scientific evidences discovered by eminent archeologists as proof that Sinhalayo and Vedda Eththo evolved in this country?

      High time to come out of ‘Vadukkodei Resolution’ mud-hole.

      • 11
        4

        EE,
        “Are you challenging the conclusion made by eminent Tamil historians S. Arasaratnam, K. Indrapala and Sinhala historian K.M. de Silva who say that Dravida settlements in Yapanaya started after 12th century?”
        This is interesting!
        Without any disrespect to those authors or their discerning knowledge of History, Archaeology and Anthropology, there is substantial and sufficient evidence that it was confined to that period!
        What about the monument of the slain King of Sinhale, whose tomb is specifically marked by the Order of the succeeding King Dutugemunu should “only passed on foot with due silence as a sign of respect!”
        Or, is there steps being initiated to “erase this Tomb and signage: to accommodate new ‘manufactured History’!!
        That “Sinhalayo and Vedda Eththo evolved in this country”, without dilution and compounding with Dravidian/South Indian input is a fallacy too according to Historical records.
        Unless, you claim that after every invasion (Multitude of them on record) That those South Indians or Dravidians, took of all and sundry, without any remnants in this country. Nothing is further than the truth than that!! No one can believe, if they are in their senses!!
        That is unrebukable and undisputable fact historically!

      • 13
        5

        Stop lying and still try to quote outdated theories of all these historians and archaeologists. Sinhalese racists and extremists love do to deliberately mislead. Professor Indrapala is a renowned historian who has now rubbished his own old theory regarding the Tamils of Sri Lankan and now states the Sri Lankan Tamils have a very ancient history on the island that starts around 2500 years ago minimum. Definitely, they were there when Buddhism arrived. Tamils The king who converted to Buddhism was a Saivite Tamil Naga. King Thevanai Nambiya Theesan son of King Mootha Sivan a pure Tamil name meaning the great or venerated Lord Siva.
        No wonder the Sri Lankan Muslims are marginally closer genetically to the Sinhalese than to Sri Lankan Tamils, as most of the genetic input amongst the present-day Sinhalese and the Sri Lankan Muslims are from the same Indian Tamil parent populations. This itself is proving what we have always stated. You can keep on lying but DNA does not lie

        • 12
          5

          The Sri Lankan Tamils are largely descended from the ancient proto Tamil speaking Dravidian Naga who migrated into the island during prehistoric times and adopted proper Tamil as their mother tongue around 3000 years ago, later they got mixed with Prakrit speaking immigrants from North East India, this is why Sri Lankan Tamil dialects have many unique Prakrit words, that are not found in Indian Tamil dialects. Finally into this mixture a large amount of Chola Tamil immigrants got mixed up during the 10TH Century AD. After this, there is hardly any significant genetic input into the Sri Lankan Tamils genes. South Indian immigrations into the Tamil parts of the island became a trickle but became a huge sea into the Sinhalese parts of the island. especially during the Portuguese and Dutch eras, when hundreds of thousands of low caste and untouchable Tamils were imported and settled along the western and southern coasts and their Sinhaized descendants now make up half the present day Sinhalese populations and are ironically the biggest anti-Tamils and proponents of the Sinhalese Buddhist Aryan theory. The Homeless one was one and most probably you are another one.

          • 1
            4

            Does not matter who came first. We have to think of the future and create peaceful and rich living space for the future.

            The only way it can be done is by dividing the island into 3 mono ethnic nations and relocating people into their respective nations.

            That ends all ethnic grievances and meets all ethnic aspirations. It also assures security to all. No terrorists. No war criminals. And no violence which SL unfortunately is seeing too frequently.

            Let’s peacefully go separate ways. Good for everyone.

      • 3
        1

        Eagle Blind Eye

        “Are you challenging the conclusion made by eminent Tamil historians S. Arasaratnam, K. Indrapala …. ……. …. scientific evidences discovered by eminent archeologists as proof that Sinhalayo and Vedda Eththo “


        Could you cite references.
        Have all those eminent scholars said anything about how and when all those bigoted Sinhala/Buddhists will evolve into descent human being?

  • 9
    3

    There is only one race – human race.

    Differences arise due to ethnic grievances, ethnic aspirations, ethnic political parties, ethnicity based laws, ethnic historical narratives, etc.

    Only solution is to divide the island into 3 mono ethnic nations and relocate people. That is the real divider of the island the real unifying factor of the new smaller mono ethnic nations.

    Until then it is suffering and disasters for Achcharu Ceylon.

    • 4
      5

      GATAM,
      Was there any people’s participation in arriving at this proposal or a top down decision?

      • 1
        3

        EE,

        There is no solution for any problem that satisfies everyone. Tamil people have made it crystal clear that they wanted a separate nation. They have been voting for parties that promised Tamil Elam since 1947. Since 1987 Muslims too have been voting for parties that demanded (and in 2001 declared) districts as Muslim nations. Sinhalas are also dreaming about their own nation.

        Everyone wants it but they are not given it. The constitution and the military stop it.

        • 3
          2

          Immigrant South Indian Dravidian converts to Islam will never get a nation here however much they dream and state they are separate ethnicity, as 1) They are not an ethnicity or a nation but a religious identity that is ethnically Tamil 2) They are recent migrants to the island and not native and have never had any history of a nation or homeland. 3) What they and the Sinhalese are trying to do is legitimize the large scale ethnic cleansing of Tamils, especially in the east, by the Sri Lankan state and the settlement of outside Sinhalese and Muslims here and claim it as their homeland. A Muslim politician from Mannar was trying to do the same, under the guise of settling displaced northern Muslims , was trying to settle thousands of outside area and even foreign Muslims in the northern province , to deliberately change the ethnic balance

    • 5
      6

      GATAM,
      Indigenous Sinhalayo did not force foreigners to settle down in their country. Sri Lanka has a soloon door. Free to leave at anytime.

      • 6
        2

        EE,
        Mahendra Percival, very well articulates that principal from time to time!
        Depends on whether there is going to be a Constitutional amendment of Significance or Not!

    • 2
      2

      Achcharu is external. Nobody wants to relocate and leave their known familiar homes as confirmed by fact that not a single Colombo tamil family went to Jaffna. Many ethnic groups dissatisfied with their finances went to christian west or east without ill treatment except the obvious skin color issues which cannot change. Mideast theistic arabs refuse any buddhist culture like feeling first class here. But second class seems to be ok if drowned in money.

  • 9
    2

    I am a Sinhalese by default.
    Two groups calling themselves ‘Tamil’ and ‘Muslim’ have separated themselves out and excluded me.
    .
    On the subject of ethnic politics I never argue on DNA or History.
    My purview is EXISTING geographical distribution of the groups across the island.
    .
    For legal and administrative purposes our people can be devided ONLY into two groups – those who speak the Sinhala language and those who speak the Tamil language. Practical difficulties arise only due to the communication medium. Religion or ancestry is not written on the face.
    .
    While these groups are kiĺling one another over political independence no Einstein can come out with a geographaphically based ‘solution’ as a result of the EXISTING demographic distribution acros the island.
    .
    If you need an example of pure undialuted hypocrisy look no futher than arguments advanced by the group calling themselves ‘Tamil’.

    Soma

    • 13
      4

      soman

      “While these groups are kiĺling one another over political independence no Einstein can come out with a geographaphically based ‘solution’ as a result of the EXISTING demographic distribution acros the island.”

      Sometimes I try hard to understand your gobbledygook/gibberish however in this occasion I agree with you. However the only reasonable solution available to us now is, that identify all those descendants of kallathonies from North/South India, Europeans, Middle Eastern, East Asia …. and deport back to whence their ancestors came.

      Namal Baby is in Hindia today.
      Tell him to start negotiations with Modi.
      It will be like in the 1960s, Siri Mao Sasthri talks.

      You can still type in the CT.

      • 8
        0

        Dear NV.
        .
        Namal in Kushinagar
        .
        http://www.colombopage.com/archive_21B/Oct20_1634748195CH.php
        .
        With whose money is all this being done?
        .
        We’ve not had an article from Professor Charles Sarvan for some time. He’s sent me (and others, I’m sure) a whole book entitled BUDDHISM SANS MYTHS AND MIRACLES.
        .
        He says: “The declared aim of the author, Dr K.S. Palihakkara, is to cleanse Buddhism; to rescue it from what he terms ‘Popular Buddhism’, and return it to what the Buddha taught. In that sense, it could be described as a work of admiration and love.
        .
        “Published in 2003, the work has received little, if any, attention: a very effective way of nullifying a work is to ignore it. Please share with those interested.

        “PS. A friend (whom I’ve never met) is translating it into Sinhala.”
        .
        How different approaches to religion can be!

      • 5
        7

        NV
        “Sometimes I try hard to understand your gobbledygook/gibberish…”
        Try my last para for a change:
        ‘If you need an example of pure undialuted hypocrisy look no futher than arguments advanced by the group calling themselves ‘Tamil’.”

        Soma

    • 1
      0

      Soma,

      There is no solution based on simple geography.

      Only solution is to split the island equitably into 3 mono ethnic nations and relocate people based on their ethnicity.

      Only 15% of the Sri Lankans need to move. 85% can stay where they are. It is worth it. Other countries have done it. Just because the Brits left us with one island nation does not mean we have to stick to it. We must change it to suit the needs of the people. India-Pakistan-Bangladesh did it. Former Yugoslavia did it. All those countries are doing better than SL.

      Look at other mostly mono ethnic nations. Most of them are highly peaceful and developed countries. Why can’t we follow them?

      Do you honestly think that the British left Ceylon in one piece because they loved us? No. They knew Ceylon as one nation has no future.

      • 1
        1

        GATAM
        Tamils will not move on their own.
        They consider Sinhala Buddhist society is superior.
        Prior agreement is required on relocation.

        Soma

        • 2
          1

          soman

          “Tamils will not move on their own.”

          Therefore are you looking into final solution?
          Have another mother of all riots, most Tamils and Muslims will move back to North East or leave the country altogether.

          The rudderless Sinhala/Buddhist leader, strongman, proud to be a ruthless dictator, …… is in desperate need for a game changing riots. People even those voted for the strongman are now fed up with him.

          I guess this the right time.
          Enlist, Gnana, Elle, …… Wimal, Udhaya, HLD M,
          Why don’t you give Gota good … one?

  • 7
    1

    When we argue or even discuss the genetic origin of our nation it is good to remember that we all carry a common genetic code – that of the human being; the homo sapiens. And so we all belong to the same human family.
    If we want a united nation and all citizens respected equally let’s think more of the similarities that bind us than the differences that tend to isolate each other.

    • 4
      2

      I guess this was the intention of the writer; to show that we are clustered more closely than thought of earlier?

  • 9
    15

    Sinhale became ‘Ceylonese Achcharu’ after indigenous Sinhalayo accommodated refugees and coolies brought by colonial rulers.

    • 10
      4

      “coolies brought by colonial rulers.”

      Who brought King Rajasinghe The Last? “Colonial rulers?” ………. I thought they got rid of him! :))

      BTW …….. was he a Vellala Sinhalaya? :))))))

      • 9
        3

        nimal fernando

        Eagle Eye is fun to have in this forum.

        “BTW …….. was he a Vellala Sinhalaya? “

        They are the Govias.

        By the way please read
        Brahmins in the Sinhala Varna Scheme, the coming of the Brahmins in the Dambadeniya period.
        Stories and Histories Sri Lankan Pasts and the Dilemmas of Narrative Representation By Prof Gananath Obeyesekere

        • 7
          2

          I cannot but agree with you on this. Without him, it may be drab abd dreary life!

    • 13
      4

      Eagle Blind Eye

      “Sinhale became ‘Ceylonese Achcharu’ after indigenous Sinhalayo accommodated refugees and coolies brought by colonial rulers.”

      Sinhalese Achcharu are the by product of South Indian Achcharu.

    • 10
      3

      Those who were brought from the Vijayanagara Empire (SW India) – you call them “Coolies”, but remember they (Those Coolies? or Troops) fought for the Sinhalese against the invaders from Pandiya Kingdom and defeat them!! So that Sinhalese could remain in power with a Tamil Nominee King until 1815, so enable them to sign the KC in Tamil Language!! If this did not happen, then you would have forfeited the right to “Claim that Sinhalese (Tamil) Kingdom of Kandy as the Last sovereign of Ceylon ceded power to the Great Britain and to the Empire and all it’s Realm!!”
      The more you proceed on this line, you are progressively tightening the veritable Knot to extinction!
      Those so called “Coolies”, purportedly did what the ‘Native Sinhalayo’ were unable to do, without the impetus from the Coolies!!!
      That speaks a lot of the Leadership then of the Governance by them and the Sinhala Ruling Caste!!!!

      • 1
        3

        They were not Tamils. They were Telungu (Waduga) kings. The reason for linking up with Telungu kings was because by then Telungu kingdom was fighting with Tamils (even ruthlessly ruling over them).
        My enemy’s enemy is my friend!

        • 3
          1

          They were of Telugu origin but never spoke Telugu and only spoke and promoted Tamil and considered themselves Tamils. They did not arrive from Andhara or Telangana. Telugu lands but arrived from what is modern Tamil Nadu and the last king of Kandy and all his immediate family were all deported by the British to Salem in Tamil Nadu and not to any Telugu land, where many of his direct descendants still live there. Even on the island the Naickers were only speaking Tamil not Telugu and promoting the Tamil language. They made Tamil a court language and most of the business was conducted in Tamil. This is why the Kandyan convention is largely signed in Tamil. Not in Telugu. Before the Naickers the kings of Kandy were taking Pandian Tamil brides and basically, all the aristocrats were of Pandian origin. Both King Senarath’s sons married two Tamil princesses from Jaffna. We do not want southern fake Arab South Indian converted Islamic immigrants to distort history.

          • 1
            3

            The Nayaka kings were not Tamils. They were Sinhalized Telugus. They probably didn’t speak any Tamil, as they were brought up as Sinhalese. They never made Tamil a court language. They conducted all their business in Sinhalese. BTW, there is only one “letter” in the signatures of Kandyan Convention that even looks like a Tamil “tha” – most of the Sinhalese names cannot be written in Tamil script even – how do you write “Galagoda”?
             
            Many of the signatures look like they are written by the same person, who couldn’t write properly at all:
            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Kandyan_Convention_of_1815.jpg
             
            Nobody ever considered the so-called Jaffna kingdom as a proper kingdom, nor the Tamils who ruled Jaffna area as royalty. They were not royalty at all. King Senarath had only one son and he would never allow his only his own son to marry some Tamil Shudra woman. This rumour that he got his “two sons” married to so-called princesses of Jaffna is just a later rumour and the rumour is about the two step-sons, whom Senarath supposedly murdered. There were no real princes or princesses of Jaffna, they were all Tamil invaders and Shudras from Tamilnadu.

        • 3
          6

          They were ofcourse not Tamils, but Telugus. The reason to “link-up” with the Nayakas was that, when Prince Narendrasinghe was to find a bride, the only option left to find a Suryawamsa bride was from the Nayaka rulers. The idiocy of this is that the Nayaka’s were not real royals, but just regional officers of the Vijayanagar empire. They had gained independent reign after the fall of the Vijayanagar empire in ~1650AD. They were not fighting with Tamils, but were considered as foreigners. The stupidity of trying to get a Suryavamsa bride from the Nayakas was that the Nayakas considered Sinhalese as some kind of outcaste Buddhists whom they could not even imagine giving a princess in marriage to, and the Sinhalese envoys who went to the Nayaka court were chased away.
           
          But when the envoys were about to come back to Srilanka, a destitute man who claimed to be a Nayaka approached them and offered to give his daughter in marriage to Narendrasinghe. In reality this man was not even remotely connected to the Nayaka rulers. The Sinhalese envoys brought back, the poor destitute man’s daughter, who was accompanied by her whole family.

          • 1
            5

            That family included the infant brother of the queen-to-be who later became king as Sri Vijaya Rajasinha after king Narendrasinghe died in 1739. After the marriage the so-called Nayaka princess’s whole family continued to live with king Narendrasinghe. The infant brother of the queen was given the upbringing of a Sinhalese prince with education in Sinhalese and Buddhism by the court priests. Its doubtful that the prince even spoke Tamil. Since king Narendrasinghe didn’t have children by his so-called Nayaka queen, he adopted this prince as his son and heir to the throne. In the last years king Narendrasinghe lived he was sick and the prince served as prince regent. So that’s how the first so-called Nayaka king became king of the Sinhalese kingdom.
             
            When Sri Vijaya Rajasinghe became king in 1739 AD, the long disintegrating rule of Nayaks of Madurai had come to a tragic end some 3-4 years prior (in 1735/1736). So your claim that they were chosen because they were enemies of Tamils or that they were fighting Tamils cannot have happened as the Nayak rule in Madurai had ended some years prior to Sri Vijaya Rajasinghe becoming king here.

            • 2
              7

              The four kings of Nayaka lineage who ruled Kandy were either born here or came here as infants and were brought up as Sinhalese. As for the last king Sri Vikrama Rajasinghe, nobody knows who his real father was. He was brought up by Pilimathallauwa and was most probably Pilimathallauwa’s illegitimate son. All the so-called Nayaka kings were actually more Sinhalese than the Sinhalese, and not at all Tamils of any kind. The third king Rajadi Rajasinghe was an accomplished Sinhalese scholar and poet.
               
              Presently the Tamil separatists seem to want to claim that these kings were Tamils, and then try to claim that Kandy too was a Tamil kingdom. They quite forget that the Kandyan Kingdom came into being as a result of the brutal invasions and total destruction of the ancient Sinhalese Buddhist kingdoms of Anuradhapura and then Polonnaruwa by Tamil invaders and the subsequent ethnic cleansing of the Sinhalese from the north of the island by Tamils and that Kandy and the highlands is where the Sinhalese who survived the Tamil invasions and massacres fled to. Now the shameless Tamils are trying to put their claws into the Sinhalese Buddhist kingdom of Kandy too.

          • 6
            2

            Punchi Point
            Punchi Brain
            Punchi Willi

            “The idiocy of this is that the Nayaka’s were not real royals,”

            What should they have to have or prove they are “real royals”.
            Two or more golden willies?

            ” …………….. the only option left to find a Suryawamsa bride was from the Nayaka rulers. “

            Karavas claim to have descended from Suryawamsa. Wasn’t it not convenient find bride from among Karava community?
            Read the following Para:

            Excerpt:
            King Rájasinghe of Sitáwaka had the Elephant flag with the Sun and Moon emblems as his personal flag probably to emphasise his Kuru descent. The elephant is prominent in the Karáva flags of Chilaw, Maggona, Ratalaweva, The Sudu Etá Bendi Kodiya and the Manampitiya flags. The flag illustrated here is in the possession of a Hindu Karáva family of Manampitiya. It has as its central theme a man probably a chief of the clan, riding an elephant flanked by ‘Mutu Kuda’ (Pearl umbrellas), ceremonial talipot fans, conch, sun, moon, stars, fish and cobra emblems, chowries, shields and sun flowers denoting the Suryawamsa. This is illustrated in E. W. Perera’s Sinhalese Banners and Standards Plate XXI fig 56

            Dr. K. P. V. D. Fernando
            http://karava.org/karava_flags/elephant_flags

            Punchi descendant of Demela

            You should do thorough research before you start typing.
            I never understood why you people make a mockery of yourselves?

            • 3
              1

              The Naickers were of Telugu origin and either spoke Telugu or Tamil as their mother tongue. If they lived in Telugu lands they spoke Telugu but in Tamil lands, they spoke Tamil and considered themselves as Tamils. If they ever spoke Telugu it will be pigeon Telugu, which will sound awful and funny to a proper Telugu speaker. Telugu is a very rich and beautiful language. Most Telugu words end with a vowel, therefore like Italian very good to compose songs. Most of Carnatic Music is composed in Telugu due to this, just like most operas used to be composed in Italian.

              • 3
                1

                The ones who ruled Kandy came from Madurai and Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu. These Naickers were Tamil speaking and some of them may have spoken some form of pigeon Telugu, however, for official purposes they strictly used only the Tamil language and were only fluent in Tamil only, even the ones who still spoke some sort of pigeon Telugu. They considered themselves as Tamils and not Telugu, just like the way the French-speaking Norman conquerors of Britain ultimately became English. They promoted only the Tamil language only and made Tamil one of the court languages of the kingdom of Kandy. The Lion symbol and flag is their flag. This is why the British deported the last Naicker king and his family to Salem in modern Tamil Nadu and not to any Telugu speaking areas, as they were considered to be of Tamil ethnicity. May have had a distant Telugu ancestry but were ethnically Tamil, when they came to rule the kingdom of Kandy. Prior to the Naickers the kings of Kandy used to take Tamil Pandian princesses as their brides and when the Pandian kingdom fell to the Delhi Sultanate and was recaptured by the Naickers, Naicker brides from Madurai or Thanjavur.

    • 12
      5

      I think EE is right. Let us get rid of the guys who came from India (including KD). Let us start with the Karave who came to fish, the salagama who came to peel cinnamon, the durave who came to tap toddy, the berawe who came to beat drums and then all the black skinned guys on our cabinet, because we Sinhalayas are Aryans and are white skinned. Some of them even have thick lips. Our cricket team is also full of them. Some of monks like that joker in podu balla sena are so black. If we get rid of them, there will be no strife in the country.

      • 9
        5

        What about all the Pandaranaickams, Thambi Mudaliar descendants like the Jayawardene’s, Wickremesinghe’s, Wijewardenes, and all the Kandyan Radala and Kandyan and low country upper castes and so-called aristocrats, whose ancestors all migrated from Tamil Nadu a few centuries ago and came here with South Indian Royals either to rule or to trade. They should all be deported too. Then there will be hardly any Sinhalese left. Even Eagle Blind, Soma , Punchi Point and the rest all may have to be deported,

      • 4
        2

        LOL!
        The best one so far!

  • 8
    2

    Has anyone thought of caste, the big barrier?

  • 12
    3

    “Then who the devil was Ellalan (எல்லாளன்); didn’t he rule Anuradhapura from 636 to 604 BC?”
    *
    Dutugemunu supposedly battled one Ellalan around 162 or 161 BC.
    *
    Must be another guy with the same name.

    • 3
      3

      There was no one by that name at that time.

      Only the one who was killed in 161BC.

  • 5
    10

    So, Ceylonese (Silonese) has more “scientific inclusivity” than Sri Lanka!? FYI Ceylonese simply derives from the word “Sinhala”, through Chinese (Seng-kalao) to Portuguese (Ceilao) to Dutch (Seylan) and lastly to English (Ceylon) and refers to the Sinhalese, and that is how it was used in the first decades of the British occupation of the island. Later, like much of the rest of absolutely everything that was Sinhalese, Ceylonese (Silonese) too got watered down and diluted into the real bitter achcharu made by the British with Tamils, Muslims and Burghers and what not added and Sinhalese squeezed and throttled. Now we are all drowning in that British made achcharuwa…..

    • 9
      1

      Punchi Point
      Punchi Brain
      Punchi Willi


      “FYI Ceylonese simply derives from the word “Sinhala”, through Chinese (Seng-kalao) to Portuguese (Ceilao) to Dutch (Seylan) and lastly to English (Ceylon) ………………………”

      Try EELAM as the origin/base word for this island and then use your etymological acumen to stretch the word and arrive at Ceylon/Sri Lanka and beyond for example Sinhala/Buddhist.

      In case if you need any help please contact

      Prof of linguistics, History, Archaeology, Diplomacy, Etymology, Culture, Life Style, ……………… Darshanie Ratnawalli.
      Champika Ranawake,
      Prof Channa ……. Jeyasumana
      Udaya Gammanpila

    • 1
      1

      Both Ceylon and SL failed everyone.

      The island must be divided into 3 mono ethnic nations (Tamil Elam, Safiztan+Nazarthan, Sinhale) and people must be relocated. That is the only way forward for the failed island nation.

      Germans and Russians are also from the same genetic stock but that didn’t stop them killing millions of each other! There is only one race which is the human race. Human DNA is 99% similar to chimpanzee DNA! But ethnic aspirations are genuine and recognized by the UN.

      Fighting each other, making superiority claims and blaming others, etc. have not helped. We must stop this madness.

      • 2
        2

        GATAM,
        “We must stop this madness.”
        —-
        Sinhale/Sri Lanka has a saloon door. Foreigners came to Sinhale and decided to settle down because they were happy to live with indigenous Sinhalayo. If descendants of those who settled down are not happy to live with indigenous Sinhalayo, they can just push the saloon door and leave. Sinhalayo are not forcing anyone to stay in their country.

  • 6
    2

    The word Sinhala or now called Sinhale by Sinhalese Buddhist Fascists has no meaning, this is why the lion myth was deliberately created by Mahnama to justify this name. It is the Prakritized version of one of the ancient Tamil names for the Island Chingkallam and the Proto/Semi Tamil Dravidian tribes of the island, the Naga and the Yakka were jointly called Chingkallavar. The male Chingkallavan and the female Chingkallathi. Derived from the ancient Tamil words Aalavan and Aalathi. The word Chingkallam in Tamil has a meaning. It means the red or copper coloured land. Chem( red0 or Cheppu( copper) + Alam ( land or sliver of land) = Chingkallam. Just like Cheralam/Keralam. Puttalam, Other ancient Tamil names for the island were Cheran Theevu meaning the island of the Chera or Naga, hence the word Serendib from Latin Sera for Chera. Eelam or Eezham means the land of toddy or copper in Tamil. Old Sinhalese was called Hela in the island Hela Diva again a Prakritized version of Eelam. Ilanku or Ilankai in another Tamil word for the island meaning resplendent of shinning in old Tamil. It was Prakritised to Lanka which means resplendent or shining again. DNA also now proves and justifies this.

    • 6
      1

      The original people of the island, other than the Australoid Vedda were Dravidian tribes from South India speaking Proto or semi Tamil. This is why the DNA is so similar for all the so-called four major ethnicities on the island, as they all migrated from Dravidian Tamil South India at various times in history. From prehistoric to fairly recent, with slight variations due to the period they migrated. Indian origin Tamils show the most variant but still only slightly as they are the most recent immigrants.

      The Sinhalese and Sri Lankan Muslims are most similar but only slightly is because most Sinhalese castes and the Sri Lankan Muslims more or less migrated from Tamil South India at the same time during the late medieval period. The Sri Lankan Tamils and the Kandyan Sinhalese, within the Sinhalese, genetics are very close, as these two people are largely descended from prehistoric and ancient Tamil Dravidian migration from South India. DNA has now proved what most Tamils have been stating. The Sinhalese are not Aryans and the Sri Lankan Muslims are not Arabs and both people migrated from Dravidian then Tamil South India.

    • 2
      4

      Nonsense.

      There are over 90 million Tamils in the world and they rule no country. 90% of Tamils are ruled by North Indians, 4% of Tamils are ruled by Sinahalas and 3% of Tamils are ruled by Malays. They rest by Anglo Saxons.

      Why is that?

      If Tamils ever had a nation, how come they have to live under others today?

      • 3
        0

        The piece of nonsense is you, a southern Muslim who constantly comes here to run down the island’s Tamils and to advocate for a fake Arab Wahabbi/Salafist Islamic state, that too from stolen Tamil lands in the east, where the Muslims arrived as refugees fleeing Portuguese and later Sinhalese persecution. No local Tamil ever converted to Islam to justify an Islamic state, but now refugee fake Arab converted Tamil Dravidian immigrants from South India, now demanding only an Islamic state in Tamil areas, where 28% of the island’s Muslims live is a joke. Arrive in the east as refugees and were given refuge as fellow Tamils and now try to steal the land from the people who gave you refuge, in the name of Islam and a fake Arab origin, which has now proven to be a lie. Tamils in India are not ruled by any North Indian, let them try, in fact, millions of poor North Indians are now migrating to Tamil Nadu and other Southern states begging for a living. The only country Tamils are being marginalized discriminated against and violence committed upon them is in Sri Lanka. Now, where else , thanks to Britain.

  • 1
    0

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  • 1
    1

    Since the whole world came came out of Africa, and we are very close to Africa, our unique S.Asian (i.e. Dravidian genes) come from mostly Africa. The Look is a little bit different because of some of our genes also come from Eurasia, E. Asia, and W. Asia. And then there are the Andaman Island people close to us also. Theory is very easy to see once you extrapolate backwards.

  • 7
    1

    Part I
    KD,
    Appreciate well written article on current matters.
    I have come to the unnerving contention that the biggest and important Acharu in the History of Sri Lanka is the concoction of the word – Sinhalé – and the resultant confusion!
    Some have openly disclaimed the theory of the Aryan origin and the Lion fathered generation, in the process of finding a new and modern path to making history of Sri Lanka.
    I have always held the view that History is a collection of series of factual events and definitely Not deductions to converge on the expected final result!!
    I stand corrected and now, I am fully on board to the disclaiming of the Truth of ‘Manufactured’ Historical episode and the Lion Race Sinhalé!!
    Before conclusively moving in the ‘NEW’ direction, I wish to question whether we have got sufficient irrefutable scientific proof to support this ‘NEW’ claim.
    Hope we have that, because the Historical ‘so called Facts’, have been changed innumerable times.
    That’s not a very good record for the inhabitants of this resplendent Isle, ’Tear drop Pearl at the southern tip of Indian Sub-Continent in the Indian Ocean ’!

    • 4
      10

      Mahila,
      “I stand corrected and now, I am fully on board to the disclaiming of the Truth of ‘Manufactured’ Historical episode and the Lion Race Sinhalé!!”
      —-
      It is Tamils who have a manufactured history written in ‘Vadukkodei Resolution’ when they realized that they do not have a history in Sinhale to justify their claim for a separate State based on a bogus ‘Traditional Homeland’. It is high time that Tamils who are bogged down in ‘Vadukkodei Resolution’ mud-hole crawl out of that and face the truth.
      —-
      Can Tamils who claim that they lived in this country since ‘Dawn of Time’ tell us:
      1. Why they were confined to Yapanaya Peninsula until British dragged them and settled them outside the Peninsula
      2. Any significant contribution they have made to develop this country?

      • 4
        2

        Eagle,
        Why do many towns along the west coast have Tamil names, including Colombo and Negombo?

        • 0
          5

          old codger,
          Please read my questions carefully and answer instead of trying to be a comedian.

          • 2
            0

            Eagle,
            Why not read your own rants before you post them?

  • 10
    2

    Incidentally North Indian with the admixture of genetics of the Persian, Greek, Indus Valley, and Mohenjo Daro/Harappa and Mesopotamian civilisations is an Acharu itself!
    The admixture in the Dravidian South came about only after the defeat of the Pandiya Kingdom by the Delhi Sultanate late in the era, so the Acharu is limited to Naga, yakka, Veddha, Kerala, Chola, Pandiya civilisations, as South India has been mostly insulated from foreign invasions the East India companies of Portugal, Dutch, French and British!
    The historians must make up their mind and make a final and conclusive choice for the forward movement of Sri Lanka or stick to the one and only established Prince V Myth without dilly dallying!!
    Otherwise Historical/anthropological Credibility will be lost and becomes a Joke!!!

    • 7
      1

      M
      Mixing has as much to do with trade and travel as with war and conquest.
      India’s south had a lot more sea trade than the north for millennia.
      The Cholas traded with China and SE Asia centuries before the Delhi Sultanate ans the East India company.
      Romans and Greeks visited the shores of the South way before Moghuls entered the north.
      Any great civilization is an achchaaru of people.

  • 7
    1

    Excellent! The DNA test has proved that all those who “pose” as Sinhalese are not actually Sinhalese! The British have clearly mentioned that there were Muslim Nilames and Tamil Nilames in the Upcountry.

    • 5
      2

      Champa

      “The DNA test has proved that all those who “pose” as Sinhalese are not actually Sinhalese!”

      Which DNA test?
      Please cite the paper.

      • 2
        1

        Native Vedda
        Pl. read the first para.

        • 2
          1

          Champa

          Where is your first para?
          You have now promoted yourself to the level of Paranavitana, you see interlinear inscriptions between lines.

          Whats the matter with you?

          • 0
            1

            Keyboard Vedda
            Your comments show that your haven’t read the article.
            If you want to publish your own two cents in somebody else’s article, you should at least put in the effort to read the first few paragraphs.

            • 2
              1

              Champass

              “Pl. read the first para.”

              Whose para?

    • 7
      2

      Champa,
      Get this into your head: NOBODY is “actually Sinhalese”.

      • 3
        2

        old codger

        “Get this into your head”

        You mean the one on which she is sitting.

      • 0
        3

        old codger
        Of course, the majority are pure-blooded Sinhala Yakkhas.
        The number of Sinhalese mentioned in the first para of the article, based on DNA studies, are insignificant.

        • 2
          1

          Champa,
          Is there an ethnicity called “Indian” or “Canadian” which you can identify genetically? It’s the same with “Sinhalese”.

    • 3
      3

      Champawati,
      And many who are posing as Sinhala Radala Rowdies(Like Rohan, Solomon, Don Stephen……) are only Tamil Nadu Cinnamon peelers (like you) changed their names to European names. They worked for Europeans as Coolies and made money, before rip off Appe Aanduwa an become Radala Masters..

      • 1
        0

        Mallaiyuran
        Correct. There was no caste called ‘Radala’ before the arrival of the British.
        The British specifically created a special caste for the Malabari traitors posing as Sinhalese Buddhists in Kanda Uda Pas Rata for their assistance in taking over Ceylon through a treacherous convention.
        ‘Radala and Walawwa’ were introduced to keep Malabari traitors in Kanda Uda Pas Rata above native Sinhalese who were Govi or Rice-farmers. Malabaris in other areas in general had been called Mohammadens at the time.
        I am not sure about the origin of the title ‘Nilame’. It should most probably have been introduced by Malabari origin Sri Wickrama Kannasamy. No offence, but the title Diyawadana Nilame said to have held by Kannasamy’s valet at the time. Monarawila Keppetipola was a Maha Adhikarama, a much higher position than a Nilame. It is funny how some Sinhalese regard Radala, Walawwa and Nilame in high esteem, possibly not knowing their actual origin.

        • 4
          0

          Champa

          “There was no caste called ‘Radala’ before the arrival of the British.”

          Was there a race/people called Sinhala/Buddhists in this island before the Public Racist Anagarika Homeless Adharmapla manufactured the identity?

  • 8
    4

    KD, Lankans may (or may not) have Ceylonese DNA Achcharu, but for sure majority carries predominant Alleles for ” RETARDATION”. That explains why self claimed literate people elected family after family since independence so that now we have white van operator, mother of all scams, political con artist as leaders. We also have murders, Pandora/Panama fame crooks, rapist, racist, swindlers, uneducated thugs, drug peddlers as parliamentarians. How fortunate are we ????

    • 4
      3

      Chiv,
      “…but for sure majority carries predominant Alleles for ” RETARDATION”.
      —–
      For sure, minorities carry predominant Alleles for ‘TERRORISM’.

      • 3
        0

        Evil , Majority includes Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and the rest. It’s them who elected since independence. You being a reatrd and a racist couldn’t understand the essence of this article.

  • 0
    2

    Hello people! Did anyone consider that as India and Sri Lanka were connected to Africa during the Pangean era, we S. Asians are actually of African origin? The whole world came out of Africa, but we S. Asians are even closer to the African genes as we didn’t have to wander too far.

    • 2
      0

      Everyone is of African origin dum dum

    • 4
      0

      All humans have an African Origin. Not just the South Asians. The out of African migration only occurred once and once the population reached the Arabian Gulf/Western Asia they divided and wandered off in different directions. Therefore all the major human races, have the same amount of these original African DNA and not more or less, as their distant ancestors left Africa at the same time and also together as one group of people. No more or no less. Modern-day South Asians have very few modern-day African genes, as other than a very small of modern-day migration from African came to South Asia. Other than a few thousand slaves who were imported into these lands. Like the African origin slave descendants living along the coast of Puttlam. In Gujarat and in Makran in modern-day Pakistan.

      • 4
        0

        However, South Asians have a lot of Aboriginal Indian Australoid DNA mixed in them. On the other hand modern-day Europeans, North Africans and Western Asians, especially the Arabs, have a lot of modern-day sub-Saharan African DNA mixed in them. Due to slave taking from Roman times to fairly recently and current large scale migration from former African colonies. If you go to the USA, Canada, Latin America, Britain and Western Europe, you can how heavily mixed the younger generation are will immigrants from Sub Sharan Africa. Only stupid racists start posting the Dravidians who are dark-skinned Caucasoids are recent immigrants from Africa especially Ethiopia and they are not. They are part of the original out of Africa migration and their ancestors later moved from what is now modern Western Asia/Middle East Iranian region into the Indus valley, where they got mixed up with the Australoid population living there to create modern-day Dravidians.

        • 0
          2

          SSS,

          Aboriginal Indian Australoids ARE of African genealogy (because of the landmass connection to Africa). Genes might have morphed a bit because of the million years between and because of the mixing from other parts of the world, but we are more connected to Africans that other parts of the world. And as the video shows, all Lankans (Sinhalese, Tamils, Moors) have the same concentration of this S. Asian gene.

          • 3
            0

            That is not correct. The people of South Asia be they descended from Aryans, Dravidians, ( the largest contributor to South Asian genes) Indian Australoid, East Asian or anyone else, are all descended from people who came out of the first out of Africa population. Therefore the amount of African genes in them is the same as the rest of the population, who did not get mixed up with later African migrations. There is hardly any migration from Africa into the Indian subcontinent, unlike western Asia, Europe or North Africa which are all closer to Sub Saharan Africa than India. Arabs/Berbers ( Moors are Berbers actually and not Arabs) are the most heavily mixed with Sub Saharan African population. Go to the Arabian Gulf, North Africa and even to many parts of western Asia and observe. Then modern Europeans. There is very little modern African DNA amongst South Asians, East Asians, Central Asian and Oceanian populations. Melanesian and Australoid people are not modern Africans. They are descended from the same original out of Africa population and they have the same amount of original African genes, as all the rest of the population that left Africa, in that original migration, who formed the modern Causasoids and East Asians, Australoids and many others.

    • 3
      0

      ramona therese fernando

      “The whole world came out of Africa, ….”

      Chinese are beginning to challenge this very perception.
      https://humanorigins.si.edu/research/asian-research-projects/earliest-humans-china

      How China Is Rewriting the Book on Human Origins
      https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-china-is-rewriting-the-book-on-human-origins/

      At present political and economic condition Sinhala/Buddhists may start claiming to be part of Chinese origin. You see they need respectability.

    • 2
      1

      “The whole world came out of Africa”
      Interesting.
      When did Africa become part of the world then?

      • 1
        1

        S.J,
        We must forgive Ramona for being rather literal-minded.

    • 3
      0

      Ramona,
      Has it never occurred to you that there were no humans in the Pangean era?
      But you’re right, we’re all African.

      • 1
        0

        OC,

        The seeds to sprout humans were around……and Pangaea took a long time to pull apart – 120 million years. Anyway, out of all the races of the world ( besides the Australoids…..jungle people usually have the same look), Africans and S . Asians look the most similar.

        • 1
          1

          Ramona
          Pangea pulled apart 175 million years ago, long before even monkeys evolved. Sri Lanka was connected to India, not Africa till recently ( some say 800 years).

  • 3
    6

    Why these two comments have got stuck in the pipeline?
    Is it because CT does not want to put Prof. Kumar David to an embarrassing situation.

  • 1
    0

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  • 2
    1

    what kind of people spend all their lives trying to figure out where they belong? just fools who have a massive inferiority complex..

    it is sad .

  • 1
    5

    Deadly Achcharu and Gibberish
    “…the paper always uses the term “Indian Tamils”, not Upcountry Tamils – this is gibberish…”
    Talking of gibberish and achcharu – please note that there are no “Upcountry Tamils”, but there are Tamils in the Upcountry, who are recent immigrant Indian Tamils in the Upcountry plantations. Upcountry as used in Srilanka is not proper English usage, but the direct translation of “Udarata”, which is associated with the Sinhalese and is a designation used exclusively for the Sinhalese upto now, and as such its a Sinhalese cultural property.
     
    Now Tamils and others want to appropriate the designation “Upcountry” too! If there was a proper functioning government, it would have protected Sinhalese cultural property, especially designations of this sort, which are clearly protected by International law.
     
    We all know what happened to the word “Eelam” which only meant the “country of the Sinhalese”, until a few decades ago, when then the Tamils just took it and added Tamil in front of it, to claim a separate Tamil state called Tamil Eelam! Its GIBBERISH in Tamil, which translates into “Tamil Sinhala country”.
    Eelam = Sinhalese country
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:References_for_Sinhala_-_Eelam_-_Ilam.png

    • 1
      7

      Tracing how the word Eelam had been appropriated by Tamil separatists and the meaning of Eelam has been attempted changed, shows the development of the ethnic conflict too. Same way trying to change the cultural and political meaning of “Upcountry” can lead to a lot of trouble in the future. Its not only a loss of the real meaning of the term “Upcountry” and the watering down of the Upcountry Sinhalese identity which is a problem, but the new identity the Plantation Tamils intend to make using that term “Upcountry” will give them a false sense of legitimacy to their claims for a federal state or separate state that they wish to establish in the Upcountry.
       
      Since Eelam is a Tamil word, we can just ignore the cultural damage done to the Sinhalese, as it is minimal since Sinhalese do not use Tamil language, but the government should take steps to protect the abuse of the designation “Upcountry” i.e. “Udarata” by Indian/Plantation Tamils, not only to protect Sinhalese cultural property but to avoid future separatist claims by Plantation Tamils.

      • 0
        6

        Upto that transitional time starting from around 1910, the so-called Ceylon Tamils never claimed they were indigenous to Ceylon, but always maintained that they had come from Tamilnadu and settled here. In a few decades, the Plantation Tamils too can use the very same tactics and make claims equivalent to the so-called Ceylon Tamils.
         
        I am not attempting to make Plantation Tamils into unwanted aliens, but there are other ways to make them feel at home and treat them as equals, than giving them new identities and designations, which they do not have any right to. People like Kumar David, are playing with fire and with other people’s lives when they try to make new kinds of achcharus by taking a Sinhalese designation, and awarding it to Indian Tamils. Politics of identity making has already cost thousands of lives, so this game is dangerous.
         
        In Sinhalese these Tamils are called “Wathukaraye-Demala” or “Wathu-demala”, so although when used in the English language, “Upcountry Tamils” could pass with only a slight confusion, if the Sinhalese are to call these Tamils “Udarata Demala” that would make a lot of confusion and it would simply be gibberish indeed!

      • 2
        0

        Punchi Point
        Punchi Brain


        “Tracing how the word Eelam had been appropriated by Tamil separatists and the meaning of Eelam has been attempted changed, shows the development of the ethnic conflict too.”

        Its high time you stopped typing cr*p and started reading appropriate researched materials supported by evidences, (not the usual cr*p).

        Try this:

        EELAM – AN ANCIENT NAME OF SRI LANKA
        ENDURING OVER TWO MILLENNIA
        by
        Dr SIVA THIAGARAJAH
        http://telo.org/telooldnews/?p=232215

        Who is your history teacher?
        Is it Prof Darshanie Ratnawalli
        Patali Champika Ranawaka
        Udaya Gamampilla


        Dr Namal Rajapaksa
        or Prof Raj Somadeva ?

    • 1
      6

      The danger of associating a particular territory namely the “Upcountry” with the Plantation Tamils is that, since they are in the process of ending the migratory phase and making a new identity, separate from the Tamils in Tamilnadu, as it is with all immigrant communities this is when they go fishing for new designations and identity markers, as we have already experienced with the deadly process of non-plantation Tamils transforming into the so-called “Eelam Tamils”, who were just “Tamils” until very recent times.
       
      Plantation Tamils are already making demands for self-determination and autonomy in the form of a federal state, and have said that if they do not get some form of autonomy, they will demand full secession! So its extremely dangerous to associate territory with identity, as we have seen with the non-plantation Tamils, i.e. the so-called Ceylon Tamils. Prior to 1911 all Tamils were infact treated as one ethnicity and when Ceylon became associated with the non-plantation Tamils, it didn’t take long for the ancient Tamil word Eelam too to be used by them, and all the fabricated historical claims and demands of a separate state started coming, from around that time.

      • 2
        0

        Dravidian Eela(Ila)>Hela>Sihala>Simhala Eelam/Eezham means tody it has the Dravidian retroflex that is found in Tamil and its daughter language Malayalam. Later got Prakrtized to Hela Sihala and then Simhala in Sanskrit. To justify this name Simhala the lion myth came into being.

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          Previously many historians and anthropologists, especially the European colonial variety, always thought Aryan was superior to Dravidian, as they were of the white Aryan variety, therefore anything remotely connected to them was superior. Therefore Sanskrit was superior and older to Tamil and anything common to both obviously came from the much older and superior Aryan Sanskrit to inferior younger Dravidian, how can it not be. We are white Aryans now ruling the world, therefore anything connected to us is superior. Now all this has been rubbished, especially after the Indus valley civilization was discovered. Now it has been found that Tamil is older than Sanskrit and Sanskrit borrowed many Tamil/Dravidian words too as well as its grammar syntax and lexicon. Tamil only borrowed words nothing else. Professor Indrapala has also now rubbished many of his publications in the 1960s but Sinhalese racists still keep on quoting these outdated rubbished theories. Modern DNA studies have proven the Sinhalese and the Sri Lankan Moors are not Aryans or Arabs but more or less descended from Tamil Dravidians but still many amongst them, still deny this obvious fact and pathetically keep on quoting discarded rubbished outdated facts, to justify their prejudice and lies.

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        Punchi Point
        Punchi Brain
        Punchi Willi

        “The danger of associating a particular territory namely the “Upcountry” with the Plantation Tamils is that, ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..?

        You need a once and for all final solution for the “THAMIL PROBLEM”.

        Nuclear armed countries such as Pakistan, China, Maybe North Korea, Israel, Russia, USA, France, ….. Hindia could help Gota in this matter.

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    Ramona,
    Pangea pulled apart 175 million years ago, long before even monkeys evolved. Sri Lanka was connected to India, not Africa till recently ( some say 800 years).

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      Microbes, OC……prokaroytic cell structures unique to Africa and S. Asia.

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    PART ONE
    .
    Although I saw this article six days ago, I haven’t made a comment that squarely addresses the issues raised here; beyond my competence. I’ve listened to the six-minute video four times and twice looked at “the scientific paper”. Some of the non-scientific everyday terminology confuses. Also the sampling is insufficient, isn’t it?
    .
    However, what emerges from Dr Gayani Galhena’s research lays to rest some of the misgivings that we’ve had, which have led to so much unnecessary strife and suffering. It looks as though the Sinhalese, the “Ceylon Tamils” and the Moors share the same identity, and the genetic differences are inconsequential. These three groups have been warring with one another for the past century in a manner most unbecoming of the species that claims to be the most advanced.
    .
    As for the “Upcountry Tamils” they entered the country in British Times and have never made controversial claims. They alone are somewhat different. Somebody had said in a comment that the differences are “huge”. Yes, because a careless view would be to imagine that the differences could approach 100%, but not in the case of DNA.

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    PART TWO
    .
    The difference between chimpanzees and homo-sapiens is only 1.23%.
    .
    https://bmcgenomics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12864-020-06962-8
    .
    So, when Dr Galhena reports a difference between 0.3 and 0.4% between the “Upcountry Tamils” and the rest of the population, that is indeed “huge” as had been said in the comment. It strikes me that Dr Galhena and Dr Perera are scrupulous scientists, and haven’t been peddling the issues that obsesses most of those who get into arguments on these issues. The terms used have acquired connotations that are far from “scientific”. Aryan was supposed to mean “noble” and instead of “European” (which to most people in the world today connotes “superiority”, we could be talking of the “Middle-East” (well that too means that somebody is looking at the world from some place like Greenwich) or the Levant. I am perhaps fortunate to be making this comment when nearing “closing time”, since I’m sure that the terminology used by me is also muddled.
    .
    Presumably, differences approaching 100% would be between humans and the amoeba. I’m hopelessly out of my depth, and I’m certainly not going to make an effort to “properly understand” all this.

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    PART THREE
    .
    The problem is that these observations are then used to make claims of ownership, etc. If people have been living here in a spirit of belonging and permanence for two or three generations, they belong here. I’ve been out of this country a little, but never with a desire to migrate. The Sinhalese and the Tamils are the people who’ve been migrating, and at least there is some justification for the Tamils to say that they were pushed out.
    .
    Given that differences between organisms have arisen through “natural selection” relating to adaptability to the environment there certainly could be differences in many of the attributes of what we call “races”. The researchers have steered clear of all the nastiness that accompanies discussions of such issues. Whenever we discuss these subjects, the results are predictable; we end up talking about which of the three races did what. The “Upcountry Tamils” are not guilty.

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    PART FOUR
    .
    It may be that I’m old and all this doesn’t concern fellows who are in the departure lounge. Fine. Then let all this be studied by younger scientific scholars but let us pass on to the majority of the coming generations something like the findings of R.A. Leslie Gunewardena (not Vivienne’s husband!) and Karthigesu Indrapala:
    .
    https://tamilnation.org/books/eelam/indrapala#From_the_Epilogue
    .
    The moment that is seen, most Sinhalese focus on “Tamil” and “Eelam”. End of all rational thinking.
    .
    Isn’t it clear from the way the World has been “progressing” since science became important that the average human has now become prey to sloganising; much more sensible to see for ourselves that appearance-wise we Lankans are similar, dark brown for 99.75% or whatever. Let the minority who become scientists do their thing as adults, but let us bring up our children to appreciate the sort of heritage that Leslie (whom I knew) and Indrapala have outlined.
    .
    I crave forgiveness for presenting all this amateur thinking at the end of the discussion; perhaps I was wise to delay expressing my thoughts so that they can’t easily be attacked!

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