By Nanda Wanninayaka –
Nanda Wanninayaka
The news about the North being badly affected by flash floods last weekend did not appear in the Sinhala and English press till 48 hours as far as I saw. Not even the websites that publish rubbish gossip immediately after some minute juicy news were worried about what is happening to the people in the North. Most parts of the North have 4G, 3G or at least 2G and anyone can get pictures and videos in a few seconds. But not even those Facebook heroes were interested in doing something to our brothers and sisters in the Up North. Do we want to have North – South division once again?
When a natural disaster happens in the South all TV Channels and Radio Stations collect relief aids and deliver them to the affected with much fanfare in a rat race to say “We did it first” and crave for increasing their ratings for their media houses. But I don’t see that urge this time. Now don’t say that the media houses in the North don’t cover this type of catastrophes in their media. If we are the so called “majority” and the Big Brother, don’t we have to take the initiative to extend our support to the “minority” Little Sister? Isn’t this the right moment for us to show our love and compassion to them?
This is high time we forgot the “US and THEM” attitude and become “WE” instead.
I can’t do much. All I did was contacting the chief monks of Mahawilachchiya and Tantirimale so that they could mobilize the villagers and muster some relief aid and deliver it to our friends in the North. They did it during tsunami in a big way. I am sure they will do it this time too even though they underwent a long drought and have nothing much to offer. But they have compassion. I am sure you all have it too. We showed such a solidarity to the North and East of Sri Lanka during the aftermath of the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004 and even though the magnitude of the disaster is much less this time, still people are affected and our contribution is needed.
I talked to a friend of mine in Kilinochchi, Miss Dekala Murugesu, a young volunteer who does a lot to uplift education in the district with some supporters in the Diaspora. She directed me to Mr. Raj Sivaraj, the Divisional Secretary of Kandawalai who does the coordinating part of relief aids. He says the government has taken care of food needs and all they need is things like sanitary stuff, soap mosquito coils, toothpaste and tooth brush, disinfections, cleaning liquid, rubber slippers, etc. So, do not worry about food.
Since the new school term is to start early January, the kids may need clothes for school uniforms, bicycles, exercise books and other school supplies, etc. These kids have suffered enough during a 3-decade-long war and should not be left optionless once again due to the flooding. Let’s try our best to ensure they get uninterrupted education as soon as the schools start on January 03, 2019.
According to the people I talked to from the North, all three-armed forces are doing a commendable job and the people highly appreciate them. The armed forces can take care of rescue missions, urgent needs, etc. but now it is our duty to help with the other needs of the people. Government is providing immediate flood relief such as foods, transporting the people back to their houses, etc. but people’s lifestyles have to be restored to normalcy as fast as possible.
Around 7000 people have been affected in Kandawalai alone and they are being sheltered in government property right now. Now that the flood levels are reducing, displaced want to go homes and clean their houses. (Please read the attached detailed information sheets about the all 4 DS Divisions in Kilinochchi district which were sent by Mr. Raj Sivaraj.)
I tried to get more details about the flood situation from the website http://www.dmc.gov.lk of the Disaster Management Center but they only have some stale news!
Please call Mr. Raj Sivaraj, the Divisional Secretary of Kandawalai on 077 8446465 and on Whatsapp number 0094778446465 for more details. He will help introducing you the other DS Secretaries of Kilinochchiya district for you to work with them.
All the photos here and statistical information were sent by Mr. Raj Sivaraj.
Critical thinking / December 24, 2018
Bring a law against any media that behave like a racist monopoly of public service …
Media people get money from public..
Tv and news papers get money from public..
Do you have something called.
Sinahslee money; Tamil money and Muslim money ..
All people work to.earn money and help economy..
So why South get more publicity while North is ignored..
Do not support LTTEs claim that Tamil have been ignored.
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Babalathappu / December 24, 2018
There are no monies called sinhalaese and tamil money but most these are all srilanken currency.
Brothers the saddest truth is there are lot more in the country that would not see it beyond their ” frogs in a well” mentality regarding the reconciliation of people in this country. I am so sad to see, even sivuru wearing monks behave more racial than their lay men. The same is valid to some christians too. We see now clearly, that one of the christian priest goes after Rajaksahes for some reasons. They have been made believe unrealities about Rajakashes. For us and our literiture, Rajkaahses are the worst and most abusive lanken politicians that would mislead any unedcuated people only for their political survival. Monks though known it well, but they just stay either mum or activiely support Rajkashes for their abusive poltiics.
To me, if anyone would take Rajkashes away, can bring nation forward easily.
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Estate Labourer / December 24, 2018
Mr. Nanda Wanninayaka: It is very good of you to draw the attention of the public to the disruptions caused to the daily life of the people in the Northern Province by the heavy rains and the flooding that has ensued. The mainstream media here are not providing satisfactory coverage of this disaster and the sufferings of the affected people. Even the Disaster Management Centre does not appear to be sufficiently interested in providing the needed relief promptly and efficiently. This again smacks of discrimination based on the region where the disaster strikes!
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / December 24, 2018
Dear Nanda
Thank you so much for the comprehensive reporting/due care. ‘We’ are relieved that ‘one of us’ like your good self can give us the facts and pay respect to those who sincerely helped.
Through your ‘Fact’ sharing you have made us all want to be part of ‘solutions’ and not the ‘problem’ be it a natural disaster this time around………with your kind methodological writing you have ensured the ‘victims will never stand alone’ too.
Thank you
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K.Anaga / December 24, 2018
‘ We report you decide’ too is in the habit of not broadcasting problems faced by the Tamil population in their Sinhala and English news as much as they do it in the Tamil News . Building Bridges…………..?
Nanda! you deserve our sincere appreciation of your CONCERN FOR THE FLOOD VICTIMS.
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Surendrain Mutukaruppan / December 24, 2018
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2
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Sinhala_Man / December 24, 2018
Dear Nanda Wanninayaka,
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What a wonderful article!
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This was not what I had expected when I clicked on the link; For that reason, may I place a link to your article in a comment on the main story.
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https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/five-districts-in-the-north-devastated-by-rains-will-the-navy-block-compensation/
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So long as there are people like you with us, there is hope for our country.
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Native Vedda / December 24, 2018
Sinhala_Man
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I have heard about Nanda Wanninayaka through my friends though I have never met him.
According to my friends who had known him for years he is the quintessential Sinhalese or Buddhist or Sinhala and Buddhist. They have never seen him donning the Sinhala/Buddhist racist act.
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I wish him well.
I wish you happy secular holidays.
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Nanda Wanninayaka / December 24, 2018
Dear Sinhala Man,
Nope you are wrong. I am not Sinhala, Tamil or Muslim. I am Sri Lankan. A proud one for that matter. Both my late dad and living mum were socialist farmers and all 6 boys and 3 girls in the family became socialist by default. But after my visit to USA in 2000, I am a liberal minded person and trust market economy with a social mission.
As per the religious orientation, I never was a religious person. I am an atheist. I became one at 40 but my son became one at age 8 after extensively asking curious questions about Stephen Hawking after he saw the latter’s video at the Planetarium in Colombo. My son cannot understand or read English as yet but he got a lot of Hawking’s speeches explained by me from YouTube.
Sorry if I hurt your feelings by being blunt here :-)
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Sinhala_Man / December 25, 2018
Dear Nanda,
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Far from being hurt, I rejoice that there are such as you among us. I think that the “names” that Native Vedda has called you also are used with the greatest respect.
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I don’t think that there’s a huge difference between your outlook and mine. I, too, aspire to be what I sense that you probably are. It may be that I have compromised slightly: Whenever I say something I attempt to rise above these petty differences. I had a more practical aim in giving myself that “Sinhala” handle. I was trying to tell fellow Sinhalese that my background was firmly in their community – but my outlook is broader.
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Also, it seemed useful to tell Tamil speakers that there are people with my background who will not automatically assume a stance that is hostile towards them. When I started saying these things I hadn’t really given thought to what I should try to convey towards Muslims, but that is now what I’m trying to do.
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Probably my position has not been as clearly thought out as yours – but absolutely no offence taken.
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How old is your son now, and what language does he speak most comfortably? I’d actually be favourably impressed if it is Sinhalese.
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I’m obviously an older man, less courageous than you. I have two little grand-daughters (ages 3 and 5) who are using English mostly, but they will start studying in Sinhala. They have now come here, after the parents were in Malaysia.
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I use a pseudonym but frequently reveal much about myself; however you may not have the foggiest notion of who I am, so let me tell you that my real life name is Panini Edirisinhe.
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Please continue to be blunt!
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Nanda Wanninayaka / December 25, 2018
Hi Pamini,
You sound an interesting person to associate with. If you are okay, just drop an email to nanada@horizonlanka.org
My son is 11 now and he studies in Sinhala medium. I want to send him to the British Council to further his English education but cannot afford it at the moment. He is a great enthusiast of cosmology and says he wants to work for NASA someday. He could draw the entire Solar System with all the planets in right proportionate sizes and name them. He also drew Kuiper belt and Asteroid Belt in right places and could remember some of the moons belong to the other planters when he was at nursery (Age 3 and 4).
There was a live TV program on Sunday nights broadcast from International Space Station (ISS) and Abhi watched all episodes of that on satellite TV every Sunday and he wanted me to translate the whole one-hour program into Sinhala. Since my vocabulary was limited in Cosmology I had to leave out some parts but Abhi would say, “Appachchi, you missed that part, please translate that too.”
When Abhi could read and write by Grade 1 he temporary changed his ambition. Instead of being a NASA scientist, he wanted to become a newspaper seller as he thought he could read all the newspapers and magazines in the shop if he owned a newspaper stall. I cannot afford every newspaper and magazine he wants hence this was his way to find an answer. Even now, when I take him to a bookshop to buy a book or two, he reads a couple of books by the time I finish purchasing his books and stationary.
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Sinhala_Man / December 25, 2018
Hi, Nanda,
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I’ve just emailed you. I won’t say the same things as I put in the e-mail.
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My first name was given me by my father, who was also a teacher; you’ve spelt it wrong! He passed away, sadly, when I was only 14, but my mother survived him for 44 years, globe-trotting quite a bit before her final ten years in this Bandarawela house that I’m now in.
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Will irrelevancies such as this be tolerated when the subject of the article is so sad? My name:
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C4%81%E1%B9%87ini
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I have actually met four people with the same name, although the mother of one was Italian; his name may have had a different etymology.
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Anpu has some complaints about how Tsunami funds and how they were misused. Here’s another of aspect of it that I haven’t told in public yet. I’ve never been out of Asia: in late 2004, some guys in the Education Ministry had selected me as one of three who deserved to be sent to England for a short stay because we had made such thorough studies of the Language and Literature of Old Blighty. I can actually produce the passport (unused) that I obtained for the purpose.
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Came the Tsunami. CBK decided that no precious money should be wasted on jaunts, and my trip was cancelled. That wasn’t exactly a tragedy, and I am philosophical about it, but one more experience recounted of the way politicians imagine that only they deserve a break.
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Sinhala_Man / December 26, 2018
Got it.
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Your name is nanda, not “nanada”. There.
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And meanwhile, I fear that I posted the previous comment without cancelling the bold lettering that I had requested. So, I’ve “unbolded” twice here.
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Re-sent accordingly. There appears to be no return.
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Sinhala_Man / December 25, 2018
Dear Nanda,
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Just a thought. It is you who have worked hard at this report and the article.
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It is true that they came out only on the 24th. However, I can’t help feeling that my referring to you as a Sinhalese when commenting on the other “News” article, may have led to some readers looking at this article. I know that it is ironic, and not the best way to direct attention.
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Native Vedda / December 26, 2018
Nanda Wanninayaka
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I have the highest respect for all those who identify themselves by historical facts for example, Sinhalese, Buddhists, Tamils, Hindus, Christians, Muslims, …………. not for those who claim to be their parochial, narrowly defined, recent bogus identities such as Sinhala/Buddhists, Tamil Saivaites, Lating Christians, Wahabi Muslims, ….
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“I am Sri Lankan”
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I am sorry to say I do not accept this new manufactured identity which was imposed on people without their consent, by the 1972 constitution. No referendum was held when the constitution was passed. I find it difficult to identify myself with this politically motivated alternative to Ceylon. There have been several interpretation of the word “Lanka” however non convinced me.
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Please feel free to use it until wise men and women come up with a convincing, appropriate, …. apt, relevant, fitting meaningful name for this island.
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Please tell us as to why you consider Sri Lankan is the most appropriate name that represents unity in diversity, …. inclusively define various people, languages, cultures, religions, heritage, regions, ………………… without stripping away their dignity, history, linguistic and religious freedom, ….
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Happy secular holidays.
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Nanda Wanninayaka / December 30, 2018
Dear Native Vedda,
With all due respect, I am not the right person to do an anthropological or historical research to find what suits the island. I am happy with Sri Lanka and call myself a Sri Lankan. I am an optimist and believe that we would unite as a nation in time to come.I have seen the unity among the kids and the teenagers so gar between all these communities and I am happy to say that I have been able to unite them without the word “reconciliation” being mentioned or abused. I do it through music, dancing, sports and English language.
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Native Vedda / December 30, 2018
Nanda Wanninayaka
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Thank you for your work among the people, youth and children.
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The reason I asked you to explain the the idea behind Sri Lankan is that I am not happy with one brand name, i.e Sri Lankan. People didn’t give their consent to the state to brand them as Sri Lankan, of course there was no referendum to alter the name of the island.
Each individual has multiple identity , father, teacher, Buddhist, Tamil, amateur astrologer, part time farmer, weekend campaigner of good causes, …………. and so on.
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I don’t want to be known as Sri Lankan, a parochial political identity (never being defined what it is) which does not have approval from the people. Whoever (less than 150 MPs) came up with this name enforced it on the people, without their consent, a few people enforced their will on rest of the country.
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Until and otherwise the name is defined, and explained as to why a single identity is so paramount, applicable to all the citizen of this island, and what the single identity gives each individual in return, and does the single identity includes/represents the idea of unity in diversity, every citizen interprets it and understand it differently, leading to the exclusion of “others”.
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Please feel free to use Sri Lankan if you are comfortable with it.
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Nothing personal.
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Rarityminds / December 26, 2018
Nanda Wanninayaka,
I am fully agreement with your comment above, every word you mean above should have been common to many of us.
As everyone of us knows it well , if lived within the country, not many AMONG lankens can be considered as relgious buddhists or non-buddhists. Both categories are frequently found in high crimes today than no times inthe past.
They have become buddhists to their identities by default. This is common to almost 99% of buddists in the country today. Buddhist monks have become SUPER star like figures, with no that much of SEELAWANTHAKAMA in them. Those monks are the leading extremists inthe country today.
I moved out the country to Europe in late 80ties and live here since then. I now see more buddhists among the europeans and americans. Most of them focus on the real teachings of LORD Buddha. They have found meditation as their way to reduce their stress life styles. Unfortunately, latter is not seen among local buddhists in SL, intead they have just become followers of BUDDHAAGAMA as I closely study it. Today you would see even high criminals wearing – pirith noola – wristbands and they are used to say ” Budusarnayi” even if they may be on their way to perform next contract killing. Crime rates have gone up as never expected before. People’s behaviours are more violence promoting than the other way around albeit contradictory to non-violence promoting buddhism.
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Nanda Wanninayaka / December 30, 2018
Dear Rarityminds,
I sincerely believe that the world would be a better place without ANY religion. Everyone tries to show HIS/HER religion is superior and then starts the fighting. I don’t believe in karma, reincarnation, or sins and merits any more. All I try is to live my life with least nuisance to others. That is my religion.
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Sinhala_Man / December 24, 2018
Dear NV,
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I think that we readers know so little about you as a person. I understand perfectly the line you have taken when you named yourself, but it is so difficult to put a face on you. The same goes for Amarasiri.
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You are both amazing people with this ability to say so many very intelligent things on so many subjects. This land and all its inhabitants have to be most grateful to you.
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Yes, let me wish you both also happy holidays.
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Native Vedda / December 27, 2018
Sinhala_Man
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Hope you did have a happy secular holidays.
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I am who I am.
What you read is what you get.
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People some time call/identify themselves as Sri Lankan.
Why?
What it is made up of?
What do we get by branding us as Sri Lankans?
The name Sri Lanka was forced upon us by the state (actually by weeping widow) without a referendum? If we the people not party to the process (will of the people) why should we accept it?
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Pradeep k Selvaratnam / December 24, 2018
Mr Nanda, Sir,
Thank you for this post for highlighting the plight of the N& E people affected by the floods.
Well you focus on few pertinent facts such as “them vs us “. Indeed it is a fact of life, hopefully positive attitudes will emerge and and better thought process. Hope and pray for quick relief for these people.Sincere appreciation for the authorities, forces, others involved in relief operations.
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Nanda Wanninayaka / December 25, 2018
Dear Pradeep,
I think this issue (tsunami relief aid) is too political for me to comment. As far as I know, everybody in the chain was benefited except the tsunami victims during this process. A few organizations like Sarvodaya must have done some professional and sincere work but most other organizations and political leaders went in a plundering spree with the funding came from various parts of the world. Maybe we were not prepared for a relief mission of this magnitude by then but my understanding is that, even now we are not prepared. Disaster Management Center itself is a disaster. If not for the armed forces that work without a right budget but only with the manpower and the bravery, I don’t think the governments can do as much as the empathetic civilians do during a natural disaster.
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Anpu / December 24, 2018
Dear Nanda,
Thank you for the article in drawing the attention.
Tsunami – please read
Tamils Left Out of Sri Lanka’s Tsunami Rehab Plans-
https://www.sangam.org/2007/12/Tsunami_Rehab.php?uid=2692&print=true
“Two-thirds of Sri Lanka’s tsunami victims are in the Tamil-controlled north and east of the country, but the government has all but ignored them in its desperate race to rebuild lucrative tourist areas on island’s western Sinhala-dominated “gold coast.””
https://www.truthdig.com/articles/sri-lankan-disasters-natural-and-man-made/
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Maharage, / December 24, 2018
Thank you brother Nanda……
In your article, you have well exposed the callousness and hypocrisy of Sri Lanka’s media streams controlled by “Sinhala Buddhist” and their uncivilized cohorts.
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Nanda Wanninayaka / December 24, 2018
Not necessarily. Maharaja Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) is owned by a Tamil business tycoon. But I don’t think his TV and Radio networks did much. This is mainly due to where the money comes I guess. As someone mentioned above in a comment, there is nothing called Sinhala money, Tamil money and Muslim money. All these people want is money, money and money. So, maybe they don’t have much coverage or viewership in the North.I have seen people in the North watch South Indian TV channels through satellite tv.
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Nanda Wanninayaka / December 25, 2018
Not necessarily. Maharaja Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) is owned by a Tamil business tycoon. But I don’t think his TV and Radio networks did much. This is mainly due to where the money comes I guess. As someone mentioned above in a comment, there is nothing called Sinhala money, Tamil money and Muslim money. All these people want is money, money and money. So, maybe they don’t have much coverage or viewership in the North.I have seen people in the North watch South Indian TV channels through satellite TV.
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Nanda Wanninayaka / December 24, 2018
Hi All,
I wrote what I saw and heard. Too bad I left the North a week before the flood. Had I been there when this happened, I could have done more.
I feel disgusted about how media ignore the areas where they don´t have coverage and pay attention to areas where they have their viewers. Media should be the bridge between these extremes and give a real picture of what is happening.
During last few weeks, all media stations had enough money, resources and crew to bring live coverage from parliament to show the nonsense that happened there. it is too bad that they do not have the same interest during a national catastrophe. Once a community feels a left alone, it is natural they look for alternative godfathers that might not be the ideal choice. I have stopped watching local TV channels a few years ago and gave the TV to a chap in the village.
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Ratnam Nadarajah / December 26, 2018
Dear Nanda
With people like you, the man made divide of ” Them and Us” has no place in a plural society
It is indeed heartening , that people like you, who care and take the trouble to write about matters of universal concern that brings about harmony and good will among all the citizens.
For a change its good to read about real life issues than the current nasty politics, which took up all space and time in the media for the past two months
Wish you well
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k.kulesh / December 24, 2018
When southern people some years back experienced heavy flood during LTTE had the control in the N-E, they took flood relieves and it was a welcome humanitarian effort. But, when this severe flood has devastated the north, particularly Kilinochchi and M’tivu, there is no Media and Govt. patronage. When people from some other countries are affected, there would be relief items from Sri lanka but people of the same country are treated differently.
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sinhalese buddhist / December 24, 2018
Thank you for this practical work and the uplifting article. I hope readers follow up on the contact information provided and give what they can to help our blood siblings in the North.
Merry Christmas – this is what christmas is really about – helping one another and giving of yourself in the service of another.
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rajash / December 24, 2018
Nand I am repeating my comment in another blog on the same topic. I said Ranil&My3 would have taken a helicopter by now if this was South with a full press coverage.
I also said that Mahinda & Namal may upstage Ranil ….
…the news is that Mahinda made a telephone call to Mullithivu GA on the situation..
after the call …apparently he said he will brief PM and the Prez..and also do what ever he can.
now of course he and the press will make a political capital out of this
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rajash / December 25, 2018
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Nanda Wanninayaka / December 29, 2018
At least a few days later both the group of people Ranil/Maithree and Mahanida/Namal visited the North and they all look busy there. It is better late than never.
Rather than VIP visits, the nation needs a system where whatever necessary would happen without the VIP involvement. This is why the DMC was set up but I doubt if the institution lives up to the expectations.
Many criticize TNA not being present on time in the North after the floods. There is no necessity for any political leaders to do a showdown but only a right system to work. Not a single political party should take a political mileage from the people’s misery. The North is not a zoo for the politicians to go and “see” and take “selfies.”
In the West, systems work, not politicians. I don’t mind them sharing the sorrows of the affected, but, before they go, the system should provide whatever immediate things necessary.
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / December 30, 2018
What a progressive thought dear Nanda. Thank you bro.
Yep we live in the west so empowred by their success but never apply what we enjoy to others………..SPECIALLY not even to OUR brethren we left behind.
Recently our ex NPC CM minister defended the lack of ‘Tamil’ party political representation in the ‘disaster management’ and said more funds are on the way from overseas too.
When you think about it for the content vs what you said in your above comment how this differs in content / objectivity / methodology for humanitarian work hence no mention about what was done by all SL but Tamilness in nature has to be added??. Such an audacious act entertaint by the ‘outsiders’ that robs the local people of looking out for each other a Natural Mother Lankan ownership. Because even through the natural disaster managemnt the people will not be ‘freed’ from the narrative a winning formula for a political cause fail to address and added misery in the first place??.
Now the ‘right to return’ by the Good Governance ‘missing by shiploads’ just as after failing to ‘man’ the front lines by the same who supported the war as a solution to our problems seen to our children die/be prisoned for no reason/loss of land/missing in action…….yet the same are the ‘saviours’ the world is let to believe.
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Douglas / December 24, 2018
Nanda Wanninayake: Great work and all the best for your continued efforts. The “MEDIA”? No doubt, we have “MEDIA”; but in the hands of another type of “MAFIA”. We normally tend to blame the “Reporters” and the “Presenter”. Yet please bear with them. They are “Employed” are assigned to do a “JOB” as TOLD and INSTRUCTED..Please don’t drag, religion , ethnic and caste issues into this matter. Nanda: Thank you so much and not forgetting the CT for giving you this space.
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K.Pillai / December 24, 2018
Nanda Wanninayaka here uses the ‘Flash Floods In The Northern Sri Lanka & Aftermath’ to highlight the ‘Us & Them’ syndrome.
Nanda points out that the news “………..did not appear in the Sinhala and English press till 48 hours as far as I saw”.
This apathy was/is/will be there. For example the June 1981 Jaffna Library arson took four days to be considered newsworthy by the Sinhala and English media.
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Nanda says “I can’t do much. All I did was…………”.
You have set an example for other likeminded to follow. Many thanks.
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The ‘Us & Them’ started seventy years ago as an election gimmick. Unfortunately it has evolved into a ‘very difficult hold’ to undo.
We agree with your suggestion that, “This is high time we forgot the “US and THEM” attitude and become “WE” instead”.
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Nanda Wanninayaka / December 29, 2018
Dear Pillai,
Both burning the Jaffna Library and the Black July could have been averted if JRJ wanted. He was the worst leader to (mis)lead Sri Lanka and we and our sons and daughters are paying for this today and future too. SWRD created a Prabhakaran and JRJ nurtured him. As a result how many valuable lives in the North and the South were lost?
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Thappu / December 24, 2018
Nanda Wanninayaka, A well deserved thank you.
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Nanda Wanninayaka / December 25, 2018
A part of this story’s title “Us and Them” was stolen from Benjamin Zephaniah‘s poem “Us and Dem.” Zephaniah is my favorite contemporary poet.
See these videos.
1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9vHgFfWv9c
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohwyPL8nOIE
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnliPlsrIs4
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Manel Fonseka / December 25, 2018
Mr Wanninayake
How wonderful this country could be if there were more of us like you.
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Manel Fonseka / December 25, 2018
Thank you for introducing Zephaniah. I have been trying to find at least one poem from his Rasta in Palestine on the Net but there’s only something on video, & as I am deaf I need a text to be able to follow it. And the rare available copies of this 35-paged book are terribly expensive unfortunately.
I am no longer a member but would you know if the British Council has his work?
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Nanda Wanninayaka / December 26, 2018
In fact, I bought his best album, Reggae Head at British Council 16 years ago. He visited British Council and recited his poems live. But when I went there he had gone to Kandy to do the same. U bought his album but no longer have it. You can try with British Council.
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Manel Fonseka / December 26, 2018
Thank you, I will.
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wannihami / December 26, 2018
Nanda, don’t you watch Derana TV? Because Derana had reported extensively on Northern floods for the past several days and have a program to help the affected people. Many Sinhalese Buddhists yesterday went there to contribute in kind to the Manusath Derana which is the Derana arm which does humanitarian aid. I appreciate your concern about the flood-affected people of Killinochchi and surrounds, but when you do that with bias and use this forum to talk of your son, the value of your article loses its integrity.
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Sinhala_Man / December 26, 2018
Dear wannihami,
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Nanda has said somewhere that he had given away his T.V. so how to watch Derana?
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Your other comments, too, are valid – but then I’m greatly to blame for the digressions.
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I’ve looked at his website:
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http://www.horizonlanka.org/en/home/
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Nanda has been honest enough to include material which indicates that it’s a bit topsy-turvy.
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Coming at this time, this article has done a lot good, but to me the website indicates that the State also has to ensure that it provides at least efficient co-ordination for good intentions.
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Native Vedda / December 27, 2018
wannihami
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“Many Sinhalese Buddhists yesterday went there to contribute in kind to the Manusath Derana which is the Derana arm which does humanitarian aid. “
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People are people, they do help each other who are in need.
Find out whether “others” also contributed to the disaster relief fund or relief bundles.
What a nasty little racist you are, can’t you stop seeing every act of charity with your nasty stupid racist eyes?
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Nanda Wanninayaka / December 27, 2018
Dear Wannihami,
Thank you very much for the concerns. If you read this article carefully, what I have talked here is about the first 48 hours after the floods. Story about the son is not in the main story. It is only in an answer to a comment. I am not biased here. I reported what I saw. I don’t expect cheap publicity to my article or me. I am not a career journalist or a person related to relief aid. I just wanted to report what I saw and I don’t think it is a sin.
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Siva / December 28, 2018
Thanks Nanda. for the article with all the facts. I sincerely wish and pray there’ll be more like minded people in Sri lanka. There will be haters who write their bitter comments. The world is full of these people.
Don’t be disheartened. Always truth will stand strong and history proves it. God bless you.
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Nanda Wanninayaka / December 28, 2018
Dear Siva,
Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims have been nice to me wherever I go. We can’t generalize people as “good” or “bad” based on ethnicity. If we show the warmth and respect to other people, they will reciprocate the same or even more warmth.
I once had a change to go to an LTTE controlled area (Eechchalampattu in Trincomalee district) with a British national (my duty was to create a system to teach the kids in that area English and IT with an innovative technology from my village, Mahawilachchiya in Anuradhapura, which I planned but had to abandon as the war escalated) and I was surprised with the way the kids, youth, adults and the old people showed me their warmth. I don’t speak or understand any Tamil as yet. But those people, especially very old men and women treated me the same way our grandparents treat us when we visit them. I left the area with a heavy heart and I had to wait 20 years to start what I planned – only this June in Maniyanthoddam in Jaffna. If you like, you can visit http://www.horizonlanka.org to read more about this. Just search for Maniayanthoddam to get specific news about that small village in Jaffna. Also, you can read this link if you are interested about how I perceive the war in Sri Lanka and the aftermath.
Does Sri Lanka Really Need a Federal Solution?
https://wanni.wordpress.com/2018/11/10/does-sri-lanka-really-need-a-federal-solution-column-02-of-from-the-palmyra-peninsular-to-the-rest-of-sri-lanka-%E0%B6%AD%E0%B6%BD%E0%B7%8A-%E0%B6%85%E0%B6%BB%E0%B6%AB%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%B1%E0%B7%8A/
and this about Jaffnites.
7 Myths about Jaffnites
https://wanni.wordpress.com/2018/11/10/7-myths-about-jaffnites-column-01-of-from-the-palmyra-peninsular-to-the-rest-of-sri-lanka-%E0%B6%AD%E0%B6%BD%E0%B7%8A-%E0%B6%85%E0%B6%BB%E0%B6%AB%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%B1%E0%B7%8A-%E0%B6%BD%E0%B6%9A/
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Ajith / December 28, 2018
Dear Nanda,
It is good that you brought the fact that the North East disaster was ignored for few days by the media and politicians in the South, That is the fact. In otherwords, this is the norm for almost nine decades. I quickly went through the aricle you wrote about your perception of federalism, your perception of the LTTE & India. Unfortunately, You have ignored one important fact that how it was possible to India to influence the Tamil youth for a armed struggle. There must be something wrong within the country if any one is looking for help from your neighbour. You born in 1972. But, so you may not know the truth about happened before 1983 (11 years) and you must have influenced by those stories (lies) spreaded by those extremist buddhist Sinhala Fundamentalists. I born in 1950. I know much more than you about the ethnic based politics since 1956. The fact is thateven after the end of LTTE, nothing changed. Srilanka was a federal country before European invasion. There were three peaceful kingdoms in this island until it was unified by British in 1883. Just compare the seventy years of the period from 1948 to today with the period of before1883 and see what is best for the country.
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / December 29, 2018
Dear Ajith
(1) What you have said is America, Canada, Australia, NZ………and so many more Nations should not exist anymore??
(2) Absurd solutions were offered by the TULF then misguided our children and then the doors were open to TN gutter politics by the same. We are referring to 14- 16 years children here because I know them all personally and what took place too on the grounds Ajith because this involved all my class mates to various groups?? Why you think my Father put his neck out to save our children and to be killed by the same??
(3) what is this 1956 you keep referring that we do not know about please?? that is why Hon SWRD died facilitating Tamil use and I studied in Tamil ( born 1963 & before it was all in English) be it a limited use.
(4) Fully understand the descrimination for Jaffna Tamils in entrance to Universities/Jobs the consequence of policies set out to help the helpless majority included in this was certain Tamil grouping left behind by the earlier colonial system too? Then by working with the goverment ‘elected’ like my Father brought about the ‘balance’ you know nothing about or rather choose not to talk?? This is what others have done in so many other Countries to get them out of the post colonial rot?????
(5) Any Sri Lankan Tamil, Sinhalese (Sri Lankan PERIOD) who object to TNA history/demand is branded as anti Tamil is the biggest blunder we are living today. People will continue to object to this crime come what may please note……..the SL Soldiers a new generation has nothing to do with 1956 please note.
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Ajith / December 29, 2018
Dear Mr Thiagarajah Venugopal.
.I started to write a reply to you and on the middleway it came to my memory about one MP called Thiyagarajah for Kayts or Nallur. If I can remember correctly, I was unemployed at that time and one of my uncle said he can arrange a job for you through MP Thiagarajah who has very influence with Sinhala ministers and we need to pay Rs. 5000 or something at that time. Is it your dad?
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / December 30, 2018
Dear Ajith
Nice one and I proofed my point Bro about misinformation..
I checked my bank balance yep there is a Rs 5000 missing must be what you owe my Father. Can i collect this in person Bro………2019 interest will be 19561958197719832009%
Please write more we want to know what you could possible offer to us the Sri Lankans other than what you have all done….check out the interest rate what you have done to date for us as a reminder pls.
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / December 30, 2018
19561958197719832009=TNA=THE WINNING FORMULA FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN SRI LANKA=I LOST COUNTING THE DEAD.
Please help us more now we established my Father is corrupt. Cool bro.
I never realised the Suthenthiran has such effect when I argued how this tabloid has made us all loose our Nation. Now the New Suthenthiran is out please immune yourself with the new version of ‘ignorant’ jab for the rest os us to die formula.
Thank you Ajith your contribution to upholding the ‘Inconvenient Truth’. Cool the way to go.
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Nanda Wanninayaka / December 29, 2018
Dear Ajith,
Thank you very much for the comment on the article on federalism. As you rightly said, all what I can remember was what happened during 1983 and after. (If you have time, read this “1983 ජූලි කලබලය” https://wanni.wordpress.com/2013/06/25/1983-%E0%B6%A2%E0%B7%96%E0%B6%BD%E0%B7%92-%E0%B6%9A%E0%B6%BD%E0%B6%B6%E0%B6%BD%E0%B6%BA/ which I wrote 5 years ago.
I have heard about Bandaranaike creating all these unnecessary problem with his cunning “Sinahala Only” policy and the aftermath. Before writing the article, I called Professor Nalin de Silva also to get his input but he quite rightly said he cannot answer individuals but I could read his already published literature on the subject. He takes the ethnic issue back to British era but I was never a keen student of local history and was more interested in world history and political affairs. So, I can comment only about post-1983 era and my essay was based on those experiences.
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Sinhala_Man / December 30, 2018
PART TWO
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This is a huge mistake that far too many people make; that everybody studied in English prior to 1956. I’d say that the situation with regard to the use of English was never totally satisfactory – if you take the country as a whole.
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The languages of Lanka were Sinhala and Tamil (I don’t pretend to be an authority on this). The Portuguese came in 1505, and it was their religion that they pushed, not their language. Roman Catholic Services were in Latin until at least 1950. Hardly anybody understood it. Then services began to be in the three languages that we now have in the country. However, I’m pretty sure that a lot of the preaching and other teaching would have been in Sinhala and Tamil. The Portuguese were not racist, and encouraged miscegenation.
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The Dutch wanted to keep themselves pure white – here and in South Africa. They ruled efficiently, and their language was used widely. All who wanted to maintain some status in society had to embrace their Presbyterian religion. Land ownership was tied to it. So, officially, most people belonged to the Dutch reformed Church, but at home they were Buddhists, Hindus, or Muslims. Look around the country for their Language or their Calvinistic faith, and they are just not there. Gone with the Wind!
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Sinhala_Man / December 30, 2018
Dear Nanda,
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It is wrong to blame “Sinhala Only” on SWRD Banda alone. His appeal to Sinhalese Nationalist sentiment in 1956 was more credible than that of the UNP. Bandaranaike was looking for a way to come to power and early espoused the dethroning of English. Yet that was also a period of the worldwide resurgence of Nationalism; one could say that 1956 was a historical necessity.
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By the time the 1956 Elections came round Sir John Kotelawela was competing with Banda as to who would usher it in faster. After the Elections, there was an attempt to allow the “reasonable use of Tamil” through the B-Chelvanayakam Pact. That was scuttled because of J.R. Jayawardena’s “March to Kandy” which was aborted by S.D. Bandaranayake blocking the way. The most consistent of all the racists was J.R.J. The worst that could be said of Bandaranaike was that he was an opportunist, and rather a weakling.
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I would have imagined that most of you would have known this. Don’t call Nalin de Silva: he is one of the worst racists. Reading Rajan Hoole is painful; all the unpleasing details are all there, carefully recorded in chaste English:
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https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/the-culture-of-impunity/
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Please scroll to the bottom of the “article” given above. See the other parts of the book which was serialised, and you can download all for free.
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While you are about it, please don’t confuse Dr Rajan Hoole with his Election Commission brother, Professor Jeevan Hoole.
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Sinhala_Man / December 30, 2018
PART THREE
The Catholic Portuguese and the Protestant Dutch hated each others religion, and it was after bitter fighting that the Dutch prevailed. Please get the dates from Wikipedia and the like; my study of History stopped at Grade Eight. But all of us need a reasonable over-view of all this.
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The British were just handed over this country by the Dutch because of the Napoleonic Wars in Europe. The Dutch were less than First Class citizens, but they gradually learnt English and were the uppermost crust of the Ceylonese. Having kept themselves racially pure, the majority of them went off to Australia after 1956. I remember all of this because when I schooled it was with a pretty mixed lot: Sinhalese, Ceylon Tamil, “Indian Tamil” (a term not used today), Moors, Malays, Potuguese Burghers, Dutch Burghers, Brits. In English. But please don’t imagine that this was typical of the education that the villagers etc, got.
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Most Education was in the “vernaculars” – a word that now became applicable because that was for the hoi polloi, while there was “English Education” for a small elite group.
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English Education began about 1814. The Catholics were allowed to practice their religion once more, and their schools became the most important ones for those who wanted reasonable English education for government service. This is why so many, even in the Provinces, speak nostalgically of the good old days when the “Brothers” and “Sisters” gave them a wonderful education.
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Sinhala_Man / December 30, 2018
PART FOUR
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Bandaranaike was shot dead by a Buddhist monk for two reasons. He was not sufficiently anti-Tamil, and the monk who organised it all was a monk who lived a lavish whiskey-drinking life-style; besides which he was in to big business – Shipping. This is not part of the school curriculum – it should be!
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There was considerable tension throughout the World by about 1960 between White Christians and those practising indigenous religions. Think of Kenyatta’s Mau Mau, South Africa’s Mandela, Rhodesia under Ian Smith, Lumumba’s Belgian Congo, Indonesia’s Sokarno, Algeria’s Ben Bella, and more than all else, Vietnam under Ngô Đình Diệm and Ho Chin Minh.
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Sri Lanka and India don’t figure with them. The British, governed by the Labour Party of Clement Attlee, had willingly given independence to their colonies soon after the War with Hitler was over. Those other places were where the Colonial Powers tried to refuse independence.
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In Vietnam there was a bitter struggle between majority Buddhists and minority Catholics (Ngô Đình Diệm was one, and his administration extremely corrupt. The Americans have always had a great talent for supporting the wrong guys in overseas wars!) The Buddhist struggle was largely non-violent – and evoked strong passions in Ceylon.
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Anyway, in Ceylon, when the State decided to take over all religious schools in 1960, most thought of it as Catholic Schools being taken over. Wrong. the Buddhists lost Ananda, Nalanda and Visakha; the Methodists lost Richmond and Hartley; the Hindus lost many schools, and I’m sure the Muslims, too.
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Some schools “escaped”: not only the leading Anglican Schools. St Bridget’s (Catholic), Carey (Baptist), Musaeus (Buddhist) : they were allowed to legally charge fees.
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A few schools “suffered” until JRJ “rescued them. The were not allowed to charge any fees, but got no aid from the government either: St Joseph’s, Holy Family, Wesley, Methodist College, Zahira College, Maradana,.
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