By C.V. Wigneswaran –
Justice C. V. Wigneswaran MP
Someone has asked me; I heard your interview given to Iraj in Sinhalese. Why are the Tamils of the North and East wanting to live separately from the Sinhalese? If you are not asking for separation what prevents you from living under a unitary constitution?
My response was; Good question! I think it is necessary for me to explain the different legal concepts. A unitary state is a state governed as a single entity in which the Central Government is the supreme authority. Normally in a mono-ethnic Country such a Constitution would be alright.But in a multi-ethnic country like Sri Lanka it would create serious problems. For example the Central Government may create (or abolish) sub-national units for administrative purposes.What that means is due to an area being a sub national unit consisting of another ethnic, linguistic or religious group different to the group holding powers in the Centre it may be necessary to allow administratioon in that area to be carried out by the local people there.Such units exercise only the powers that the Central Government chooses to delegate. Such delegation is called decentralisation.
Although political power too may be delegated to the Regional or Provincial governments by innovations like the Thirteenth Amendment, the Central Government could abrogate the acts of such Regional or Provincial governments or curtail (or expand) their powers.That is what happened to us when we ran the Northern Provincial Council.We were not allowed to function in a way beneficial to us. The Central Government at all stages poked its nose into our affairs and would not allow even the Chief Minister’s Fund.
A unitary system of government can be considered to be the opposite of federalism. In federations, the Provincial/Regional governments share powers with the Central Government as equal partners/actors through a written constitution, to which the consent of both is required to make amendments. This means that the sub-national units have a right to existence and to powers that cannot be unilaterally withdrawn or changed by the Central Government.
The Provincial Councils under the Thirteenth Amendment under our Unitary Constitution does not share powers with the Central Government. The Central Government could unilaterally change their powers and authority. In fact the land powers and police powers granted under the original Thirteenth amendment, the outcome of an agreement between two sovereign countries, were not allowed to be used by the Provinces by the Central Government. For local technical reasons the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka demerged the North and East, despite the 1987 International Accord which had been signed by two sovereign countries.
Unitary Constitution gives extensive powers to the majority community by virtue of the greater number elected to the Country’s Legislature. Thus the majority community could dictate terms to the sub national units. And that is what is happening presently. The Sinhalese rule the Country including the majority Tamil speaking areas. If the Sinhalese as promised by DS Senanayake to the Soulbury Commissioners looked after the Tamils as their brothers we would not have asked for Federalism. It may have been possible to have had a fully devolved government within a Unitary State. But the Sinhalese let down the Tamils soon after so called Independence. First they stripped the Upcountry Tamils of their voting rights and made a million of them Stateless. Then they made Sinhala sole State language and forced the Tamil Government Officers to retire or leave the Country. When the Tamils pointed out that the North and East have always been Tamil – speaking and the Sinhalese had never lived there in large numbers and the acts by the Central Government amounted to aggression, the Army was sent in 1961 or so to the North and East and they continue to be there until today.
The standardisation in higher education was brought in, mostly to deprieve our studious Tamil students a higher education.Our lands in the North and East were colonised through the Gal Oya Scheme first and The Mahaweli Scheme next. Under the pretext of bringing water from the Mahaweli to the North, lots of colonisation schemes were started to bring in people from the South to gain residence in the North and East. Up to date not a drop of Mahaweli water has come to the North and it will never come according to our Engineers. It is not feasible.
The International Law says when attempting Colonisation Schemes the people of the area must be given priority to be selected as Colonists. Instead of a Divisional or District wise or Provincial Ratio, on a National Ratio people were selected and Sinhalese were brought in to be colonists in the traditional Tamil speaking areas. Even the National Ratio was not followed in the case of non Sinhalese. At least 25% should have gone to the minorities on a National Ratio. Even that was not done. But the North and East are predominantly majority Tamil speaking areas. The purpose of bringing in the Sinhala Colonists and many of them IRCs (Island’s Reconvicted Criminals) was to change the demography of the North and East and ultimately make both Provinces majority Sinhala speaking. This amounts to genocide. That is what is happening now in the North and East.
The Tamils do not want to live separately from the Sinhalese as you say.They already occupy separate areas which are traditionally Tamil speaking amidst a Country which is majority Sinhala speaking. But the Tamil speaking are the majority in their traditional areas from time immemorial or from pre historic times. They want to protect themselves. If the Unitary Constitution as it stands today is continued, the Tamil speaking will cease to be the majority in their traditional areas. The Colonisation will continue, the Sinhalisation will continue, the Buddhistisation will continue, the land grabbing by Departments will continue, the Militarisation will continue, the expropriation of our natural resources will continue and the aggression taking place in our fishing waters with the help of the Military to deprive our fishermen of their livelihood in their traditional fishing areas will continue. And in time like the Burghers the Tamils would be a bygone community. Sri Lanka would become a Sinhala Hindu Country! Because while chasing out the Tamils from their areas of residence the Sinhalese are following mostly Hindu forms of worship and rituals! I hardly see a Buddhistic culture among the vast majority of the Sinhalese.
We in the North and East after the War, now live under the boot of the Military. Almost 14 years have passed since the end of the war.My grand daughter born on the day before the end of the war would celebrate her 14th birthday in May this year! Even if she becomes a major there appears to be no chance of the Military leaving the North and East.
If we cease to live under a Unitary Constitution we could put an end to all these hazzles. We could stop colonisation from outside the Provinces.We could stop Sinhalisation and Buddhistisation and concentrate on improving the local language and religions. We could stop the land grabbing taking place now in a big way by various Central Departments. Militarisation will cease.That means Tourist hotels, Restaurants, Shops, Tea Kiosks now run by the Military or their proxies would revert back to the locals. What is needed for our security would only be decided by us and not by the Sinhalese majority at the Centre. We would stop the expropriation of our assets and resources by outsiders if we are given the right of self determination in our traditional areas. We could allow our fishermen to continue their traditional livelihoods unrestricted and unhampered by outsiders. We would not be forced to live under a Militarily overlooked area. If the North and East need freedom from Sinhala aggression, Sinhala overlordship, Sinhala interference and Sinhala hegemonism we need to step out of the Unitary Constitution and have a Federal or Confederal Constitution. A Unitary Constitution will ultimately destroy our existence.
leelagemalli / February 27, 2023
This may be the thought of honourable Wiggy (80 yrs) who did not do much despite opportunities. A good politician should be able to deal with everyone and solve the problems of the people they meet. So long politicians dont realize this, nothing can work for anyone in this hell made by Rajapaksas.
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I don’t like this guy Arun (38 years) who was behind Rajapakse politics. However, Arun is right about the caste and religion issues which are the real cancer of the people in the north.I also noticed that from our tamil brothers in Europe. Most of them are more divided by their caste system.
:
Please watch the video below, it will explain everything to you. They , most of them, belong to a low caste, while the WIGGIES and all prominent persons belong to a high caste. And so the politics of the day is nolonger being tolerated by honourable Wiggie et al. It is all , because the whole lot of people have suffered so much from their politics.
.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrWztVEiz8o
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I as promoter for srilankenness, do not respect Iraj because this man is a Rajapaksa promoter. I hated him as another YOUTUBE parasite. But listen to what Arun has to say about the real shortcomings of the north. We have to focus on everyone to realize the true problems of the notherners.
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Nathan / February 27, 2023
Dear leelagemalli,
Your, ‘honourable Wiggy (80 yrs) ‘, is amusing!
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My government employment was taken away from me when I refused to bribe a senior administrator.
I was without a job.
The Principal of a private school, where a friend of mine was teaching, offered an interim job.
Within 3 days, I had to travel to Jaffna from Colombo, to partake in my father’s funeral.
Despite the journey, I was back at school, with only a single day absence.
My Principal couldn’t believe his eyes.
This is how the conversation went.
“Your friend told me that you had gone to Jaffna for your dad’s funeral.
Yes, Sir. I took the train back, once the funeral was over.
You could have taken today also off. After all, today is Friday.
No, Sir. There was nothing else for me to do in Jaffna.
But, it was your father.
My father had a peaceful death. He died of age.
Age? How old was he.
81+
That is not old! See. Mararji Desai is the Prime Minister of India. He is 82.
My father was not just old. He was wise, as well.
What. What are you talking.
My father always knew that he had no chance of ever becoming a PM.
.
The Principal, left in a hurry.
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SJ / February 27, 2023
N
The man was only trying to be kind, although perhaps a bit too patronising.
Not all bosses have a sense of humor.
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leelagemalli / February 28, 2023
Dear Nathan,
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Thanks for your comments. I just thought that he should be added with the prefix “honourable”. Looking back, it wasn’t all about fun. Maybe I’m used to treating any elder with some respect. So I don’t know why you consider it “amusing”.
.
As you know, I am not defending anyone. I’m not racist either. From my childhood I fought for equal rights for all. Those closest to me always misunderstood me. One good example is self-proclaimed sinhala_man from Banadarawela. Some attacked me as a “Tiger supporter”.
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Each time, I kept them away for my safety and protection. I am a bastard in their eyes. I am another traitor.Truth is I am a victim of the stalkers for decades. All because of my melting heart for srilankenness.
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leelagemalli / February 28, 2023
Cont.
So, now back to Herr Wiggie’s article (I am sorry for taking much space to explain about me above).
I think, as I said earlier, Wiggy has not done the job properly. If he returned those earmarked funds that were better used for the benefit of poor families, the excuses are unacceptable: I’m sorry, I can’t agree with you. …
,
Many including northerners, claim that Wiggie is not vocal about the dire problems of the underprivileged, and we should all come together and question why he couldn’t.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJX5V6e-sEM
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Some so-called politicians have a heart but they do not read the real issues of the people. Poverty is more prevalent in Sri Lanka and South Asia than anywhere else in the world
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Nathan / February 28, 2023
Further, Justice Wigneswaran was not offering excuses; he was reasoning. A big difference.
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Nathan / February 28, 2023
Dear leelagemalli,
It was amusing when my little story shows that 80 is much better than 82!
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leelagemalli / March 3, 2023
Everything seems to be amusing to your eye for some reasons ?????
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Nathan / February 27, 2023
Dear leelagemalli,
I don’t intend reading the article. There would be nothing (for me) in the article.
Your comment speaks of,
1) (who) did not do much despite opportunities.
2) (noticed that from our tamil brothers) are more divided by their caste system.
.
1) Justice Wigneswaran has explained publicly why he returned some funds unused.
If and when his critics counter his reasoning, you’ll get the answer from CVW himself.
2) How are the Tamil brothers in the west affected by the caste division?
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There will be always people complaining in one pretext or the other.
Caste is abhorrent. But it is the individuals, who bring it up even when not affected by it, who do not let it die!
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SJ / February 27, 2023
“Caste is abhorrent. But it is the individuals, who bring it up even when not affected by it, who do not let it die!”
N
Should one be affected by caste to bring it up even when not affected by it?
MK Gandhi must have been a most abhorrent person and EVR (Priyaar) even worse.
*
Caste, race and colour will be talked about as long as there is oppression in their name. Talking discomforts any who likes to pretend that all is well.
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AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM / February 27, 2023
It was a perfect answer by C.V.Wigneswaran. He has pin-pointed the evil motive of the Government. Now the only remedy is for all the Tamils that they should raise in one voice that they intend to join or become part of the Indian Union and for that purpose the North-East Provinces be accommodated as an Independent Territory within the Union of India in accordance with the Indian Constitution. India should with view the dragging of the implementation of the 13th Amendment as something suspicious on the part of Sri Lanka to cause threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India. This is clear when Chinese officials with the assistance of the Sri Lanka’s ruling politician visited the islands around Jaffna, no sooner Dr.S.Jaisankar and Annamalai left Jaffna after gifting the Jaffa Cultural Centre to Sri Lanka. Besides Sri Lanka’s Navy also attacked the Indian fishermen who were fishing in their territorial waters. I think Kachchativu should be retrieved by India and take adequate measures to control the North-East Province by setting up Indian Military Check Posts in these two Provinces to prevent China’s invasion in these Provinces.
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RAVI PERERA / February 27, 2023
Ayathurai,
You seem to be very concerned about India’s security. How nice. About North East becoming part of India, I think you can make it a reality by learning Hindi. I belive Jaffna Hindu college is already teaching Hindi in Jaffna. So Hopefully the Tamils in North will be speaking Hindi. Hopefully Tamil Nadu will follow.
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Native Vedda / February 27, 2023
RAVI PERERA the Sinhala Speaking Demela
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“You seem to be very concerned about India’s security.”
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India’s security is Hindia’s problem, not mine, not your’s nor Ayathurai’s, .
When you work with other powers to undermine Hindia’s security it become everyone else problem. You have not learned anything in the last 40 years nor will you in the next 40 years. Last time it was parippu that was dropped from the sky. Next time around we do not know what, ……
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“About North East becoming part of India, I think you can make it a reality by learning Hindi. “
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It is good idea.
Hindi is becoming more and more an international language.
By the way Sri Lanka is the Sinhala State of Hindia. North East will become part of Tamil Nadu.
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“Hopefully Tamil Nadu will follow.”
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Just because your ancestors came from South Hindia and converted to Sinhala/Buddhism do you think res of them are ready and waiting to convert?
Why do you think so?
Did Hindian diplomats tell you that when you went there scavenging?
–
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RAVI PERERA / February 28, 2023
DEMALA veddo,
I see your comment about Indian secuity. Ha ha.. smarting from defeat isnt it.
Hindi not only is an international language but is also a beautiful musical language too unlike some language which is irritating. As for North East becoming part of Tamil Nadu, no it will not. Certainly not east and part of North too. I think the target is for widespread Hindi use in Peninsula , so Jaffn aPeninsula will become sort of part of Hindia and already is. India will be interested in Trinco harbour as well but rest of East will be in Sri Lanka. in another 40 yrs there will be more sinhalese in Vavuniya and Mullativu and more Muslims in mannar. As far as I know I do not know of any of my ancestors coming from Any part of India. I and most of my family members are good looking, so even if they are from India , they cant be from Tamil Nadu.
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Pandi Kutti / March 1, 2023
Who told you that you and the rest of your family are good-looking? The village idiot or someone from the lunatic asylum? Or is it the monkey praising its own tail? It is a well-known fact the European colonials, especially the Portuguese encouraged their common soldiers stationed in various colonies to form relationships and produce children with local women, in order to produce loyal westernized Christian half-castes. Many of these coastal South Indian origin women from these low-service castes indulged in this and this practice was also very common in the Kandyan areas. Now 90% of them have been converted to Chingkalla Buddhist Fascist identity. You most probably are one of these by-products. This sort of interaction with these white colonial soldiers and common Thamizh women was very much less in the Thamizh areas, it did occur but far far less, due to the strict Hindu culture of caste and keeping the family heritage and ancestry pure from any taints. Even the Christian Thamizh followed these strict Hindu norms and culture.
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RAVI PERERA / March 1, 2023
Pandi kutto,
Protugees soldiers did not go after Tamil women for obvious reasons.(looks ….) On There are some Lankan and Indian soldiers who are accused of …. Tamil women. God only know how these soldiers went after the ugly women. They should be given a meddle
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Pandi Kutti / March 2, 2023
Ok, as per your strange convoluted logic, the Portuguese did not find Thamizh women who called and identified themselves as Thamizh in the north and east attractive but found the same Thamizh women, now living down south now calling and identifying themselves as Chingkallams very attractive and wanted lots of hanky panky with them? No wonder you are so brain-dead hateful and weird.
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AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM / March 1, 2023
Ravi Perera & Native Vedda,
There is no wat that North-East Province will become part of Tamil Nadu. It will be an Independent Territory within the Union of India in accordance with the Indian Constitution. Tamils in North-East Province won’t like to be with Dravidian parties and also hate their Dravidian model. India also knows about it. It will be like Pondicherry and will like to support the BJP. BJP sympathizers are more in North-East Province.
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RAVI PERERA / March 1, 2023
Ayyathurai,
If there is wide spread Hindi use in the North,(Not the east anyway) this is a real possibility. Without Hindi there wont be a chance.
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AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM / March 1, 2023
Ravi Perera,
Do not worry about it. The Tamils in North-East Province are with India. Now India has sent its war ship SUKANYA to enter into a negotiation with the Sri Lanka Navy, not to shoot any Indian fishermen who are fishing in their territorial waters. If Sri Lanka violates this condition, Sri Lanka will never get a cent from India as financial assistance. Sri Lanka has also take responsibility for any consequences arising from such violations. I think Ministers Douglas and Rear Admiral Sarath Weersekera along with Vimal Weerawansa must be purging on hearing this condition. When the Sri Lanka Navy is about to confined to their bases, won’t the Tamils be happy and I don’t think they are anti-India. Moreover with the establishment of LITTLE INDIA Centre, the Tamils will be with India and you also can do the shopping. As for the use of Hindi, it is not a problem. When Sanskrit-speaking Ravana can study Tamil, it is not a problem for the Tamils to study Hindi. Sanskrit is closely linked to Hindi. In foreign countries, it is common that Tamils are studying three languages.
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RAVI PERERA / March 1, 2023
Ayyathurai,
“When the Sri Lanka Navy is about to confined to their bases, won’t the Tamils be happy and I don’t think they are anti-India.”
I think they were very happy when the same thing happened in 1987. Finally it ended up by creating a Gandhi Ghost who helped us send your boss to heaven.
About Tamils being with India, your boss Velu made a passionate speech in Nov-2008 about how great India was and that the Tamils are with India etc. I think India showed there appreciation by helping Lanka to send Velu to heaven
About Tamils learning Hindi not being a problem, I think you should become the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, so that you can change the situation
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Pandi Kutti / March 1, 2023
BJP also rules Karnataka but try forcibly imposing Hindi on the Kannadigas
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old codger / March 1, 2023
Ravi P,
Why don’t you actually go to South India and count how many people speak Hindi, or how many Hindi signboards there are?
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/mount-road-anna-salai-chennai-tamil-1220509744
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RAVI PERERA / March 1, 2023
Old,
I think you are referring all states of South India minus T Nadu
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Pandi Kutti / March 2, 2023
Roads signs in Karnataka where the BJP rules. Only in Kannada and English. No Hindi
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/53/59/3c/53593cde9084685c0391cfe9e5ced82a.jpg
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Pandi Kutti / March 2, 2023
Please visit Shravanabelagola a famous ancient Jain place of worship. You may attain inner peace, as it looks like Buddhism is not giving you any peace or love towards other humans but lots of hate and venom. Thank you, Lots of love.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shravanabelagola
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old codger / March 3, 2023
RP,
In case you have doubts, here is one from Mumbai. There are only two languages on sign boards in most of India, the local language and English. In this case, the local language is Marathi.
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-illustration/mumbai-india-highway-road-sign-260156153
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Native Vedda / March 1, 2023
AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM
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Nether you nor Ravi Perera the Sinhala speaking Demela have any say on what Hindians are preparing to do. Once upon time Ravi Perera’s soul mate in the Hindian High Commission assured a Sri Lankan that the Hindians will teach the Lankies how they would transform the island through Social Engineering.
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BJP. RSS, BBS, …. have no chance of …..
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Please explain “Dravidian model”. Hope you do understand what it is.
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RAVI PERERA / March 1, 2023
Ayathurai,
One Tamil want to be part of Tamil Nadu and the oter wants to be an independent territory. By the way there in no North East Province. There is a North Province and Eastern Province. AS for having many BJP sympathizers in North and East, you can prove it To Modi by speaking Hindi in a big way. Sweet Dreams
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AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM / February 28, 2023
The Tamils are secured if India’s security is strengthened. India’s policy toward China is currently characterized by caution. I do not know whether the Sinhalese are concerned about handing over Hambantota Harbour to China, resulting in the bankruptcy of Sri Lanka. As far as Tamils are concerned, they cannot afford to live on the inflated currency as well as with the cunning Chinese. If North-East Province is accommodated within the Union of India, it will be like Pondicherry as an Independent Territory and India will look after its finance, defence and foreign affairs. Tamils need not worry about the value of the Indian Rupee. India has an efficient Finance Minister who has taken all measures to strengthen the country’s economy. In Sri Lanka the Ministers are corrupt and now they are inviting all the expatriates to invest in Sri Lanka. There is a news item that a Tamil Businessman, Baskaran who had invested to boost the country’s economy, had been summoned by the CID. Is there any guarantee for the Tamils to carry on the business peacefully. Because of the corrupt Ministers, a prominent Sinhala politician has recently
recruited Sinhalese girls for employment in Thailand, when, in fact, they were sold to Chinese for $ 5,000. Some of them have escaped from Thailand and returned to Sri Lanka.
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RAVI PERERA / February 28, 2023
Ayyathu,
“The Tamils are secured if India’s security is strengthened.”
Pity the Velu did not think like this. Is it true most of the Tamils in west supported the Anti India stand
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shankar / February 27, 2023
After july 83 tamils may have become nervous to live among the sinhalese and don’t trust the police to save their ass if their is another riot.However we should let bygones be bygones and move forward as friends and fellow lankans.We should implement the 13th amndment in full.Wiggie grumbling about the governor interfering is jumping the gun because i remember the governor cancelled all the appointments made by wiggie because wiggie was getting rid of all public officials and schoolteachers and trying to put in his people.Governor has to intervene in such cases for the good of the people.
As for the courts deamalgamating the northeast provincial council,wiggie fails to mention that according to the indo lanka accord a referendum should be held in the east to see whther the people of the east want to amalgamate with the north.Why does he at least now ask for a referendum?
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Rohan25 / February 27, 2023
Yes, a referendum should be held in the east, however, it should only be limited to the indigenous Eelam Tamil population, the Tamilised Veddha who have lived in the east for over 3000 years and are the real owners of the east, to the South Indian origin, Muslim Tamils of the east who arrived in the east as refugees a few centuries ago and to the Tamil refugees and diaspora origination from the east, in the refugee camps in India and overseas, as they were forced to leave the island due the racist ethnic cleansing activities of the Sri Lankan state.
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Rohan25 / February 27, 2023
However, the Sinhalese settlers who arrived in the east after independence and settled by the Sri Lankan state on ethnically cleansed Tamil lands in the Amparai and Trincomalee districts, the vast majority of the time in the past 40 years, to deliberately change the demography of the east from a Tamil majority to a Tamil minority, should not be allowed to participate in this referendum. This means you are legalising state-sponsored ethnic cleansing, which was deliberately done to steal and deny the Eelam Tamils their right to their homeland. This is a war crime and these sorts of activities were not recognised in former Yugoslavia. Why should these very recently arrived Sinhalese settlers, who are the beneficiaries of state-sponsored ethnic cleansing activities, be allowed to decide on the fate of the indigenous eastern Eelam Tamils and the Tamil Vedda and their ancient homeland? They were brought in just for this reason. Basically to sabotage the idea of a Tamil homeland and now they are trying the same thing in the northern Tamil Vanni, using fake concocted history and illegally constructed Buddhist monuments, with the help of the occupying racist Sinhalese armed forces and police.
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RAVI PERERA / February 27, 2023
This time at the UNHCR session on Sri Lanka try to include the war crimes related to
so called colonisation.
“Why should these very recently arrived Sinhalese settlers, who are the beneficiaries of state-sponsored ethnic cleansing activities, be allowed to decide on the fate of the indigenous eastern Eelam Tamils “
There are no indigenous Tamils in Sinhale. You are indigenous to Tamil Nadu.
No matter how hard you try you demalu will never establish a homeland in Sinhale. In another 30 years only Jaffna will be Tamil majority
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Pandi Kutti / February 27, 2023
All recent DNA studies have only proven that it is not the Eezham Thamizh but most of the modern Chingkallams who are largely descended from South Indian Thamizh immigrants and invaders from ancient to recent. Modern or present-day Chingkallams share around 70% DNA in common with South Indian Thamizh, whereas modern-day Eezham Thamizh only 17% DNA with Indian Thamizh, proving whose ancestral homeland is Thamizh Nadu/Kerala and southern Andhra/Karnataka the ancient Thamizh homeland in India. Around half the present-day Chingkallams are purely or largely descended from recent South Indian Thamizh immigrants from these areas and a very large proportion of them were imported into the island from these areas, by the Portuguese and Dutch colonials to do menial service work and to work as slave labour, in the huge southern spice estates, eg; Cinamon peeling. Many to hide their recent largely low-caste/untouchable South Indian Thamizh origin and caste names, took on Iberian surnames and now beating the Chingkalla Aryan anti-Thamizh drum. Your comment about Jaffna district being the only Thamizh majority district proves what Rohan stated is correct and the diabolical, evil racist intention of 99% of the Chingkallams. Shame on you.
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SJ / February 27, 2023
All recent DNA studies have only proven that it is not the Eezham Thamizh but most of the modern Chingkallams who are largely descended from South Indian Thamizh immigrants and invaders from ancient to recent.
*
Jolly good, then what is ethnic identity nonsense about?
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RAVI PERERA / February 28, 2023
Pandi,
Most of the Tamils brought to this country were settled along the eastern Coast. Now they are asking for part of our country. On the contrary the Keralites who came settled along the western coast and assimilated and integrated into the sinhala community and are playing an important role . Some of them played a big part in sending your freedom fighters to heaven. (With the support of Rajiv Ghost). Also we helped a good part of you tamils to go to the west inspite of having to do menial work like dish washing. Dish washing is still a better job than working as a sakkiliya in Sinhale
You talk about so called low caste south Indians changing their names to hide their identity. I do not think you can be anything lower than a Tamil (irrespective of the caste). You are a defeated group of people
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Pandi Kutti / March 1, 2023
Rantings and ravings from a recently Chingkalized South Indian origin, Chingkalla Buddhist Fascist. Eagle Beagle has vanished or gone to the other world and this one is now taking his place. However, these mad extremist racist rantings and ravings are not in isolation, as this has been the intention of all Chingkalla-led governments from the time of independence and the intention of 90% of the Chingkallams, which had led to the bankruptcy and ruination of the island. This racist lunatic rants but the others are implementing these rantings
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Native Vedda / March 2, 2023
RAVI PERERA the Sinhala Speaking Demela
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“Now they are asking for part of our country”
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Your country? Since when.
In fact they are asking for part of our country.
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“You are a defeated group of people”
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Defeated by whom?
Tamils were not defeated.
It was your other cousin Thiruvengadam Velupillai Prabaharan who won the war for Rajapaksas. The ordinary Sinhala speaking people did not benefit from defeating LTTE.
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Day by day you are becoming very stupid.
My other friend Soman is missing from CT. Probably awaiting for his asylum application to be processed.
When are you leaving?
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RAVI PERERA / February 27, 2023
Rohan,
Wow..So you want want the referendum in the east under your own rules.
I am sure there will be a referendum under your rules very soon. Keep dreaming.
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Pandi Kutti / February 27, 2023
Yes, we all know that Chingkalla racists and Fascists, especially from the vociferous recently Chingkallized South Indian immigrants, will want the very recently arrived and settled Chingkallams on ethnically cleansed Eezham Thamuzh lands in the east or even in parts of the north by the Chingkalla Sri Lankan state, to take part in the referendum but this should not be allowed, as they are beneficiaries of state-sponsored ethnic cleansing to deliberately change the demography and to sabotage and deny the indigenous Eezham Thamizh their right to their homeland and steal it from them.
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Pandi Kutti / February 27, 2023
The north and east of the island have been recognised internationally as the ancient homeland of the Eezham Thamizh and the international agreement states they have to be merged and this is what India and the international community state. Very recently arrived Chingkalla settlers, who are beneficiaries of state-sponsored ethnic cleansing, cannot and will not be given a chance or a say in deciding the fate of the indigenous Eezham Thamizh and their homeland. If they want to they can remain and live there in peace and dignity or if they want a say they can return back to their Chingkalla homeland, from where most of them arrived to the east four or three decades ago. People who arrived 40 30 years ago, now deciding on the fate of people who have lived and ruled the land for more than 3000 years ago, due to deliberate and calculated ethnic cleansing activities. You dream on.
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SJ / February 27, 2023
“…the international agreement states they have to be merged and this is what India and the international community state”
Which international agreement, may I please be informed?
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Pandi Kutti / February 28, 2023
Not as nonsensical as a self-hating Thamizh Chavam.
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SJ / March 1, 2023
You seem to have missed the question, piglet:
“Which international agreement, may I please be informed?”
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RAVI PERERA / February 28, 2023
Ado pandi,
No International agreement recognises North East as Tamil homeland. Indo lanka accord states North east is the area of historic habitation for Tamil speaking people along with other communiyties. Now if your interpretation is that this means it is tamil homeland then good luck to you. Besides Indo lanka accord was signed by two parties Sri lanka and India. India could not hold on to their end of the bargain, so they are not in a position dictate terms. There is an interesting interview of General kalkat the guy who was in charge of the India Troops in Sri lanka in 1987, where he clearly states that they knew the accord could not be implemented. So North and eat merger will never happen, even if the sinhalayas agree the muslims will never. You talk of people arriving 40n yrs ago dictating terms… haha.. Man this is like the blacks in South africa moving in to white areasn after many years. The whites in Soutrh africa are protesting but they are falling on deaf ears…
Your homeland is Tamil nadu, you tamils living here is no different to Tamils living in Karnnataka, andrh a Pradesh etc
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Siva Sankaran Sharma / February 27, 2023
Sorry, Mr Perera, you are the one who is dreaming. The north and east are the homelands of the Eelam Tamils, continuously inhabited and ruled by them, most of the time until European colonization. The Portuguese, Dutch and British colonial powers recognize these areas as the homeland of the island’s Tamils and even this is recognised by India and the international community.
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Siva Sankaran Sharma / February 27, 2023
When the British demarcated the northern and eastern provinces and declared them as the homeland of the island’s Tamils, it was from the Sinhalese had not even the remotest claim. Even the remotest Sinhalese claim was looked upon by the British favourably and large parts of the former Jaffna kingdom from the north like Pathavi Kulam( Padaviya) and Thamban Kadavai(Taman Kaduwa) in the east taken off from the North and East and added to the newly created Sinhalese North Central Province. The North Western province Tamil coastal areas of Puttlam.Chilaw, once part of the Tamil Jaffna kingdom, became part of the Sinhalese North Western Province. What was then declared as the northern and eastern, Tamil provinces were pure Tamil areas, to which the Sinhalese had not even any remote claim whatsoever from ancient to modern times.
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Siva Sankaran Sharma / February 27, 2023
That the north and east is the ancient homeland of the Eelam Tamils has also been recognised by various Sinhalese-led governments, as per the 1956 Bandarnaicke Chelvanayagam and 1965 Dudley Senanayake. Chelvanaygam treaties, Even the 1987 Indo /Sri Lanka treaty recognizes this and calls for the merger and these two Tamil provinces and the ancient homeland of the Tamils, this is what the international community wants, India wants and what the island’s Tamils want as this is their homeland. The Sinhalese, after independence, are now trying to negate this ancient historical fact, by deliberately settling outside Sinhalese on ethnically cleansed Tamil lands, especially in the east and now even after 2009 in the north, by using the might, power, and all resources of the state and now with the great help from various government departments like Archeology, forestry and Mahaveli and concocted history and illegally built Buddhist temples. Largely built with the help of the occupying Sinhalese armed forces. This is the reason the Buddhist clergy and Sinhalese extremists want them to remain and also from your comments
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Siva Sankaran Sharma / February 27, 2023
If there is a referendum, there should be a strict criterion as to who can participate in this referendum. The ancient native indigenous population who are either still living there or forcibly displaced, due to the deliberate ethnic cleansing activities of the Sri Lankan state. They are the indigenous Eelam Tamils and the Tamils Veddha of the east, a Population who have lived there for some time. The Muslim Tamils from the east, who arrived in the east a few centuries ago as refugees. As well as the few Sinhalese who had been living in a few border villages in the east before independence. It should be only restricted to these people and not 99% of the Sinhalese who only recently arrived in the east, after independence, some in the 1950s but the vast majority within the last three or four decades. All beneficiaries of state-sponsored ethnic cleansing activities were deliberately and calculatingly done to change the demography of the east from a Tamil-majority province to where the Tamils are becoming increasingly a marginalised minority in their own homeland. There should be a cut-off point as to who can vote. Outsiders who arrived recently and were planted deliberately by the state, beneficiaries of state-sponsored ethnic cleaning activities, cannot have a say on the fate and the internationally recognised homeland of a people who had lived there for thousands of years.
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Siva Sankaran Sharma / February 27, 2023
There should be a cut-off point as to who can vote. Outsiders who arrived recently and were planted deliberately by the state, beneficiaries of state-sponsored ethnic cleaning activities, cannot have a say on the fate and the internationally recognised homeland of a people who had lived there for thousands of years.
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RAVI PERERA / February 28, 2023
Siva,
No siva no country recognises a Tamil Homeland. When the British left they could have carved out a country but they did not. If they believd in a homaland they could have. Any way keep dreaming. Learn Hind.. then you may have a chance. Hindi is being taught in some Jaffna schools…
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Native Vedda / March 2, 2023
RAVI PERERA the Sinhala Speaking Demela
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“No siva no country recognises a Tamil Homeland.”
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Is there a Sinhala Homeland?
You have difficulty in leaning, learning languages.
State jobs under Hindian rule will be given only to Hindi speaking people. What the hell is going to happen to your grand children?
Send them to my village my people will teach them how to live off the land (requires lot of hard work, 24/7/52) rather than living off the state and other people.
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Native Vedda / February 27, 2023
RAVI PERERA the Sinhala Speaking Demela
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“So you want want the referendum in the east under your own rules.”
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No such stupid actions required.
As decided in 1948 by a handful of racists Sinhala/Buddhist converts I want all such converts who came here by Kallathonie inclusive of your family to be kicked out of this island and back to your ancestral land, South India.
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I don’t think we need a referendum.
I am sure your long lost cousin Stalin the chief minister of Tamilnadu will be at the harbour/beach to receive you lot.
–
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RAVI PERERA / March 1, 2023
Thala Veddo,
My cousin “Stalin”
No way man, I am a good looking man
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Native Vedda / March 2, 2023
RAVI PERERA the Sinhala Speaking Demela
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“No way man, I am a good looking man”
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I won’t challenge you on that.
Is there any correlation between good looks and wisdom?
However do you consider Wimal Weerawansa is your close relative?
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Fairmindedone / March 3, 2023
If you are truly a Veddha, you should visit, or better, live in Jaffna. You will enjoy the best of the old culture. Incidentally, Vijaya was the first known kallathoni. Then Lanka will be empty if you kick the lot out.
Incidentally, look at the ethno-specific majoritarian rules since independence. Country is without love and is ruined. Jaffna Tamils and Vijaya’s group didn’t have a single war ever, after Dutagemunu 2000 years ago.
Let the hatred go from your heart. If you are following Buddha’s teaching, imagine your rebirth in Tamil family. Hope you will then not be spewing hatred against the Vijaya’s decedents. It is a never ending pain. Please do feel free of hatred. You will sleep well.
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shankar / February 28, 2023
rohan
why didn’t tamil mp’s ask for that to be in the indo lanka accord.Iam referring to what is in the accord because wiggie is having a winge about the courts deamalgamating the nort east provincial council.Don’t catch us by the nose and drag us into some of your pet theories. tamil veddhas are not the owners of the land.They are only the original inhabitants.They did not create the land.If humans can’t can’t create something then how can they own it.Only the supreme being can own the land.
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Plato / February 27, 2023
Why should a Referendum be held only for the East? The Merger means North merging with the East and Vice Versa……..
The Indo-Lankan Accord is an International Treaty. The JVP egged on by EX;CJ Sarath N.SILVA [ or was this also vice versa] demerged the two provinces strictly on Legal considerations. The CJ did not grant a hearing for Counsel who appeared for the Tamil side……………..
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shankar / February 28, 2023
plato
“Why should a Referendum be held only for the East? “
why don’ you read the indo lanka accord.It mentions a referendum in the east only.
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Rohan25 / February 28, 2023
Stop posting rubbish, Why did I ever post anywhere that Vedda created land? However, they had lived there continuously for over 50000 years. In my opinion, you are another apologist for Sinhalese racism. No one is dragging you by the nose hand or leg or any body part and you need not become aggressive and nasty
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Rohan25 / February 27, 2023
The Indian-origin Tamils in the central highlands who were forcibly transported by the British 200 years ago, and have been there for all this time, were made stateless and still are not allowed to decide on the fate of the Kandyan Sinhalese areas but another rule for these state settled out of area recently arrived Sinhalese settlers in the east. They have a right to live and be equal but do not have to right to decide on the fate of the Eelam Tamil homeland.
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SJ / February 27, 2023
Did not the FP (Ilankai Thamizarasuk Katchi) claim to represent the aspirations of all Tamil Speaking People?
If Jaffna Tamils could decide on what is good for HCTs why cannot HCTs decide on what is good for Jaffna Tamils?
Can Tamils who have taken permanent abode abroad be allowed the right to decide on the fate of the Eelam Tamil homeland?
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SJ / March 1, 2023
Rather embarrassing questions they seem!
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shankar / February 28, 2023
rohan25
” forcibly transported by the British 200 years ago, “
not forcibly.They were indentured labourers.Following the abolition of slavoury a system of bonded labour wa instituted. They don’t get a salary for a stated number of years but they do this voluntarily not forcibly. They may do this because of debt repayment,eventual compensation or as a judicial punishment.
The sirima -shastri agreement repatriated many of them to india.The balance got citizenhip due to JR jayawardena.The only good thing he ever did.
“do not have to right to decide on the fate of the Eelam Tamil homeland.”
they do not have the education of the jaffna tamils but thonda made a wise decision to get out of the TULF when the vaddukodai resolution for seperation was enacted. The uneducated but wise thonda unlike his jaffna colleagues may have thout this might end up as a peelam homeland and untimately the poor indian tamils will become poorer.
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Rohan25 / February 28, 2023
It looks like you are one of these Indian-origin Tamils, most probably from some Colombo or upcountry-based business family with financial interests down south and a grudge against the indigenous Tamils from the north and east their just demands, thinking this will affect your business interests. Your history and our history are far different. I have come across many of them like you with their selfish self-serving interests. However, the opinion of this small number of self-serving Indian-origin businessmen and the opinion of most Indian-origin Tamils to the Eelam Tamil struggle is very different, even if they did not involve themselves. Trying to compare the history of the indigenous Eelam Tamils and their right to their homeland and their struggle, with the recently migrated Indian origin Tamils living amongst the Sinhalese and their struggle for justice is like comparing oranges to apples.
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Rohan25 / February 28, 2023
It is because of the Tamils of the north and east and their struggle that the Tamil language and the ancient Hindu Saivite culture still exist and goes strong on the island and not because of any other Tamil group the Indian origin Tamils or South Indian origin Muslim Tamils. In fact other than the Indian-origin estate Tamils, maybe because of their isolation, all other Indian Tamil immigrants and invaders have come in and got assimilated into the Sinhalese identity and very rarely into the Eelam Tamil identity. Many of their descendants are now the biggest supporters of the Sinhalese Aryan theory and the biggest anti-Tamils. The aristocrats and rich ones took a Sinhalese identity to largely protect their business and wealth like many Indian-origin business families are now doing, the others over the years gradually assimilated or had no other way to survive. They are the only ethnic group that can challenge the Sinhalese for ownership and the right to a homeland.
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Rohan25 / February 28, 2023
The Sinhalese also know this and this is the reason they want to destroy them, as once they are destroyed it will be a cakewalk for them to destroy the others. The Muslims have already had a taste of it… Peelam! using this derogatory term for one of the ancient historical Tamil names for the island proves how much hatred and contempt you have towards the native Tamils and do not want to acknowledge their ancient right and claim to their homeland. Sinhalese racists and extremists use this term quite often and from many of your previous posts, I have a strong suspicion you may be one , and just using a Hindu Tamil name.
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AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM / February 28, 2023
Likewise, Sri Lankan government had encroached into Gurunthoor which had been a place for Hindus since time immemorial. But now the Archeological Department has encroached in that area and a Buddhist Vihare has been built despite the Court’s Order not to continue building. The worst part in the place where the Vihara was built, was some people in the Vihara had been fishing in the lake close by and remains of the fried fish were found by two Tamil Parliamentarians, who suddenly visited that place to see what is happening. The purpose of building the Vihara in Gurunthoor has been lost, other than humiliating the Tamils. If North-East Province remains as an Independent Territory with the Indian Union, such harassment will never occur.
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shankar / February 28, 2023
rajasingham
“If North-East Province remains as an Independent Territory with the Indian Union, such harassment will never occur.”
So why ddn’t the tamil leaders ask for that instead of eelam/peelam which india opposed.They thought that the west is moe powerful than india.Even now they can do a course correction cant they.Why are the not amending the vaddukodai resolution for independence and instead change it to make the northeast a special state like kashmir.
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Rohan25 / February 28, 2023
Ayathurai don’t bother with this person, he is either one of these Eelam Tamil hating Colombo or upcountry wealthy business families, who think the just struggle of the island’s native Eelam Tamils is hindering their interests down south and has a grudge against them or a Sinhalese extremist posting under Hindu Tamil name. Shankar or Sankaran means Lord Shiva. A typical Hindu, especially a Saivite Hindu with the name Shankar or Sankaran, whether they are Indian or Eelam Tamil would have been concerned with what is happening to the ancient prehistoric Hindu Saivite site at Kurunthoor, this person is showing the least concern, like a typical Sinhalese Buddhist Fascist and see how derogatively he uses the term Peelam
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shankar / March 1, 2023
rohan 25
“concerned with what is happening to the ancient prehistoric Hindu Saivite site at Kurunthoor, “
rohan i am more interested in the current plight of the tamils of sri lanka than ancient sites.You are a ‘educated’ donkey.What is more important.current or past?
“see how derogatively he uses the term Peelam”
I am a practical man.Eelam has become peelam.That is the current situation brought about by donkeys such as you.I am only discoursing with mr.rajasingham about what options are left for us and the indian one he talks about has some merits.
As for me being sinhalese, when long ago i condemned the ethnic cleansing of the muslims from the north some donkeys like you said i was a muslim.
A muslim gem merchant once said to me that consider those who critisise you as friends and those who praise you as your enemies.Do some deep thinking on that.
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Rohan25 / March 2, 2023
Ancient history, monuments and are very important and closely related to people, their culture, their claim to their land to who they really are. This is why throughout the world all people and countries fiercely protect and preserve them, as it is closely connected to them and tells them who they are and where they came from. Just like knowing who your ancestors were and their stories and where they came from, tells you who you are, and what you are. A state or a people deliberately trying to destroy the ancient history, cultural monuments, and religious artefacts of another people are called cultural genocide and also tries to destroy these people their history and their ancient claim for their land and completely erase their existence. This is what the Sri Lankan state and the Sinhalese are trying to the Eelam Tamils and destroy their history and their very existence and replace it with their fake history and people, just like the way the Muslim Turks did to the Christian Armenians during the first world war.
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Rohan25 / March 2, 2023
The past is intricately connected to the future, if there is no past there is no future. You claim your parents and your ancestors’ lands and not the lands of others and this is common sense and you should know that. Trying to state that the past does not matter and only the future is silly and stupid, You can forgive when there is real repentance but not forget. The Germans largely repented for what they did to the Jews and other people during the Nazi era but the Sinhalese largely have not, other than just a few, most of them still are itching to destroy the Tamils. If you cannot understand this or are concerned about this, in my opinion, you are the idiot and not me. Trying also using derogatory and hurtful terms about a people, a nation or ancient names just because you do not agree or do not like it, is not the behaviour of a cultured person. Also being an apologist for state-sponsored genocide and ethnic cleansing is also not good.
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Rohan25 / March 2, 2023
If others have called you by names please do not involve me in this, as I did not and just like the way you condemned the LTTE displacing the Muslims from the north, please also equally condemn State sponsored Sinhalese racism and war crimes against all the Tamils and what the Muslims did to the Tamils down south and in the east, which brought about what happened in the north, as they were making arrangements to do the same there.
The LTTE did not just get up one day and decide today we will for fun chase all Muslims from the north, they had a very good reason too, as they were largely acting as a fifth column for the Sri Lankan armed forces, they had no reason to, as the Tamils in the north, including the northern LTTE, treated the northern Muslims very well until then
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SJ / March 3, 2023
“You are a ‘educated’ donkey.”
S, there are two serious assumptions. Both may be at fault.
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AYATHURAY RAJASINGAM / March 1, 2023
Shankar,
The Tamil leaders are considering that North-East Province remains as an Independent Territory within the Indian Union. More than half the numbers of Tamil Parliamentarians are with the G.C.E. O/L qualifications. They are not familiar with the Indian constitution. At the next election number of Tamil Parliamentarians will be kicked out by the Tamil people. However, I have presented this suggestion to the appropriate Indian politicians. Let us wait and watch. Because of the present economic crisis, sometimes Sri Lanka may be accommodated as two Independent Territories within the Union of India. Who knows what will happen tomorrow.
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SJ / March 1, 2023
S
You have a point there, but will India be interested in a slice when it wants the whole cake?
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SJ / February 28, 2023
The answer to the question in the title may lie in the answer to another question:
Why are so many Tamils from the North quite happy to live among Sinhalese and Muslims Elsewhere in the country?
CVW may not like them to live with the Sinhalese because it helps his political ambitions, but I doubt if a majority desire “separate existence”, especially after experience in such existence only a few decades ago.
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shankar / March 1, 2023
SJ
“Why are so many Tamils from the North quite happy to live among Sinhalese and Muslims Elsewhere in the country?”
again this is the second time we are both agreing on something.Unbelieveable isn’t it?
you are right that so many tamils are living among the sinhalese. Whether they are happy to do so as you claim i don’t know. They may be living out of neccessity because earning a livelihood in the north and east can be harder than earning a livelihood in the rest ofthe country.That is why we have to devolve powers to the north and east and make it better and better so that tamils need not migrate to the rest of the country.
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Native Vedda / March 2, 2023
China’s aging man in Sri Lanka and a pathetic …..
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“Why are so many Tamils from the North quite happy to live among Sinhalese and Muslims Elsewhere in the country?”
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What a stupid question.
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Pull your head from wherever it is now and find out for yourself.
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SJ / March 3, 2023
Shankar, see what you have done to this poor creature!
Do not get him agitated unnecessarily.
I care very much for his health.
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Thanga / March 1, 2023
//However, Arun is right about the caste and religion issues which are the real cancer of the people in the north. I also noticed that from our Tamil brothers in Europe. Most of them are more divided by their caste system.// leelagemalli
This is like the kettle calling the pot black. The caste system prevailing among the Sinhalese Buddhists and Hindu Tamils are very similar. This is because caste system is a product of Hinduism. It is interesting to know that Tamils never had caste system during the Sangam period. Caste system was introduced when they embraced Hinduism.
Matrimonial advertisements of Sinhalese and Tamils always mention the caste of the bride/bridegroom to ensure that they prefer to marry among their own caste affiliation.
Sinhalese or better their ancestors like the Nagar were Hindus before being converted to Buddhism. Devanampiya Tissa’s father Muta Sivan was a Hindu. His name itself says it all. The predominantly Vellalar, Karaiyar caste found among Tamils are paralell to the Goigama and Karawa castes found among Sinhalese.
The Salagama (Cinnamon peelers), Karawa (Traditional fishermen, naval warriors, seafaring traders, boat builders, carpenters & pioneering planters.), and Durawa (Traditional Soldiers and toddy tappers.) were Tamils brought by the Portuguese and Dutch and settled down in the South. The Sinhalese living in Chilaw and Negombo were Tamil Karaiyar a century ago. Colombo Chetties too have been assimilated into Sinhalese.
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Rohan25 / March 1, 2023
There was some sort of caste system also that was practised by the ancient Dravidians but it was not as rigid as the Aryan Vedic caste system. This is the reason despite caste being practised by both the Sinhalese and Tamils on the island, it is not as rigid and cruel as the caste system practised in India, even in Tamil Nadu. The Vedic Aryan form of Hinduism and caste system did not really take root here. The basic caste system of the island’s Sinhalese and Tamils is very similar, proving that both people have a common origin. What you state is correct despite accusing the Tamils of being casteist the Sinhalese are equally casteist as the Tamils, even more so, as they will not elect MPS not belonging to the predominant caste or religion of the region and will never elect a low caste as their leader. Tamils, on the other hand, will do so and despite being predominantly Hindu will elect Christian Tamils as their leaders and there is no compulsion for these Christian Tamil leaders to convert to Hinduism, as the Sinhalese Christian leaders do to Buddhism to retain power. However strangely all the major Hindu gods and deities are now Dravidian or tribal Eg; Siva, Vishnu, Amman/Kali, Pillayar/Ganesha, Murugan/Karthik/Hirthik. The Aryan gods have been relegated to minor gods. Modern Hinduism is a fusion of Arayan, Dravidian and folk tribal religions.
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Thanga / March 1, 2023
The Salagama (Cinnamon peelers), Karawa (Traditional fishermen, naval warriors, seafaring traders, boat builders, carpenters & pioneering planters.), and Durawa (Traditional Soldiers and toddy tappers.) were Tamils brought by the Portuguese and Dutch and settled down in the South. The Sinhalese living in Chilaw and Negombo were Tamil Karaiyar a century ago.
Colombo Chetties too have been assimilated into Sinhalese. A good example is the late Jeyaraj Fernandopulle who served as a cabinet Minister and a Member of Parliament. He was a Roman Catholic and hailed from a minority ethnic group Colombo Chetties.
The Sinhalese political parties are dominated by the Goigama caste. Colvin R de Silva could not become the leader of the LSSP because he belonged to the Salagama caste. Leave politics, what about the Buddhist Sanga?
The Asgiriya – Malwatte Nikayas are dominated by Singhalese goigama caste. Non-goigama caste will not be ordained as monks. Likewise the Amarapura and Ramanna are the preserve of non-goigama castes.
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RAVI PERERA / March 2, 2023
Thanga,
“The Salagama (Cinnamon peelers), Karawa (Traditional fishermen, naval warriors, seafaring traders, boat builders, carpenters & pioneering planters.), and Durawa (Traditional Soldiers and toddy tappers.) were Tamils brought by the Portuguese and Dutch and settled down in the South.”
The Karawa, Salagama and Durawa beginning are to Kerala. According to Prof K M De Silva there was massive migration from Kerala during the protugees and
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RAVI PERERA / March 2, 2023
Thanga,
“The Salagama (Cinnamon peelers), Karawa (Traditional fishermen, naval warriors, seafaring traders, boat builders, carpenters & pioneering planters.), and Durawa (Traditional Soldiers and toddy tappers.) were Tamils brought by the Portuguese and Dutch and settled down in the South.”
The Karawa, Salagama and Durawa beginning are to Kerala. According to Prof K M De Silva there was massive migration from Kerala during the Protugees and Dutch periods. But these migrants integrated and assimilated into the sinhala society and infact have are an important segment. During this period there were also Tamil migrations from Tamil Nadu to the eastern coast ,the Tamil settlers along the east coast and Vannie.
Sinhala caste system is a factor in politics.But outstanding individuals can break through. As for Colvin not becoming the LSSP leader, DR N M Perera was probably a more suited leader.
After Bandarainkes death, Sir Oliver Goontileke did not appoint CP De Silva as the Prime Minister because he was of the Salagama Caste. But later on Mrs Sirimavo Banadaranike accepted his leadership as the leader of SLFP. CP had absolutely no charisma (No smile on his face) and could not pull crowds CP himself resigned from the leadership and gave the leadership to Mrs B, which was the best thing that he did.
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Pandi Kutti / March 2, 2023
Again posting a lot of rubbish, the ancestors of the Salagama and Durawa migrated from the Coromandel coast, which is in modern Thamizh Nadu and the ancestors of the vast majority of the Karawa also migrated from modern Thamizh Nadu, whilst a small minority migrated from then Thamizh Kerala and southern Andhra, this is the reason you find Karawa surnames like Waduge or its variation Baduge. ( Vadugu is another name for Telugu) .
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Pandi Kutti / March 2, 2023
Kerala until a few centuries ago was Thamizh and largely speaking the old western Thamizh Chera Malayalam dialect and not modern Malayalam, which until the 1830s was still only spoken by a small minority. It was the British who made the highly Sanskritised Grantha Bhasha of the Namboothiri, written in the Tulu-based Tilgari script, which was only used by around 15% of the population, the official language of the Kerala region and banned the use of old Thamizh Malayalam that was written in the Thamizh Vatteluthu script that was the language of the Dravidian masses, as they masses were against the British East Indian Company and these power hungry Namboothiri and their closely connected half-caste Nairs were the allies of the British.
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Pandi Kutti / March 2, 2023
They then cunningly renamed the Grantha Bhasha Malayalam and as a sop to the Dravidian Thamizh masses introduced a lot of Thamizh words. Listen to simple spoken Malayalam it is basically a form of Thamizh but the formal, written language is highly Sanskritized. You can see this in this old Malayalam song sung by the Mukkuva fisherfolk the dialect basically Thamizh. Even modern Malayalam is basically a highly Sanskritised form of middle Thamizh. They use many old Thamizh words now gone out of usage in modern Thamizh. Only ignorant people who do not know the real history of ancient Chera Thamizh Nadu and the close connection between modern Malayalam and Thamizh post rubbish.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvTk9xdAzOg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4icwaMjl9Ww
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RAVI PERERA / March 3, 2023
Pandi,
Karawa, Salagama and Durawa people are the most enterprising people in the country. They are large hearted and generous. Even in the war front they were very generous towards the Tamils. I guess that may be because of the tamil ancestry. Rubbish…
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Pandi Kutti / March 3, 2023
Oink. Now you and the Karawa, Salagama, Durawa, Berewa, Hunu, Hali and all other Chingkall castes and communities both high and low born eg; the Radala and the low country upper Govigamma, who are all enterprising and large-hearted and generous. Now all of you listen to this Thamizh song and dance and think about your ancestral Thamizh country in South India
Sic, so large heard great and enterprising, that they created a Sinhalese Buddhist fascist racist hell for all others and economically ruined the island, which is now going around the world with a begging bowl.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unQlCp-lL6I
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Pandi Kutti / March 2, 2023
Yes, here are some of your close relatives in Kerala, Please listen to this Kerala Muslim Mapplia song and enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLpV3kUCqEA
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Siva Sankaran Sharma / March 2, 2023
Mr Perera, the vast majority of these people, migrated from present-day Tamil Nadu and not from Kerala, whether they migrated from what is present-day Kerala or modern Tamil Nadu, does not matter, they were all Tamil at that time, and there was no modern Malayalam ethnicity. The modern Malayalam language may have started to break away from its Tamil mother, from around the 12Th CE but it only really broke away only a few centuries ago and even until the early 19TH century was confined to only around 15% of the population. The overwhelming majority of Kerala’s population still considered themselves as some form of Tamils. When the Portuguese arrived the population here were still calling themselves Tamils or Malabar Tamils, and their language Tamil or Malayalam( old Malayalam) or Malabar Tamil. This is the reason the term Malabar was also widely used for Tamil too and the Tamil language.
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Siva Sankaran Sharma / March 2, 2023
Your story is like someone stating Alexander the Great was not a Greek Macedonian but a modern Slavic Macedonian or that Moses brought the ancient Israelites from the Arab Islamic Republic of Egypt. Just like ancient Greek Macedonia and ancient Egypt are different from modern Slavic Macedonia or Arab Egypt. Ancient, medieval Kerala or Tamil Chera Nadu is different from modern Malayalam Kerala. I hope you understand this simple logic. Anglo-Saxon Britain or England is different from Celtic Britain.
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RAVI PERERA / March 3, 2023
Siva,
Wow.. so the Keralites are also Tamil or were Tamils. In the last stages of the war it was the keralites in the Indin government who helped Sri Lanka. That explaine..
Is princess Diana’s ancestry also Tamil. I guess her good looks are proof
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Pandi Kutti / March 3, 2023
Yes if you carefully look at all these Keralites who helped Chonia and the Congress, they are largely from communities and castes, that is immigrants, Eg: Nambiar or the half-caste bastards of the immigrant Namboothiri Brahmins Eg the Nairs and Menons. They closely identify themselves with their Namboothiris masters, who are their ancestors on their paternal line but never acknowledged them. Just like the part European Anglo Indians and Burghers closely identified themselves with the white European colonials and their aspirations.
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Pandi Kutti / March 3, 2023
These people are generally very Aryan-centric and never much liked the native Chera Thamizh Dravidian culture. It is because of these people, that the Thamizh language got bastardized with the Sanskrit of the immigrant Namboothiris and Nambiars and modern Malayalam started to evolve. They were largely the allies of the British East Indian company, whilst the native Thamizh or old Malayalam Thamizh -speaking Dravidian masses, who made up around 85% of Kerala rebelled against them. These people connived with the British and at their insistence, the British banned the use of Thamizh or the old Malayalam Thamizh dialect of Kerala, written in the Thamizh Vatteluthu script and in 1833 and made the highly Sanskritised Grantha Bhasha of the Namboothirs written in the Tilgari script ( modern Malayalam) that was until then only confined to these people, the official language of Kerala and destroyed all traces of the old Thamizh Malayalam. They very cunningly renamed the Grantha Bhasha Malayalam, the name for the ancient Chera Thamizh dialect. So why am I not surprised? These people historically have always been anti-Thamizh. Unfortunately with the fall of ancient Chera Thamizh, these immigrants and their half-caste Nair and Menons and other allied castes became the rulers of Kerala and the native Thamizh population like the Eezhava, Thiya, Mukkuva and many others there got subjugated.
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Mahila / March 2, 2023
Thanga,
Well said!! However, the Optimised or Maximised ‘CROWING’ seems to be about Northern castism, in the Far North HORIZON!!??
There is castism everywhere in SL!! That’s a stubborn fact!!! Because the South is closest to where one lives, the castism seems not to be recognised, though overbearing, although it is far more manifest in all aspects of life, some even on day to day affairs!!?? Too close to IDENTIFY??
Coming over to another matter, drawn to attention in your comment,
“Colombo Chetties too have been assimilated into Sinhalese. A good example is the late Jeyaraj Fernandopulle who served as a cabinet Minister and a Member of Parliament. He was a Roman Catholic and hailed from a minority ethnic group Colombo Chetties!!” He was Chief Government Whip under CBK presidency and was on the threshold of being as PM soon, with the imminent retirement of Ratnasiri Wickramanayake!!! Unfortunately it was not to be due to sadly, the dastardly act of an assassin!!??
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Paul / March 1, 2023
Very well explained Thanga. Sad that the country is so divided by caste, religion, class, race and language. Can’t we remember our humanity and forget the rest? Apparently not.
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Savi / March 1, 2023
Isnt the former Chief Justice’ daughter married to Vasudeva Nanayakkara’s son.. or vice versa? Why cant the former CJ encourage this sort of fusion instead of this racial segregation nonsense?
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Mahila / March 2, 2023
Savi,
“Isn’t the former CHIEF JUSTICE’ daughter married to Vasudeva Nanayakkara’s son or vice versa? Why can’t the former CJ encourage this sort of fusion instead of this racial segregation nonsense?”
First of all who is the Chief Justice?? Is it a TYPO?? I believe your reference was to Chief MINISTER!!
Be that as it may, the main question at hand, is the nation and its future!!! That’s the focus!!??
Individuals unifying is very common in the modern context, due to fusion of Mind, Soul and Matter, conjoining to singular way of thinking!!! That’s easy if the 2 of them have a commitment and make up their minds to work in a committed manner!!??
That’s not the same with country of 20+ million, 3 or 4 communities, 6 or 7 religions, other complexities!!!??? Consensus is hard to achieve, unless COMPARTMENTALISED, THEN THOSE COMPARTMENTS ARE UNIFIED IN THOUGHT, TO DEAL EXTERNALLY!!!
Otherwise, there would remain, assortment of “niggling” irritants and dissatisfaction, which tends to embroil/engulf whole Nation at large!!
Hence diverse complexities, their effects are minimalised by NATIONS of ‘COLLECTIVE’ OF STATES, than in a Monolith, Unitary state, which would lack the flexibility to deal with such differences!!??
EXAMPLES APLENTY!!?? FEDERALISM!!
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Savi / March 2, 2023
Mahila,
Sorry yes and apologies – Chief Minister indeed. He was a Supreme Court Justice hence my mistake.
Anyways, the – potential – problem with a federal sri lanka is that the northeast will literally be an ethno-state that has historical and contemporary backing from TN and TGTE (i.e. LTTE) to become an independent nation. The moment federalism happens, the next steps towards creating an independent Eelam at the expense of Sinhala and Muslim Lankans will take place.
The Swiss model would be ideal if it weren’t for the fact that TN and TGTE are lobbying India and others (Canada, for example) constantly for an independent nation. Also, I’m pretty sure that the resulting – guaranteed – breaking apart of Lanka would see the Chinese OVERTLY setting up a military base on the island and thus the whole South Asian region would perpetually be in a situation of Cold War anarchy.
Even the late great Lakshman Kadirgarmar made haste to make people aware of this. This is why I am fully for a Tamil and Muslim ethno-district model that ensures historical continuity but also allows for Lankans to continue fusing into a singular historical peoples.
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Native Vedda / March 2, 2023
Savi
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“Why cant the former CJ encourage this sort of fusion instead of this racial segregation nonsense?”
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What are you talking about?
Tamils, Malayalies, Nayakkas … are all from South India. So are the Sinhalese. There was no such racial difference among them, until the public racist Anagarika Homeless Dharmapala invented a new identity for the Sinhalese and Buddhists, the Sinhala/Buddhists.
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Even the rest of the people converted to Sinhala/Buddhism this minute, the racist lot the Sinhala/Buddhists who believe they and they alone are the historical inheritors and guardians of this land and Sinhala/Buddhism, will not accept OTHERs belonging to this land.
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This is a majoritarian problem.
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Please speak to the noisy racist first and if you are successful enough then please speak to the rest.
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Savi / March 2, 2023
Native,
Pleasure to finally chat with you! I’ve been following your commentary on CT for a long time!
Anagarika is dead and gone. There is no foreign group – unlike TGTE for LTTE – supporting his rants. Separate from his influence, the Sinhala Buddhists very much accept their Tamil heritage and also – very importantly – see that Lankans are an amalgam of the four ancient tribes of Lanka and this is so whether one believes the Vijaya myth or not (for what it’s worth, I don’t). The vast majority of Lankans want the fusion of all the island’s peoples; we are after all from various parts of India even though the island has represented itself as a sovereign entity for millennia. Sometimes I wonder if the ‘racist majority’ simply haven’t been spoken to in a fair manner given the abuses committed by UNP – i.e. JRJ and Black July – and SLPP – i.e. nepotism, corruption, anti-Muslim. The Sinhala Buddhists did not condone nor become better off as a result of the actions of these ‘leaders’. So in short, no to racial segregation. The sooner the Jaffna economy becomes integrated with the West, South and East of the island, the better.
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Siva Sankaran Sharma / March 3, 2023
Savi, Justice Wigneswaran has no control over what his adult children do and the decisions they make. They are adults and individuals are responsible for their decisions, choices and what they want to do in life, not their parents. Parents only can teach and guide their children up to a certain age and then it is the responsibility of the adult child to make their own decisions. They may choose not to listen to their parents’ advice or guidance. Whether a person wants to light up or fuse or assimilate or divide or keep their own individual identity, is their own decision and it is not the duty of the state to force or encourage, other people to fuse or assimilate into the majority ethnicity or religion. Especially another equally ancient nation that has shared the island, has its own homeland and has the same rights to its history, land, language and culture as the majority Sinhalese. You have no right to go around subtly advocating this forced assimilation. Trying to cunningly call it fusion.
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SJ / March 3, 2023
S
These are accidents of history. (In fact there were two for CVW.)
Many victims respond by becoming more racist.
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Siva Sankaran Sharma / March 3, 2023
Anagarika may be dead and gone but the Sinhalese Buddhist extremism that he preached, has taken deep root amongst 99% of the present-day Sinhalese, even the Sinhalese Christians and has made them brainwashed racist people, highly insecure with a chip on their shoulder. A majority suffering from a minority persecution complex, which is highly dangerous and toxic for not only the island’s three Tamil minorities but for the region. When it happens you can see what is happening in the former Yugoslavia and still happening in the Middle East or Western Asia. It is this Sinhalese Buddhist racism that Angarika preached and is now put into practice by all Sinhalese-led governments from the time of independence and the majority of the Sinhalese people is the root cause for all the current problems and the present economic bankruptcy. Not the LTTE or TGTE or anyone. They are the result of this still continuing Sinhalese Buddhist majoritarian racism, that is still being practised and you are also subtly preaching with your fusion ideas, as you want everyone to fuse into the majority Sinhalese Buddhist identity.
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Siva Sankaran Sharma / March 3, 2023
Yes from ancient to recent times Tamil and Tamil-speaking immigrants and invaders from various parts of South India, modern-day Tamil Nadu. Kerala, Southern Andhra and Karnataka, migrated, invaded or were brought in by the colonial European powers and all of them became Sinhalese the vast majority of the present-day Sinhalese, both low and high born are largely descended from these South Indian immigrants and not from the so-called mythical prince Vijaya, his 500 North Indian followers and their Pandian Tamil wives or from the indigenous Dravidian Yakka or Naga tribes. This is the reason the modern-day Sinhalese DNA is 70% South Indian Tamil. This is a fact and now many Sinhalese are grudgingly accepting this fact. This does not mean the native indigenous Tamils who have lived on the island for at least 2500 years in their own homeland and ruled themselves have to fuse or assimilate into the Sinhalese identity. Why should we? We are not immigrants and invaders who had to fuse or assimilate, either to safeguard our wealth and position or overtime got assimilated or were forced to.
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Siva Sankaran Sharma / March 3, 2023
We are also a nation with our own ancient history, and older richer language and had our own kingdoms and chiefdoms, that ruled us, until European colonisation. Some of us may want to fuse but 95% of us do not want to and wish to maintain our own ancient identity, language and culture the Sinhalese and the Sri Lankan state should respect this, as we have the same right as the Sinhalese and asking for federalism and rule in our own land with police and land powers are not asking for separation. This is our basic right and what has it got to do with the Sinhalese and how is going to affect them? We are not asking for Sinhalese lands and the Sinhalese had no say in our lands until the British gave it to them on a platter in 1948. Now trying to claim the entire island as Sinhalese Buddhist, which it never was and trying to steal the Tamil homeland by settling outside Sinhalese and Muslims, ethnically cleansing Tamils and using the armed forces and various government departments like Archeology, land, forestry etc will not work. You may be very polite but your message is quite diabolical. Fusion/Assimilation. I am not an idiot.
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Savi / March 3, 2023
There is nothing ‘diabolical’ about affirming Lankans’ shared heritage and history.
As there would be no America without the Blacks and the Whites, so too Sri Lanka was built by Sinhalese and Tamils. No one is asking for a separate homeland for the Blacks/Whites. Sri Lanka is the same scenario. No to racial segregation.
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Savi / March 3, 2023
Calling the four tribes of Lanka ‘Dravidian’ (as opposed to Elu i.e. Lankan), is a relatively recent phenomenon but if you want to follow that line of thinking then fine – your wish. Regardless, the four tribes eventually did merge into a peoples found nowhere else in South Asia. They take pride in their rich and varied heritage. There will always be those who wish to remain in the minority – that is their right.
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Savi / March 3, 2023
Actually the identity we should/would and are fusing into is a trilingual Sri Lankan identity that commits to interfaith communities. The aragalaya had Hindu, Buddhist, Christan and Muslim clergy at the forefront. This is Sri Lanka.
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hanchopancha / March 3, 2023
It is high time for Mr. Vigneswaran to tear off a page from Late Hon. Mr. Lee Kuan Yew’s Book and declare independence for the people of North and East instead of them forced to endure eternal suffering under the corrupt rulers from the South. It is a hopeless predicament that lays ahead for the next 75 years like the past 75 years of total misery.
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Savi / March 3, 2023
Hancho,
Don’t leave the rest of the Lankans out of development. We can all benefit from having non-corrupt rulers as well as rulers who don’t kill off moderates.
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