Kolomba to Kotte
By: Dr. Rajasingham Narendran
The Portuguese arrived at the port of Kolomba (Colombo) in 1505 AD, wanting to meet the King of the Kingdom of Kotte. Kotte-the capital is approximately ten kilometers from the Colombo port, as the crow flies. The King’s men who met the advance party of Portuguese adventurers, welcomed the visitors with customary Sinhala courtesy and hospitality, and took them on a long and arduous walk lasting several days, to reach the palace in Kotte. The intent was to deceive the Portuguese into believing Kotte was far away from Colombo port. This story has become a legend among the Sinhalese and is often cited as proof of how clever they are. How the King of Kotte and his family subsequently became catholic and were conferred names such as Donna Catherina and Don Juan Dharmapala are usually glossed over! The arrival of the Portuguese was a momentous event in history that set the stage for the advent of Western colonial rule in Sri Lanka.
I was reminded of the above episode in Sinhala history, when mulling over events in post-independence Sri Lanka. Are the minorities in Sri Lanka, particularly the Tamils being deliberately led on a Kolomba – Kotte walk over the past fifty odd years? Is there a design, tactic or strategy behind the unwilingness of the Sinhala polity to find a lasting solution to minority problems? Is the Sinhala polity short sightedly playing to win the skirmishes, unconscious of the possibility of ultimately losing the battle for a United Sri Lanka? Is the Sinhala polity by grand design working towards eliminating the minorities as a force to contend with and establish a monoculture in Sri Lanka? Are yet unidentified and unseen forces at work within our political system manipulating the Sinhala politicians? Are events we have witnessed over the past several decades a series of random, repetitive and reflex incidents that reflect the nature of the political culture in Sri Lanka? If these events are part of a malicious grand design, it will be tragedy for Sri Lanka and all her people. If it is the result of an immature political culture, there is yet hope for Sri Lanka and her people.
The long walk to Kotte the Portuguese made, did not deter them from taking over much of Sri lanka, converting a large segment of the population, including the royal family to catholism, permanently influencing our culture (Western attire, baila singing etc.), and opening the door to 400 odd years of colonial rule. Will the tactics being deployed using fairly consistent and repetitive strategies to delay solutions to minority problems have consequences of such magnitude? I find it hard to believe the Sinhala polity is intent on destroying forever the concept of a United Sri Lanka, which is yet lingering, but not dead. This would be national hara-kiri, which will not be pardoned by history and future generations of Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims. If these events are the result of an immature political culture, it is time for introspection, contemplation, a meaningful national debate and remedial action. We have to make the current constitutional exercise an opportunity to change our political culture. Continued resort to short sighted, emotional and familiar reflex reactions in our political life as a nation will destroy Sri Lanka, as a united entity. This day is not far; if we continue in the ways we have in the past.
The same infantile, lame, stupid, irrational and shortsighted excuses have been trotted out over fifty years by strident elements of the Sinhala polity to prevent rational solutions to minority problems. They have now been joined in this mission by a Tamil militancy that is intent on foiling any such solutions with every violent means at its disposal. The combined efforts of both these elements are bound to lead Sri Lanka to a point of no return, which is quite near. J.R. Jayawardene, Prof. Jayasuriya of hunger strike fame, K.M.P and Kusuma Rajaratne, Budharakita Thera of the Kelaniya Rajha Maha Viharaya and his coterie of extremist Buddhist Monks, C.P.De Silva, Cyril Mathew, Ranasinghe Premadasa, Gamini Dissanayake and Lalith Athlathmudali of yore, and the present day Wimal Weerawansa, Somawansa Amarasekera, Tilwin Silva, Rathane Thera, Omalpe Sobitha Thera and those of similar ilk are some who come to mind, when one thinks of the forces that were and are arrayed against finding solutions to our perennial problem.
Men like S.W.R.D Bandaranaike and J.R. Jayawardene did the most damage by playing ‘Dr.Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde’ with these issues, in order to further their political ambitions. They let loose forces that ultimately overwhelmed them. The common fear most of these gentlemen have expressed is, Sri Lanka would become an island with two separate states, if the minority problems are resolved on the basis of greater devolved powers, through a federal mechanism of governance. Devolution of power is being confused with dividing the country by these elements. Sri Lanka being a small country is also trotted out as a ludicrous excuse for refusing to devolve power. The same fears expressed in the 1950’s are being expressed now in 2006. These men were a minority then and are a minority now. But their shrill screams are always heard, and made the excuse for not resolving the most important, persistent, nasty and escalating problem the nation has faced since independence.
The people ignored the screams of wolf by the mischievous Shepard boy in the story we learnt as children, after several false alarms. When the real wolf came and the boy screamed, every one ignored him and the flock of sheep was decimated. Dr.Colvin R. De Silva was one politician who came close to being the Shepard boy for Sri Lanka, in warning us about the dangers of Sinhala-only. He was ignored and the wolves came. Unfortunately, with time he too became an opportunist and deserving of the prefix ‘Mischievous’ by constructing the 1972 ‘Sirimavo Bandaranaike’ constitution. However in the case of the Sinhala polity, the shrill screams of these extremist and opportunistic elements have delayed solutions to the minority problem and made the wolves in the form of the vicious Tamil militancy come to our doors. They have also helped sustain them for about three decades. The wolves have become a large and vicious pack now and have developed insatiable appetites. It will be possible to get rid of these wolves with difficulty, provided some elements among the Sinhalese, do not continue to feed them with their intransigence, ignorance, opportunism, political expediency, narrow mindedness and short sightedness. We should get rid of these wolves now and this can be done only with the help of the Tamil people. The armed forces cannot do it alone! The thought of a separate nation had not even entered the minds of the Tamils in the 1950’s, when their woes began. Today, it is a thought that is poisoning significant sections of the Tamil polity and clouding their thinking processes. This will make it extremely difficult to find a sensible solution. The demand of the Tamil militants has gone beyond that of federalism to a sort of loose confederation between co-existing Tamil and Sinhala states, if not out right separation. This is a reality that has to be confronted by the Sinhala polity now. The longer reasonable solutions are delayed, the bigger and stronger the pack of wolves are going to grow and the bigger their appetite is going be.
The solemn commitment to protect minority rights enshrined in the Soulbury constitution was deliberately sabotaged. The Soulbury constitution was replaced by constitutions that were not acceptable to the minorities, particularly the Tamils. The making of new constitutions were not taken as opportunities to redress minority grievances, but to marginalize them further. The Sinhalese were made to think they were the only people who mattered in independent Sri Lanka and their interests were paramount. President Wijetunge described the minorities as vines that have to creep on the Sinhala tree. Was he a simple, honest man, who inadvertently let the cat out of the bag? The Sinhala politicians treated independence from colonial rule as a toy to be played with, rather than an opportunity for nation building. In their drive to assert their independence and their linguistic and religious identity, the Sinhala polity trampled on the rights of other citizens of Sri Lanka. The achievements of colonial rule, the paramount of which was the national unity and identity that had taken root, were thoughtlessly destroyed by dominant elements in the Sinhala polity for short-term political gain. The Bandaranaike-Chelvanayagam pact, the Dudley-Chelvanayagam pact and several subsequent attempts to resolve minority problems with reasonable devolution of powers were sabotaged at every turn. These actions in turn made the Tamil minority wary of the intents and bonfide of the Sinhala polity. The 1983 riots inspired by J.R.Jayawardene and executed by Cyril Mathew, Gamini Dissanayake and Lalith Athulathmudali confirmed to the Tamils the evil intents of the Sinhala polity. The Tamils made the grievous error of not separating the larger mass of decent, honourable Sinhalese from the extremist, ruthless chaff. This mistake was reinforced by the words and deeds of opportunistic Tamil politicians and their extremist successors- the Tamil militants.
Well, we are where we are. Sinhala extremism and Tamil extremism have developed a symbiotic relationship. They feed on each other and thrive on the national misery. The extremists and opportunists within the Sinhala and Tamil polities have also developed symbiotic relationships. They are finding sustenance from the misery of the people- Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims. Sri Lanka has become a nation ruled by vultures! Can the long walk to Kotte be ended now? Can we reach a compact to remake Sri Lanka and choke the oxygen sustaining the opportunists and extremists on both sides of the ethnic divide? Can President Rajapakse pull off this miracle? Will he make the Tamils and Muslims believe in a Sri Lanka that will be a hospitable home for all her citizens? Is it more likely he will also play the familiar game and lead us Tamils and others in Sri Lanka on the short walk left to the precipice? Will the International community save us from national suicide?
Time delayed is opportunities lost. Sri Lanka is a classic example of several opportunities to resolve the minority problems being lost, due to time wasting dilatory tactics. The Tamil militants are as capable as the Sinhala polity in this skill. War and peace have become a natural cycle in our social and political life. War leads to peace and then peace leads to war. We have to break this vicious cycle soon. It was horrifying to watch the night sky brightly lit by the on-going artillery battle in Sampur on BBC television last night (31-08-2006) and visualize the misery of the people caught in the crossfire. Mr. President, you have an opportunity to become the man of destiny for Sri Lanka. Please pull it off for the sake of Mother Lanka.
Appukuddy - Jaffna said,
September 2, 2006 @ 12:41 am
Dr. Are you staying in North or East ? If you are staying in Colombo or abroad do not try to be smart by writing these. Do not act like the Tamil diaspora who had migrated. The diaspora or Tamils living (“let it be any individual”) out of Eelam have no right speak .
Anonymous said,
September 2, 2006 @ 1:33 am
what are you talking about, your proberly lost your mind
Anthony Simmons - New Zealand said,
September 2, 2006 @ 4:25 am
with all the explanation on how we got where we are , author forgets to understand that Sinhalese walked from Kolomba to Kotte for 400 long years to be equal with Tamils who were favoured by Colonialists.
Whatever it is…, He and his fellow travellers who call LTTE as wolves are a minority amongst Tamils.
On final note, DR.Rajasingham comments are welcome but it’s a lone voice.
Hari, CANADA said,
September 2, 2006 @ 7:19 am
Excellent analysis that has touched all aspects of the complexities of the problem that was created by the politicians
Mervin said,
September 2, 2006 @ 3:03 pm
History outlined above is giving a clear picture of sinhala underhand approach to any and every situation and thus mislead the trusting parties into believing their false hypocritic methodology. But before long the other party will find out the stupidity and mean methods of sinhala heads that always were deceptive in their ways of doing things. Even now the situation suggests that sinhala deceptiveness will live as an inborn instinct in deceptive ways and cheating all around them including the world communities. By grabbing the media the truth is concealed and the victories they show for themselves at battlefronts are dubious and false and they intend to show the sinhala masses that they are winning the war and the enemy is losing heavily and this false propaganda is making the sinhala masses to praise the government for the false acheivements that are portrayed to them. Tamil annihilation process is being put in force and even the government officials are not allowed to show out the real tragedy of the civilians sufferings and as Weerawansa said within 24 hours they can destroy the tigers and the tamils about 500,000 and when encountered about the civilians killings he bluntly said what do we lose they are all ” DEMALU “. This is exactly the sinhala mind and this is the way they will always act. The sinister sinhala regimes had in the distant past chased out communities one by one from the island namely in the sixties it was an exodus for the burgher community. Before that the Estate Tamil community were blatantly chased out after toiling in the estates for more than hundred years. The Indian tamils,the burghers,the muslims may be in the cards but the tamil language keeps them stuck with the tamils hence it is also a tamil issue. If not for the language the muslims would have been the number 3 party to be chased away. Finally the only way tamils can be eliminated is by genocide and expatriation due to fear of lives. These systematic sinhala plan and progroms are born in the sinhala elusive minds with the help of the saffron clad thugs calling themselves as buddhist disciples but are real killers who despise buddhism but yet want to call themselves Nayake theros. When will the sinhala deception end in this island wherein the shaven boldheaded monsters who rule the country along with other thugs would want only destruction of everything that our past generations have cherished and built.
Rene said,
September 2, 2006 @ 10:29 pm
Dear Dr. Rajasingham Narendran, first get the LTTE to lay down its arms. Then we will talk. Until then, Tamils will continue to suffer for their foolishness in aiding and abetting a terrorist organization.
N said,
September 3, 2006 @ 3:21 am
Dr. Rajasingham Narendran, you can’t be serious!
After all your efforts about explaining how the Sinhalese leaders have been decieving people since the time of the Portuguese, you end your article by appealing to exactly one of those decieving leaders the current President Mr. Rajapakse.
It is the President who is responsible for those horrifying thngs you saw from a long way off on the BBC television.
What is this Mother Lanka talk now?
The UNBUDDHIST Sinhala opportunist political leaders killed Mother Ceylon long ago and are now crying crocodile tears over some pretend effigy.
N said,
September 3, 2006 @ 7:22 am
you can’t be serious!
After all your efforts about explaining how the Sinhalese leaders have been decieving people since the time of the Portuguese, you end your article by appealing to exactly one of those decieving leaders the current President Mr. Rajapakse.
It is the President who is responsible for those horrifying thngs you saw from a long way off on the BBC television.
What is this Mother Lanka talk now?
The UNBUDDHIST Sinhala opportunist political leaders killed Mother Ceylon long ago and are now crying crocodile tears over some pretend effigy.
Ranjith said,
September 3, 2006 @ 11:12 am
Persons like Appukutty do not believe in plurelism and diversity. Dr Narendran’s articles elocuently deals with issues and most needed at the time there are only few like him who could write with deep intelectual thinking.
These paracitical worms are surviving on the rut that is rotting our society. There should be no room for such plagues and right thinking people must rise up and defend the freedom.
Ranjith
K.Thanabalasingam.R, said,
September 4, 2006 @ 9:27 pm
No party in conflict would like to sit and talk in a position of weakness. The now defunct CFA was signed by then PM with LTTE in a position of weakness (soon after the SL ecomony was brought to its knee after the Katunayake dissater).
When MR took over the office from CBK, he continue to be in the position of weakness. He cultivated the mythical KARUNA factor to weaken the LTTE. However LTTE some how over come this with the introduction of people resurgence force as a meassure to counter the tactics of SLA inteligence corps.
on its part, LTTE was looking to break the CFA without taking the blame on them and created many conditions for the war. Mavilaru incident came as GOD’s given oppotunity for the LTTE and hence, CFA broken. It is no point in talking about CFA any more and whether it is LTTE or GOSL, it is their stupidity to claim that they are still committed to the CFA “anymore”
History has taught us that LTTE is well known to buy time for space even with heavy losses. It is an open secret that LTTE has possed aerial attack capabilities and many other new features during the last four years. (it is evident by the artellary guns in Sampoor as SLA intelligence were not aware of the long range guns in the eastern theatre).
When the time come, both politico-millitary stand point, there will be an unceasing wave 4 or similer operation and it would be swift and short. At the present, LTTE is expecting the SLA to stretch thin what it was post- operation Jayasukuru. As for the SLA, there aren’t many recruits for the last four years.
In the coming days, we can see who was escorting the Kotte-Kolombo walk, It is LTTE or GOSL.??
Ruwan Colombo said,
September 4, 2006 @ 10:25 pm
The good Doctor seems to a little bit mixed up. Most of the Tamils talk about discrimination and how the minority is badly treated in Sri Lanka. Look at other countries. Minorities have countless number of grievances. Take for instance the largest so called demotic superpower and speak to the colored people over there. They will say how they have been discriminated even today. Minorities always think they are discriminated. Please take some time off and tell us what those discriminations are so that the Sinhalese will be able to correct themselves. Appreciate if you don’t come up with things like all the destination boards of busses in Colombo don’t have their destination boards in Tamil!
Ranasinghe, Sydney said,
September 5, 2006 @ 12:55 am
The doctor makes sense, and then again, he doesn’t.
It makes no sense to appeal to Rajapakse, the most extreme mainfestation yet of a long line of opportunistic politicians.
It could be argued that the communal minded on both sides of the divide could be converted through rational discourse – given that they have the interests of their constituencies at heart.
Its a near impossible task, however, to covert an opportunist. Especially a successful one with his hands in the cookie jar. He will never let go of the cookies in his grasp, even if that means that he couldn’t get his hand out of the jar. He knows he’ll get his cookies, even if the jar breaks in the process.
Ramesh said,
September 5, 2006 @ 3:21 am
It is really disgusting to note that the Tamil Community is very short
of people who can get into an intelligent and rational debate. The deabte and discussion should be on issues raised in his articles. Dr.Rajasingham Narendran has as much right as any one else, to express his thoughts.
Where he is and where he comes from, does not have any relevance to the topic he has written on. ‘Appukutty’, a man without the courage to write under his own name, seems to have taken upon himself the role of being the guardian angel of a liberation struggle that has only brought devastation and left the Tamils only with the option of looking forward to a hopeless future filled with death and despair. It is time that Tamils learn to engage in a rational, reasoned debate and re-learn the fundamentals of democracy.
This would be the first step to re-claiming civilized behaviour in
life,politics and the liberation struggle, destroyed by our liberation struggle.
Dr.Narendran has been one of the few Tamils who has brought some rational and far sighted thinking into the current discourse on our liberation struggle, while being scrupulously fair in dealing with facts , interpretations and the Sinhalese. His voice has been the voice of the
Tamils, who are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. I hope that the concerted efforts being made to silence him and other men like him, do not succeed. We have very few intelectuals left with the capacity to talk, write and seek sensible solutions to our problem. We should try to learn from such men and encourage them. Silencing such men with direct and indirect threats and killing them, will only impoverish the Tamils further.
Keteesh Loganathan was the last victim of such intorence. lets not have
any more
Thiru said,
September 5, 2006 @ 4:15 am
Ruwan asks Dr Narendran to tell him about discrimination experienced by the Tamils. In fact Ruwan must soul search and put his thoughts on this for an interactive discussion. To him, I could only state, the Tamil demand has surpassed the stage of agitating against the charges of discrimination and have now reached the point of their survival as people. The Tamils and Muslims have become the football in the Sri Lankan political pitch played by well established teams. The premier teams of course are the UNP and the SLFP. Both the parties have used petty parochial reasons to play foul with the Tamils for decades now.
Then came the LTTE crusaders who have lost all the senses and are playing unethical football game with the Sri Lankan forces using the very same people whom they claim to represent. The Tamil, Muslims and Sinhala people have become fodders in their game and people of all walks of lives in Sri Lanka are being trampled in this match.
The game is now played with a bad refree-the Norwegians and the SLMM linesmen who do not have even powers football rules provide.
Ultimately the rascals UNP and SLFP must take full responsibility for the state of affairs. Until such time these two get together in the national interest and put team effort to form a national government or work under a bi-partisan agreement to resolve this national problem in a sensible manner we could only experience further degeneration and formation of large section of the society that will be brutal than what see now.
If the situation is allowed to continue, very soon we will loose even the bad referee and the linesmen.
Surange Guruge - Canada said,
September 5, 2006 @ 5:27 am
I belong to sinhalese diaspora living in a far away country but visiting monther lanka almost every year for the love I still have for her. I did not leave monther lanka because of the tamils but becasue of state terrorism which is normally clad in annual elections. Tamils did not hurt me but some sinhalese did. Tamils did not deceive me but some sinhalese did.
Lest anyone foreget it was JVP that introduced a gun culture to our society as early as 1971 by giving guns to villege lads and asking them to attack local police stations. It is them who burnt so many buses that we don’t have a decent public transport today. It is them who burnt so many electricity transformers that we dont have electricity in villeges. It was them who killed innocent government servents for doing thier jobs. It was them who actively instigated violence in the south long before LTTE. It was them who put pressure on President Premadasa to ask IPKF to leave Sri Lanka when they were about to eliminate the LTTE. JVP is the biggest deceiver, cheat and the betrayer of all time in Sri Lanka. I am only surprised that the leaders of JVP are still wearing clothes when they are meant for decent people.
Dr R. Lambotharan, Canada said,
September 5, 2006 @ 5:39 am
It is sad to see some of the comments reflecting no sympathy or remorse for the suffering of the tamils in the nation. Lets voice for humanity and practice of noble bhudist principles even at this stage. It is not polititians ruined the country; people with this monocultural attitutes and ideas who made and supported these polititians caused the destruction of the country.
Machan said,
September 5, 2006 @ 7:19 am
Hi all!
Whatever the Dr R N put down as to solve the problem, Sinhalese polity will never consider any concessions to Tamils, either acceptable or unacceptable to Tigers. Tamil issue has always been used as a tool to win sinhalese votes to seize power. What was said by SWRD to win elections has been repeated all along by several leaders Sri Lanka has seen. Mahinda Rajapakse is no exception. The ground reality is that the the Tamils are fortunate to have a leader who is known to to do what he says and sometimes what he doesn’t say.
Anton Norbert said,
September 5, 2006 @ 11:00 am
Well analysed and presented Narendran. We have no will to settle this issue honourably. At which point will the international community draw the line on us and enforce a solution ? If they don’t do this, will they too be guilty through ” omission ” ?
Raj in USA said,
September 5, 2006 @ 11:34 am
Hello Ruwan,
What “mixed up” and “what discrimination”?. The fact is the majority Sinhalese in the Mother Lanka have shout down all the other minorities with their ” Apee Rata” and “Appe Aanduwa” thinking, feeling & propaganda! The children of younger generation too without any doubt have got that in their head too.
Here is a good example that I witnessed right here in USA. Recently a young beautiful, talented Kandyan girl from a well educated family gave a short nice performance of “Kandyan dance well and sang a nice song” at an international students cultural show. My family was very pleased to visit with her to complement her work and congratulated her.
She did the performance in another occasion for the second time in front of a larger audience. We were there seated with a few other Sinhalese friends in that auditorium.
At the end of her performance it was a shock for my family and Me when she had to make a few words about her at the stage, she said “I am from Sri Lanka, a beautiful Island in the Indian ocean. People in Sri Lanka speak Sinhalese… so on”. Well, she didn’t had the guts to say as SL is a multiethnic, multicultural country where there are Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslim communities live and the language they speak Sinhalese and Tamil.
What can I tell you ? We quietly walked away. It’s the problem why the Tamils wants a country for them while not being recognized as Sri Lankans!
Prasad said,
September 5, 2006 @ 12:28 pm
The stubborn attitude of the Mahinda government in their falsified dealings with the tamil issue is quite obvious in that they would not concede to giving any rights for the tamils instead they think that this is the era for the sinhala supremacy to be upheld. The notion that the minority community doesn’t have any problems is the version of most of the sinhalese. They even say that minorities have similar problems as is falsely in existence as a universal problem of all minorities. This mean thinking has brought the country to the basest position without any progress since independance and as long as sinhala minds are not going to realise the problems faced with the tamils in srilanka the solution to the ethnic crises will not be solved by talking to these senseless creatures in power. The tamils are not treated like unto the sinhalese when it comes to every areas of administration of business and land and education and every other sector. In India the president is a minority person of the muslim minority tamil clan. The prime minister belongs to yet another minority group of sikh community. The power at the central government is shared by all minorities. This is the democratic values in India and srilanka can never reach these high standards but will want sinhala buddhism as supreme in everything. Basically the tamils have no other way other than to get their own self-rule and tamil government.
Varathan said,
September 5, 2006 @ 8:23 pm
Ruwan,
It is the attitude of people like you that is causing the division of the country.
The whole world has recognised the Tamil grievances. Most importantly, all the politicians including MR, CBK, Kadir, JRJ, Premadasa etc have all accpeted the grievances. So, you might first want to know why they had accepted.
Ruwan Colombo said,
September 5, 2006 @ 10:41 pm
Hi Raj & Varathan
The problems you have indicated are very petty! This could be easily resolved if we call our selves Sri Lankans like the Canadian! In Canada there are the French but they never identify themselves as French but Canadians. I too have lived in the US and do you know I was not given a particular job on campus because I was a foreigner! The Tamils say that that the northeast is their homeland as for me my homeland is Sri Lanka!
As for Varathan he does not see our problems. We too are discriminated and don’t get what we want! It is the way you look at life is what it matters. Do you know that I housed my Tamil friend during the 83 riots and risked thugs burning my house?
I do feel sorry for you guys as you seem look at life from a discriminatory angle! You’ll seem to love blaming the Sinhalese for all the problem you’ll have and that is the easy way out!
Ukwatta Dayananda said,
September 6, 2006 @ 12:10 am
Lady wanted to share power but ruled out by ltte
Gentleman wanted to give Federal system but ruled out by ltte
Instead they wanted Frankenstein to come. He has come in a big way.
It is the view of all analysts that LTTE ( Mr. P) is the real obstacle to peace.
Thanabal said,
September 6, 2006 @ 4:16 am
Mr.Ruwan,
Let’s call for a referendum to see whether NE should be part of Srilanka or not, the same way Quebec had. Are our Colombo politicos ready for such democratic way of parting, instead of fighting till death?
I suppose no Sinhalese is ready to talk about referendum???
The simple solution lie in three point plan
1) Referendum to see whether NE people want to be part of the Srilanka or not
2) If “Yes”, talk about Federal solution
3) IF “NO”, Work on seperation under UN supervision.
The greedy politicos and stubern militants need not to cut each others throat.
Latest report revealed that it was Mahinda who ordered the assasination of Kethish Loganathan, indicate MR seems to be the most greediest leader we ever had (the power hungry)
Thiru said,
September 6, 2006 @ 4:53 am
The JVP and JHU say Sinhalese too are facing problems and they are campaigning hard to dilute this with the problems faced by the Tamils and Muslims. We all know Sinhalese too are facing problems. These are self inflicted by mismanagement of the Sinhala political leadership. The Sinhala masses are suffering as a result of their visionless leaderships to resolve the conflict favourable to every citizen of the Island of Sri Lanka. Hatred and prejudices are the root causes of the decay.
Any meaningful resolution to the conflict must look into devolution of power in a wider context. The Sinalese people too must be given substantive devolved powers to work upword from the grassroot.
Any future revision of the Sri Lankan constitution must have a accommodative process. Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims must play their role and must feel their inclusive role in the Sri Lankan society. They must be part of the formulation of a consensus constitution. The present constitution is adapted exclusively for the Sinhalese, which has brought upon the missery all the communities in Sri Lanka are facing.
Ruwan Colombo said,
September 6, 2006 @ 8:11 am
Mr.Thanabal
Why should we have a referendum only for the NE? How about tamils living in the south. What about all the Muslims and the Sinhalese and other communities that where ethnically cleansed by the LTTE ? Don’t they have a say about the NE? Even we should have a say as the whole country is ours. I like to know where you live?
U D said,
September 6, 2006 @ 9:15 am
Quebec did not have armed ruthless facist terrorist gruops to terrorise people and to eliminate moderate politicians like Amirthalingam, Thiruchelvam, Ranjani and also Rajive Ghandhi and so on.
Who will vote a referundum under such circumstances ? You do not know that we are talking in terms of ~ 6 % population of the total population in the country or even less. In colombo south you find more tamils than in the north so one can ask for a referumdum in Colombo south ?
Raj - Saudi Arabia said,
September 6, 2006 @ 10:08 am
Dear Fellow Sri Lankan Brothers and Sisters,
It is a very good question asked by Mr Ranjith, Are the Tamils discriminated?
I would like say BIG NO……..
But in reality I cannot
Let us put it as missed opportunities,
Did we create any Prime Minister from Tamil Community?
Did we create any Prime Minister from Tamil Community?
We only had an Opposition leader, but we put him out by “Diplomatic manner”
We were about to create a Tamil Prime Minister but again we denied this role by “Diplomatic manner”
The so called Tamils leaders are made by the incumbent governments were only for eye wash.
We never allow any Tamil to take up in any political role also depriving them in Administers role as well by introducing Sinhala only.
The young Tamils never got a right democratic leader, only we created a leader who believes in bullets not ballets.
Before 1983, Tamils were scolded as “PARA TAMALA” in public. We have seen regular riots against Tamils till 1983.
At least from now onwards let us respect all Sri Lankan as equal sons and daughters of our motherland. Respect others and accept fellow Sri Lankans as equal citizen
Does any leader have the guts to do that with good faith and heart?
sivanesan canada said,
September 6, 2006 @ 1:58 pm
My Dear fellow Srilankans , You have been deceived, cheated, manipulated by your so-called Leaders for 58 years, don’t be fooled by again by them by playing ethnic card. Lankan politians have no real desire nor intentions to solve the problems for the benefits of Sinhalese or Tamil people in our Island. They are not losing sleep over how many people are being killed, dying from decease, hunger. These people are shedding crocodile tears all over their lives. People can be excused for being fooled one time not all of their lives. lets think about our problems rationally not emotionally, then we can come to a constructive , everlasting solution to our ethnic, economic,and political problems with in short period. LTTE armed members almost proportionate to tamil population of Srilanka, since Srilankan army has very few Tamils in their armed forces, It is very logical for Tamils to be armed by themselves to defend their lives against aggression by lankan oppressors. Aggression is a crime and must be defeated at any cost.
HiranAustralia said,
September 6, 2006 @ 9:27 pm
I believe the northern Tamils speaking people of Sri Lanka always
wanted a Federal System of Government from the time the Bristish left.
This issue was always ever present in the subconscious Sri Lankan Tamil political brain. It also used India for this end with the assistance of Tamil Nadu.
You can see every time there is a problem it was Tamil Nadu that came to the aid of Sri Lankan Tamils, why ? to fight for the so called tamil nation.
If you look at the situation India will always want a presence in Sri Lanka no matter what and Pakistan is about to do so.
Soon the ethnic issue will fall to the background as there will be a bigger game to play for GOSL.
Thanabal said,
September 6, 2006 @ 9:31 pm
My Dear Ruwan and UD,
You guys are totally clueless. Read the history of Quebec properly before posting anything anymore.
Mr. Ruwan, as far as the election is concerned, it is by the NE people and not by the NE tamils. It show how pre-judgmental you are by stating NE as Tamils.
When it come to elections, all those who lived from 1950′s or before are considered the people of NE and not those colonized by SLG.
If a Quebecer who can vote in Quebec but work in Ottawa, still considered a resident of Quebec.
As I told earlier, no Sinhalese of open mind like the idea of Referendum as it will clearly lead to the seperation.
Raj - Saudi Arabia said,
September 7, 2006 @ 5:56 am
Hiran,
I think it is very reasonable to go for federal systems rather then complete separation.
As I said the Tamil speaking people cannot trust the Leaders of SLG, because we have only Sinhalese leaders. Sadly we couldn’t produce any national leader.
Look at all our past & present leaders….. they even cannot speak Tamil or not willing to learn Tamil.
So call multi linguistic former President Mrs Kumaranathunge (Who can speak eight languages) cannot speak Tamil. Why? is it diffcult to learn Tamil?
The Reason is very simple; the government of Sri Lanka never accepts Tamil speaking people are part of Sri Lanka and Sri Lankan.
Still it is not late, let us respect all Sri Lankan as equal sons and daughters of our motherland. Respect others and what ever language they speak, recognize them as equal citizen with good heart.
Raj in USA said,
September 7, 2006 @ 11:40 am
Dear Ruwan:
Though this forum is meant to comment on Dr Naranedran’s article, often it deviates into very personal opinions between individuals. I was surprised to see that you have had some higher education in USA and still shamefully defending that there is no discrimination for Tamils in Sri Lanka while the whole world knows the truth. As some others pointed out to you in this forum most of your leaders acknowledged it and accepted it. I am not sure whether it’s a waste of my time to make you to understand some basic knowledge.
You said, “I too have lived in the US and do you know I was not given a particular job on campus because I was a foreigner!” Well, you have to be a permanent resident or at times have to be US citizen to get those jobs. That’s the regulation. The difference in Mother Lanka, minority Tamils (Srilankan citizens) are discriminated in hiring, promotions, scholarships over the majority race. For you information, I have got through my O/L Sinhalese language (can read, write and speak well as good as many ordinary Sinhalese)
Please read the article at this same site:
Linguistic discrimination against the Tamils
By Kumar Rupesinghe
http://tamilweek.com/news-features/archives/536
You also mentioned about French Canadians. I am sorry, the Provincial Govt of Quebec has the power that’ is far above all other Provinces in Canada that includes certain level of Immigration and naturalization rights closer to the central government.
Mohamed -London said,
September 7, 2006 @ 7:32 pm
Dr. R. Narendran is concerned about the unity in diversity and his contributions are indeed thought provoking and timely. He has addressed the question of ethnic issues with an anecdote and takes us through the history of Sri lanka to prove his case. This voice from the Tamil intelectual should be listened to , by all those who aspite for a political solution. This is not a meak voice of a few individuals but a voice of a silent majority of Tamils , Muslims and even Sinhalese. Hope the president takes the lead !