Replying to Anandasangaree’s the desperate plea of a patriot for a permanent solution
Posted on November 22nd, 2011
By Charles.S.Perera
Writing to the President of Sri Lanka Anandasangaree says, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚«ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Although both of us entered Parliament together in 1970, I am more senior to you in age and in politics. Hence I have a moral duty to tell you frankly what I feel about every one of your actions and decision.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚»
Although the writer ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ did not enter Parliament with Anandasangaree, he knows that Anandasangaree was a member of the LSSP . And asƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the writer is of the same age as Anandasangaree he thinks he also has ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a moral duty to tell Anandasangaree that he is the worst Tamil racist and a ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ hypocrite. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ His membership in the LSSP had been bogus and hypocritical, because if he was a sincere member of the LSSP he cannot today speak in the language of ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a separatist Tamil racist.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He was awarded the 2006 UNESCO Madanjeet Singh Prize for the promotion of tolerance and non-violence, which he did not deserve.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ HeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ calls himself a patriot, and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the writer challenges his patriotism. A patriot is one who loves his country and his compatriots whatever their ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ race, colour or religion.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ A patriot does not seek to divide the people, a patriot loves the unitary status of his country, and does not seek to divide it territorially or communally. But Anandasangaree divides people as Sinhala and Tamils, he does not work for the unity of the people, he wants federalism which is a sort ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ divisionism.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Therefore he is not a patriot.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ If Anandasangaree wants to be a real patriot , he should give up his call for a Federal Constitution or an Indian model. He should not treat the Tamil Community as a different entity.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He should instead be a bridge to bring in the Tamil Community into the mainstream of the Sri Lankan people without allowing them to tear away from the fabric of Nationhood.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka could progress faster if all communitiesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ get together to give a hand .ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is the Tamils who stand on the way ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of progress with their pseudo ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-ethnic problemƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ and show to the world outside a division within. It is the Tamil diaspora which has brought Sri Lanka to disrepute, accusing the President and the Armed Forces for military crimes when they know very well that the elimination of terrorism was a necessity for any progress and that the military operations were against the terrorists and not against the Tamil people.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ If the civilians were to have died it may have been inevitable and it was a sacrifice to end thirty years of suffering, and find at last peace and security for every one.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Hiroshima and Nagasaki stand symbols of human sacrifice for the greater unity and peace of the world, at least that is what the West believes.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Now that the terrorism is over the expatriate Tamils should if they want to be real patriots contribute to the work in progress in Sri Lanka, and join hands with all Communities to develop the country to make the people happy, peaceful and prosperous.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Anandasangaree should help Sri Lanka not by demanding Federalism, but by getting the Tamils to fall in line with the rest of the communities to create Communal Unity.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ His statements are pungent with hypocrisy, as when he says, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- I am one who is not communal and had been always saying that I wish to have a Sinhalese family as my neighbour on one side and a Muslim family on the other. I have still not changed my views in this matter.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ Is that to show that he is not communal, and is that the way to bring the Communities together ? He thinks he could fool people with that kind of trash.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Anandasangaree as an elderly Tamil politician, living in safety amoung the Sinhala people in the South, had a greater role to play for the reconciliation of the two main Communities of Sri Lanka the Tamils and the Sinhala, if he did not try to play the Tamil Nadu game of separating the Tamils from the Sinhala.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He alsoƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ raises the GG PonnambalamƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢sƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ out dated demand for 50-50, but in a different way.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The permanent solutionƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to the so called ethnic problem in Sri Lanka is there before every ones eyes , but the Tamils including the UNESCO prize winning Anandasangaree do not want even to look at it.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Solution is, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that the Tamils should try to forget their Tamilness and accept to be patriotic Sri Lankans ƒÆ’†’ƒ”š‚ part entiƒÆ’†’ƒ”š‚¨re ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and unite with the other communities to form a larger Nation of Sri Lankans, where there would be no Sinhala, Tamil and Muslims but just Sri Lankans.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ That is what the President Mahinda Rajapakse meant once when he said that there are no minorities and majorities.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The fear of the Tamils is that the they ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ will be assimilated into the Majority, otherwise there is no reason for the Tamils to ask, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to be treated separately with a special devolution of power.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The whole of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ethnic problem stems from this failure of the Tamils to give up their fear of loosing their Tamilness. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is typical of the Tamils, this is what DBS Jeyaraj says on his article on ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ NedumaranƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s book on Prabhakaran which he says would beƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ NedumaranƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s magnum opus the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- hagiography ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- of Prabhakaran.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ DBS Jeyaraj says ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦ I am very proud of being a Tamil. My pride is based on the notion so well articulated by Namakkal Ramaligampillai one time poet laureate of Tamil Nadu.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ Is he a Sri Lankan or of TamilNadu ?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ If he is a realƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lankan he should have at least said I am proud to be a Sri Lankan Tamil.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This stems from an inferiority complexƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of the Tamils. They do not want to accept being Sri Lankans .ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The black African Community in America understood that accepting to be Americans is the way out of their isolation, and became a part of the larger people of America, and that is how today a black African is the 44th President of USA.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ They had the intelligence to understand that they had to accept being Americans, but the Tamils in Sri Lanka and the prize winning Champion of toleranceƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and non-violence are unable to comprehend that simple essential unity of people of all communities to build a Nation out of them.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sampanthan and his TNA cohorts were slaves of Prabhakaran and did what ever the Thalaivar asked of them, spying for the terrorists in the Parliament.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ They were therefore free from the wrath of the uncertain moods of the Thalaivar the terrorist leader.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Anandasangaree was not selected by Prabhakaran to spy for them , therefore he fearedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Prabhakaran, who would have eliminated him if it became necessary.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Therefore he played a double game living with the Sinhala people in the south, but echoing PrabhakaranƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s call for a homeland by harping on a Federal Constitution.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ AnandasangareeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ wanted to be different from Sampanthan the proxi of Praphakaran,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ therefore he did not ask for a separate Homeland for the Tamils, but he thought it was better to go step by step before he could arrive atƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ making the North and East the Tamil Homeland, therefore he opted for Federalism.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ AnandasangareeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ is an old political fox, who thinks he could get what he wants , by pretending to beƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ friendly ( tolerant and non-violent) with the ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Sinhala modayasƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ and moving along with their ideas until the time is right to ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-jump the queueƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ bag in ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ what he wanted a Tamil Homeland, orƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ North and East as a separate Province under aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Federal Constitution.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Therefore Anandasangaree mooted the Federal theory, and when he found that the Sinhala people would not accept it, he ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ changed it to an ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Indian Model.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He knows how to wriggle his way out of a situation, to get back to his demand to which he sticks stubbornly, when the time is ripe.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It was the Tamils ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ who created the so calledƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-ethnic problemƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ to enable them to get a Tamil Homeland established in the North and East.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ There is in fact no ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-ethnic problemƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ at all.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ But it was created artificially, to divide the country to have a separate Tamil Homeland.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ That is why all this Anti Mahavamsa theory of Narapalasingham, and the rewriting of the Tamil history insisting on the presence of Tamil settlements in the North and East prior to the advent of the Sinhala.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Anandasangaree says, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ I am yearning to see the dawn of peace in its true form in this beautiful Island of ours, in which from time immemorial the Tamils and the Sinhalese had lived in peace and harmony along with Muslims and many other ethnic groups, before the country gained its independence.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He does not mean a word of what he says. He is vehemently opposed to any large numbers of Sinhala people taking permanent residence in the North and East.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He will call it colonizing, which in fact what the Tamils have done in the South.
Anandasangaree says, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…- What was going on in this country since independence in 1948 is not fully known to the present generation. They hardly know what a peaceful country Ceylon was in the good old days. I am one who had lived throughout this period and had witnessed and experienced all good and bad events that took place in our country. ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
In the good old days the south of Sri Lanka was a paradise for the Tamils from the North .ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The British colonialists following the divide and rule policy ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ pampered the Tamils giving them important places in their administration pushing the Sinhala to the background.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Jaffna Tamils came to South and opened shops and boutiques.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Only the Tamil men came to the South leaving ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ their families home, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ not wanting to socialize with the Sinhala.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The well to do vellalas came and settled down in Colombo sending their children to best of schools toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ make them Doctors or Engineers.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The North and the East was left for the Tamils to live as they want, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the majority of the Sinhala people were not interested, either in settling down or even to know about the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Northern Provinces .ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ That is why Anandasangaree is ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ nostalgic for the old times.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ If things would have been the same today North and East would have been their uncontested Homeland.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Anadasangaree knows very well that neither North or East voted for any candidate of the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ LSSP the political party which stood for all communities.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ There was I think just one LSSP Member ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ from the North in the House of Representative. Not seeing a future being a member of the LSSPƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Anandasangaree changed camps.
In a way the terrorism brought some thing good in its wake, the Sinhala people of the SouthƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ became aware that the North and East are after all ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ part of the whole of Sri Lanka and that they have an interest in those parts of the country as well.
That is what irks Anandasangaree, North and East becoming close to the South and the possibility of more Sinhala people settling down there. Hence his demand for an Indian Model so that the North and East could beƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ kept a Tamil enclave as it was in the good old days.
If Anandasangaree wants a real reconciliation of the Communities andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ make Sri Lanka a peaceful place as it was , the time is ripe now.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Sinhala people are ready to make any sacrifice just to bring the Communities together.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ But do the Tamils want it, and would the Tamils in the North and East forget their Tamilness to create a United ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Nation of all Communities,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ stepping out of their narrow CommunalismƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
This Communal integration forgetting the Tamilness does not mean thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the cultural andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ religious values of each Community is to be devalued, but there is all the more reason that theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ parity of status of ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ different Communities should ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ be maintained in forming a ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ multicultural Nation.
The Sinhala people have been inviting students from North and East to the South to stay with Sinhala people to understand more of each other.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Do they profit from the occasionƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Has Anandasangaree gone to meet these young peopleƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ who came from the North and East and spoken to themƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of the necessity to unite toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ forget their minority complex and become part of the larger community ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim peopleƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ?ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
No ! the UNESCO award winning tolerant and non-violent Anandasangaree would not do a thing like that.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He knows that if the Sinhala people in the South were to bring the whole population of Tamils from the North and East and entertain them for even for one whole year, they will go back and become once again Tamils with their racial hatred to the Sinhala people.
Federalism or Indian Model means nothing to the ordinary Tamil people,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ even if every one of themƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in the North and East makes their dailyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ morning Salaams or Namasthe to Tamil Nadu, what they want is to live peacefully, with daily amenities andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ plan a future for their children.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
The Federalism and the Indian Model is the dream of the high class Tamils who want to dominate the poor low caste Tamils with ruling power in their hands ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ with a Parliament of their own, with their own Police and land rights.
Only means for Sri Lanka to forge ahead with peace and prosperity is by being an undivided people united to coordinate with one another for an ambitious program of development as a country of a united community of people.
Anandasangaree says,
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚«ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The turning point was the passage of the Citizenship Acts and the situation got aggravated with the passage of the Act making Sinhala as the only official language of the state in 1956. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚»ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
That is all nonsense, because it was necessary to makeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a difference in an independent Sri Lanka, where the colonialists ruled the country the ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ way they wantƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ by ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ denying the Sinhala people their rightful place, burning their villages , killing their peopleƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ when they rebelledƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ against these savage invaders who had continually harassed them, insulted and denigrated the culture and the religion of the Sinhala people.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ That necessity was understood only byƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ SWRD Bandaranaike. He did what was necessary, to give back to the people what had been denied to them forƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ nearly 500 years.
The Tamil people did not take part in those rebellions, whether it was against the Portuguese, the Dutch or the British,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ though they claim they have a long history as settlers in Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ How many Tamils fought along side the Sinhala Soldiers against terrorismƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ? In the long history of Sri Lanka the Tamils have not played anyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ role to defend the countryƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ except of course few exceptions like, Lakshman Kadirgamar, Jeyraj Fernandopulle and few other Muslims and Malays.
Anandasangaree should be happy because he is there today, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ free to speak out his mind because he had been with the Sinhala people in the South whose children had fought the terrorists to rid him of the fear ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ assassination by a wayward terrorist.
His theme of complaint through out the long article revolves round the ethnic problem and theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ advice to implement an Indian Model.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ But this ethnic problem heƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ speaks of does not exist any more, even if did in some ways existed before.
Now with theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ implementation of the Mahinda Chintanaya, even the language problem has been settled and the Tamils share all rights equallyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ withƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ all other Communities. And the Tamils like Anandasangaree, Sampanthan etc. raise a Tamil ethnic problem knowing well that no such thing really exists now, but yet ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to make an issue of it merely to bring disrepute to Sri Lanka and allow interference by the foreign countries into our internal affairs, and hoping for some politically beneficial fallouts for themselves.
Anandasangaree ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ insists, ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚«ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ A unitary system will not be acceptable to the minorities, the Tamils in particular. It will never serve as a permanent solution, since it can be meddled with, by some others when you and I are no more. I had been repeatedly saying that only the Indian Model will be acceptable to the minorities as the only alternative to a “Federal Model” if the term “Federal” is allergic to some. Otherwise it would be the best and the most acceptable one. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚»
What is special about the Tamils that a unitary system will not suit them.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ If it suits every one else it is democratic that the Tamils accept what is accepted by everyone else.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is people like Anandasangaree who should ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ make them understandƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that simpleƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ reality and bring the communities together without holding onto a separatists ideology.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Everything is not hunky dory in India despite AnandasangareeƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s eulogy of India as a Model. India which is a leading nation today claiming leadership in the South, with its own atomic bomb, preparing to send Indian men into Space, is unable to provide equality of opportunitiesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ to all ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the citizens of the country.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The low caste untouchables have still to find their place in the Indian Society.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ There is ethnic problems in Assam, Sikh and Hindu conflict in Punjab. India still has Hindu Muslim conflicts.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It hasƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ very racist Tamil politicians in TamilNadu.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Tamil Nadu has taken away the power of the Central Government of India which is being made to dance to the tune of the Nedumarans, Jayalalithas, Vaikos, Karunanidhis orƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the We Tamil Movement of Seeman.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Is that the glorious Indian Model Anandasangaree dreams of for Sri Lanka ?
Anandasangaree goes on with his eulogy of India , ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚«ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ..A majority Hindu country has a great Muslim Scientist as Head of the State and treat him with due honour. ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚¦.Another highly respected leader is the Prime Minister of India from an ethnic group that forms only 2% of its population and the leader of the ruling Party who is a very highly respected lady is one, not born in India. This great neighbour of ours has found unity in diversity; why canƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t we have powers devolved to our regions on the Indian pattern? ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-
But this has been made possibleƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ by India having no divisive political partiesƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ except in TamilNadu.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka could easily have the same possibilities if the Tamils come down from theirƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ sacrosanct Tamilness and accept to be citizens of Sri LankaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ without having racist political parties for Tamils, such as the :
Tamil Eelam Liberation Army, Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization, Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal,Tamil National Alliance, Tamil National Liberation Alliance, Tamil National People’s Front,Tamil United Liberation Front.
Anandasangaree should demand that these Political parties with the Tamil Label be banned and all citizens of Sri Lanka, Sinhala, Tamil, MuslimƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and others should join the two main political parties as in America, UK or France.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Then the country will select as PresidentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ leader of the political partyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that has won the elections. It may be a Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Malay or Burgher.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ For that to happen we need not be a country with a Federal Constitution, or a Constitution with that of India as a Model, but we should be a United Nation, without any Community demanding to be different from the rest of the Communities .
The rest of the letter need no reply as it is the repetition of the same ethnic problem, the Federalism against a Unitary system, and if allergic to Federalism requesting to optƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ for the Indian Model.
Mr. Anandasangaree, you will soon beƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ eighty years of age. The future is short for you, but the past had been long. When the end is near we become more and more nostalgic about the pastƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ forget the present and try to project the past into the future as a model for the present generation to emulate.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ But the present generation has more wonderful things to do than you had been doingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ through out that long past.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Therefore, do not try to make the past a model for ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the future generations.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The President Mahinda Rajapakse who you knew as a young man has matured. He has shown to every right thinking man and womanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that of the many Heads of State of Sri Lanka we have had from the Prime Ministers to Presidents, President Mahinda Rajapakse stands out as the man who did the most to this country of ours within the short time he was given the reins of leadership.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He had driven away the terrorists that were menacing the very existence of Sri Lanka as a Unitary State.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He has reconstructed North and East as no body had ever been able to do before.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He had brought the once poverty stricken South to an important centre of political and commercial activity.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He had builtƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ roads and railways ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ as none had ever dreamt of doing before.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ He has developed our country into aƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ middle income State.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ But all those who criticize him despite all that ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ he has done for this country, has done nothing. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is only Mahinda Rajapakse who has shown to every one of these critics what, a President with a vision , determination and effort could do, within the shortest possible time to turn a dream into a reality.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Therefore, Mr.Anandasangaree, Mahinda Rajapakse is not a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-podiyenƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ who dropped from the last rain, and he knows what he is doingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and it is up to you to wish him well andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ allow him to do what he wants to do in his own way.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ From what he has done so far there is no reason to think that he will disappoint any one of us in the future.
All progressive work in Sri Lanka to developƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ it economically, culturally, and sociallyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ had been mostly the indifatigable effort of the Sinhala people .ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ While Sampanthan and the TNA, Anandasangaree, Kumar David, Pakiasothy Saravanamuttu, DBS Jeyaraj et al make a hue andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ cry about an ethnic problem and collect international awards, the Sinhala people are at work in the North-East South and West of Sri Lanka for the betterment of the people and development of the country.
November 22nd, 2011 at 2:17 pm
Would this Ananda Sangaree or anyone in TNA explain to me what the ‘problems’ they face ‘being Tamils’ in Sri Lanka.
As far as I know, they are most privileged minority in the world having equal opportunities in every aspect.
Moreover, the worst Tamils of Sri Lanka live a better life than the Tamils in the Tamil Country -> The Tamil Nadu.
Not even that, in India where 80 million Tamils live, Tamil is NOT an Official Language. But in Sri Lanka, it is.
All the statistics show that proportionately, Tamils enjoy many privileges in the Sri Lankan society than the Sinhalese and the Muslims, even after being the 3rd largest ethnic group.
Now certainly the Muslim population is higher than the Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Ananda Sangaree, move over and get a life. We need to look into the grievances of the Sinhalese and Tamils now, because we have been discriminated in Sri Lanka by vociferous Tamils who have taken all our privileges.
November 22nd, 2011 at 3:36 pm
Anandasangari a patriot?
Patriot of what country? SL or Tamil Nadu or Tamil Elam?
Certainly not SL because SL patriots FLATLY reject the Indian model and all forms of federalism. Fullstop.
Never forget or forgive that he was part of 1977 TULF ultra racist Vadakundi Resolution based election campaign.
Now he has been rejected by the people! Even Tamil people have rejected him. There is no earthly reason to listen to him. He is rejected and dejected.
He can become a patriot by supporting the UNITARY status of this country. Patriots are people who support the nation in its current legal status.
The best patriotic move is to ban all racist political parties including TNA, TULF, T whatever.
November 22nd, 2011 at 5:20 pm
This is a good article about Anandasangaree’s hidden agenda. However, refering to the Tamils as from North and East people, gives the impression, that they have been there from time immemorial and the North and East refers to the entire Northern and Eastern Provinces. I’m certain the writer did not mean this and we are aware that other than the Tamil settlers who remained in the North after abortive Tamil invasions from South India, the majority of the Tamils living in the North and Eastern coastal regions (not entire province) today are indented labour from South India brought to work on Tobacco plantations by the Portuguese and Dutch and also, those that migrated as illicit immigrants, mainly before Identity Cards were introduced by the Sirimavo Government, to prevent them coming from South India and settling down undetected. Yes, North and East should not mean the entire Northern and Eastern Provinces which were created by the British purely for administrative reasons.
November 22nd, 2011 at 6:38 pm
Great article Charles
I admire your patriotisim
I understand sinhalese expect nothing but Patriotisim from Tamils
Tamils in the other hand expect nothing but Respect and equal opportunity
In my opinion 60 years of hatred division will not disappear easily
Both Patriotisim and respect can be achieved by investing in councelling sessions all over the country till people are cured . It will take time
spend millions of $$ or billion Rupees on this It is worth it Trust me
November 22nd, 2011 at 8:28 pm
sinhala and tamil should be taught in schools
patriotisim should be given importance . Lankan flag should be hoisted all over
Zero tolerence against any one who talk or write against race cultcure and religion
Take these monsters to cleaners
Equal opportunity and respect to all citizens whether sinhalese or tamils or muslims or bergers
no discrimination due to the language spoken or religious faith
All these can be achived by proper councelling and Psychiatric clinics from North to South all over the country
We all can lie or pretend that there is no disease called racisim in Srilanka.
We all know it is not true
We all have to be 100 % honest to accepct the truth and try to find permanant cure for this disease
good night
November 23rd, 2011 at 3:09 am
Tamil speaking people who live in the Northern and eastern part and in the upcountry of Sri Lanka is not a one Tamil community even all of them speak Tamil Language. They divided in to many groups and discriminate themself. High cast Tamil politicians ignore these backward manner of Tamils. Terrorism is not started only by
Pirabakaren or LTTE. The Tamil politicians are the main reason. They hide the truth to save their prospective
life was the main reason for the present situation in Sri Lanka.
Now some western powers and Tamils who never loved their country of born or they live are working together
to disturb Sri Lanka. This is the time for all of us (all communities) to maintain unity within all communities
and each others to defend our country from eniemies within Sri Lanka and Foreign coutries.
November 23rd, 2011 at 3:28 am
Thank you Thurai,
May there be more like you in Jaffna. Sri Lanka is indeed thrice blessed.
November 23rd, 2011 at 5:40 am
I will make some comments later.
This article is usrely relates to Anandasagaree’s plea published in the Asian Tribune.
My comments to that article was not pulished eventhough I have written to the contacts on that site,
Asian Tribune has more stuff on Ceylon (Sri lanka) than India or the Indian occupied territories of Kashmir.
Asian Tribune site is a Swedish one and I see the relationship again between the Indian interests and Tamil terrorists, through the Bolfor scandal. The same apply to other Nordic interests.
India is written all over.
Non-Indians in Ceylon should unite and demand teir basic rights that they had befor the arrival of British and Indians.
November 23rd, 2011 at 6:17 am
The agenda behind the Tamil claims is the same as what India is doing in other Indian colonies.
Take is Fiji on the other side of the world. There are more Indians there than the locals.
Indians there runs the place.
In Ceylon Sinhalese people always expelled differen races from the Indian sub continent if the try to setablkish ther own regime until their arrival under the British guns.
First they came as part of the Madras Regiment to take over the Dutch possesions in 1792.
Then from the Malabar Coast to collect taxes for the British. Most of these were ambushed and killed bythe Sinhalese.
So the British brought more from Madras to build roads.
Then more to take over the Kandy, and the throne.
After that coolies to work Coffee plantations followed by Tea. Then there are other Indians who were administrators and business people. None of them brought anyting but British empowered them with jobs, land and skills. Go and ask those billionaire Idian merchans what did they bring when they came.
Lots of Indians went all over the British dominions in the tropics, but were not allowed to go to colder British dominions that were colonised by themselves like Canada and Australia.
Australia had the white Australia policy while Canada only allowed people who came direct from the originating port. There were no direct ships plying between India and Canada.
Some Tamils in Jaffan still have there original huts that they built when they arrived five or six generations ago.
Indians (include Tamils) are the only people in the world who claims to have lived in another country twelve miles away over the sea and have exactly the same culture, religion, langusges, and way of life of their homelands.
It is time for Non-Indians to reclaim freedom from Indian colonists and imperialists.
November 23rd, 2011 at 6:39 am
On the subject of Respect from others, this is an attribute that has to be earned. Some Tamil people go around the world casting FALSE accusations at GoSL & the Lankan people, creating unrest and trouble here and abroad. Lies, Cheat, Deceit & Bribery are used for the purpose of creating Eelam. This has gone on for many decades creating endless troubles in Sri Lanka. How can Tamil People as a group earn the Respect of others when such acts are done ?
Self Respect is the best form of Respect. Then others will Respect us too. Self Respect comes with some ethics & morality, honesty & integrity toward the Self and others.
Regarding Respect to Tamil people re their Caste issues : Recently the GoSL has started issuing Sri Lanka Birth Certificates to children born to Lanka Tamil ‘Refugees’ in Tamil Nadu Camps. These Birth Certificates do NOT state the Caste of the child i.e. they are Casteless birth certificates. The parents of these children are thrilled about this. I presume this is not the case in birth certificates issued in Tamil Nadu ?
Of the some 200,000 Tamils in refugee camps in Tamil Nadu, about 4,000 of the ‘refugees’ have already returned. That they only carry UNHRC ID cards is another matter. Everyone in these camps have been issued UNHRC ID cards (courtesy Head of UNHRC, Ms.Navi Pillai). Will these people also vote for the TNA when election time comes, however well treated they are by GoSL & other Lankans ?
Can someone please confirm to us that Caste is NOT stated in Birth Certificates issued in Sri Lanka to Tamil children born in Lanka ?
Yes, Ethnic & Religion based political parties should be outlawed in Lanka, or we will have endless problems in the future too.
November 23rd, 2011 at 7:58 am
Dear Franz Dias,
I would like to answer two points in your comments.
//creating unrest and trouble here and abroad. Lies, Cheat, Deceit & Bribery are used for the purpose of creating Eelam//
Craeting eelam means wealthy life to all Tamils? they misuse the problems in Sri Lanka and misguide
the diaspora Tamils. For their own benifits of some Tamils who well educated and know how to cheat
poor and uneducated Tamils. Their policy is to save 10 Tamils by murdering 100 Tamils and loss of 1000 child soldiers. They cheat the world for their own benefits only. Not for Tamils.
//Can someone please confirm to us that Caste is NOT stated in Birth Certificates issued in Sri Lanka to Tamil children born in Lanka ? //
In Birth certificates of SLG stated only status of Citizenship, Sri Lankan Tamil by Generation or Immigration.
But in th North and east the Tamil so called high cast Officers stated intentionaly the Job of father (dirty jobs or jobs belongs only to the particular cast) of the child to identify the cast for discrimination in Schools or in the office white colour jobs.
November 23rd, 2011 at 8:00 am
“thurai”, you rcomments are hghly appreciated by all Patriotic Sri lankans as you have displayed your GENUINE feelings as a REAL PATRIOT!!! What many Tamil Politicians have been doing is creating divisions among the Tamils and Sinhalese communities to gather mnor and more votes and thereby developing hatred among all.These fools like Sangaree are a venom to the whole society and such people should be eradicated from the society.What these TNA Parliamentarians are doing is to satisfy the so called Tamil diaspora to create another calamity and break the peacefull atmosphere prevailing now THANKS TO MR,GR and the BRAVE SOLDIERS.
What the TNA and diaspora are expecting will never be a reality as JUSTICE ALWAYS WINS!!!
November 23rd, 2011 at 9:42 am
1. The Government should never give any power to any province that will even remotely lead to separatism.. period.
2. The Government should not favor any ethnicity on any matter. Every citizen should be given equal rights, and the Government should abolish any laws or provisions that favor any ethnicity. That includes abolishing Thesavalamai Law.
3. Sri Lanka should ban political parties that tag on ‘ethnic lines’. These include party names with words with ‘Sinahele’, ‘Muslim’, ‘Tamil’, and certainly ‘Eelam’.
4. Sri Lanka should be well aware of Tamil Nadu settlers, who come overnight by fishing boats, and put up huts in abandoned land. As understood, now there are hundreds or may be thousands of Nadu dwellers coming to illegally settle in Sri Lanka for better lives.
November 23rd, 2011 at 9:42 am
Thurai : Thank you for your response. I do appreciate it, and agree with you on the points you have raised.
We are truly concerned that the manner in which Birth Certificates are issued in the N & E of Lanka are different to those issued in the rest of the island. This is a very valuable piece of information. THIS MUST BE RECTIFIED ! Over to you GoSL. If necessary, the Ministry of Defence ought to undertake this task.
November 23rd, 2011 at 11:02 am
Sarath or (shall I call you Vindu ?)
All what you say about the past is better left as history.
We are today in a new era of peace and development. In this new renaisance of Sri Lanka, what is needed is not political devolution but a real unity of the Communities to form a multicultural Nation of Sri Lankans, not each stabbing the back of the other , but really and sincerely unite and interact with each other for the common good of our motherland. The motherland which is that of the Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Malays and Burghers, ( may not be that of the TNA MPs who want to divide the country and for that they do not start a dialogue with the people, but meet with the Foreing Nations who are against Sri Lanka)
November 23rd, 2011 at 11:50 am
agree with Charles
When we all live in abroad and become citizens we love the country and be very patriotic and some cases even become eminent citizens of various countries
Why we all failed in Srilanka the motherland
Tamils should think if they are sinhalese what sinhalese expect from Tamils
the answer is Patriotisim
Sinhalese should think if they are tamils what tamils expect
Respect and equal opportunity
we have to be 100% honest . Truth is within you ( Budhisim says) heaven is within you ( christianity says)
Peace is within you ( islam says)
60 years of hatred divisions will never go easily from both community
what we need is accept we have the disease and get as much help for population in Srilanka
For Tamils to be patriotic for the country and for sinhalese to respect and provide equal opportunity to Tamils
Bring capital punishment for hate crimes
sue the monsters who speak against race cultcure or religion
I rest my case
November 23rd, 2011 at 11:55 am
get as much help means provide councelling , unity classes in schools , trips to south by kids from North and to North and east from kids from south
councelling , clinics should start and continue for atleast 10-15 years . People in abroad could contribute for this worthy cause
Most important thing is to accept the truth we have this disease and cure it
If we do we can easily beat Singapore
November 23rd, 2011 at 12:21 pm
Jimmy,
We are dealing with people and a country we all love or should love. We have to be utterly sincere in what we say and do. There should not be hypocisy in our expressions.
You say:Tamils should think if they are sinhalese what sinhalese expect from Tamils
the answer is Patriotisim. Sinhalese should think if they are tamils what tamils expect
Respect and equal opportunity
Respect cannot be commanded it come automatically if one acts honestly. Equal opportunities for Tamils have not ben denied. To-day it is evidently clear that Tamils have all the Rights that the Sinhala have.
The TNA MPs distort reality. What does TNA want ? They want political rights which is not the urgent demand of the Tamil people. Even political rights have not been denied to the Tamil people, but Tamils have misused it voting in anunpatriotic set of men whose allegience is more to TamilNadu than to Sri Lanka.
November 23rd, 2011 at 1:09 pm
Sarath,
Pre May 2009 “solutions” are no longer valid.
A world order was created following May 2009 which is copied around the world.
In May 2009, we proved to ourselves that our brothers in the military can deliver the goods, not politicians. That is the right approach. That is the future.
Even in the past those stupid agreements FAILED because we Sri Lankans NEVER supported them. Now they are dead as dead Elara. Don’t try to resurrect these crap again. If you do, there will be another 1958s, 1977s, 1983s, 2006s and finally another May 2009.
November 23rd, 2011 at 1:11 pm
Jimmy,
We don’t want to beat Singapore. All we want is to WIPE OUT separatists (including federalists) and Tamil nationalists from our country.
November 23rd, 2011 at 3:23 pm
Agree with Charles and Lorenzo.
Those old nonsense should not cloud our minds. We have a new country. We need new solutions within new realities.
After winning the war the president declared that there are no ethnic majorities and ethnic minorities anymore. All Sri Lankan citizens. This is the right mindset we should have.
There were very powerful Tamil leaders in the past like Chelva, Amir, Praba. They caused all the trouble. But there never were so powerful leaders in India. We have to learn from India how not to allow the emergence of strong Tamil leaders.
November 23rd, 2011 at 7:11 pm
I cannot but agree with Mr Sangare if he is demanding rights of Tamils in general sense. However, when he demands devolution of power to North or North and East on Indian model, clearly, he is not talking about Tamils in general: He is talking about a section of Tamils. In fact, he is demanding special rights for a set of Tamils. And that is not on.
I feel, Mr.Sangare thinks, he and his set of Tamils in the North are different set to rest of the people called Tamils. He forgets that all Tamils, in spite of where they live, speak the same language, attach and follow the same culture and customs, and pray for the same Gods. In short as Christie above says, they all have same roots. The differences between them, if any are very superficial. So, to join together to claim some rights (official language etc) and isolate to claim special status is nothing but fraud of the so-called Jaffna Tamils.
Now to the point; majority Tamils live outside North and East. If so should not Sangare elucidate us on how devolution to North or North and East would help those majority Tamils.
Leela
November 24th, 2011 at 7:44 am
After the need to gently remove Caste based problems for Tamils and Class based problems for Sinhalas, the needs of the poor in the country are the same. Are the needs of Tamil poor & Sinhala poor different ? I think not.
November 24th, 2011 at 1:02 pm
Sarath,
I have included 1977. 1989 is also relevant and so is 1971.
The military ALWAYS delivers the goods, not political solutions.
Today the military can resolve the “ethnic problem” in the north by targeting and eliminating Tamil Nationalists in the bud.
Geoff,
We cannot follow the Indian model of suppressing popular Tamil leaders. A military (secret service) approach suits best. If we had a good secret service in the past, we could have eliminated Chelva and Chelvam earlier in their careers. And that Nanthikadal loser too.
A stitch in time saves nine.
November 24th, 2011 at 7:50 pm
Great article and hits the nail on the forehead ! Thanks Mr.Charles.
This article sheds a great amount of light on what is meant by “Patriotism”.
Of course it is about time now to shed all other “races” and create the new race “Sri Lankan”. Tamils need to work hard on this issue since mainly them who suffer from the “inferiority complex”. As the author rightly said, black americans dropped their “blackness” (and also their original Nigerian language) and became Americans and that is why Barak is on the throne. Anandasagaree has no problem in becoming president of Sri lanka if he becomes Sri lankan rather than Tamil.
November 24th, 2011 at 9:25 pm
A consistent comment in the foreign media is that the Tamils allege that systematic discrimination against them started with the introduction of the Official Languages Act of 1956. Some commentators do not even bother to use the word ‘allege’ and state it as a matter of fact. And almost always the Act is referred to as the Sinhala Only Act.
Now, what the Act did was to make Sinhala, the language of the majority, the official language of the country, and the protests and the satyagrahas that the Tamils staged were on the basis that the Act discriminated against them on the basis of language.
But what were the concessions embodied in the Bandaranaike-Chelvanayagam Pact? They were not concessions in relation to the use of Tamil but about the Tamils having the prerogative to determine who will settle in their so-called ‘traditional homelands’, to stop any form of government projects like the Gal Oya scheme which brought non Tamils to those areas and a whole host of other such privileges – comprehensive in scope and greatly removed from language!
Similarly privileges were of course not extended to provinces outside the so-called ‘traditional Tamil homelands’. In other words, the Tamils were to be given a privileged position. The Dudley-Chelvanayagam Pact was not much different in its scope to the B-C agreement.
Things clearly have not changed. The call for devolution of powers and Anandasagaree’s plea for adoption of the Indian model proceed along the same old lines. We would have to concede that he has been one of the ‘moderates’ but the essential gospel is the same, the underlying motivation is no different. They simply stand for separatism, never mind what it is called or by what process they seek to achieve it.
November 24th, 2011 at 10:48 pm
If Ananda Sangari is a moderate, that opens up a set of VERY DANGEROUS possibilities.
If Ananda Sangari is a moderate, there are Tamil “moderates” who support separatism!
Perfect spies!!!
These “moderates” also deserve the Nanthikadal treatment, militarily or legally. In other words, the word “moderate” has no value. Any loser can call himself a “moderate” who is in fact a HARDCORE EXTREMIST PRETENDER.
e.g. Ananda Sangari