Some trying to rewrite country’s history for dollars – President
Posted on December 18th, 2012

Chaminda Perera Courtesy The Daily News

No amount of money or might can change a countryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s history President Mahinda Rajapaksa said, adding that we are living in an era in which certain elements were trying to rewrite the history of a country through money power.

He said that certain elements are trying to remove all traces of Sri Lanka ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”s history by bulldozing places where historical artifacts are located.

The President stressed the importance of protecting artificats which are our heritage. ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-We are witnessing an era in which some elements were preparing to destroy the history of other countries by spending dollarsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, he said.

Speaking at the opening of a new building complex of the National Archives Department yesterday, President Rajapaksa said that the country experienced an era in which certain elements tried to prevent the people from speaking about Sinhalese Kings such as King Dutu Gemunu.

ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-They (the people) thought that they would be branded as chauvinists if they talked about of King DutugemunuƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚, he said. President Rajapaksa stressed that Sri Lankans can be proud of her rich history and kings. The President was presented a special memento by Minister of National Heritage Dr. Jagath Balasuriya.

A book containing the rare pictures of former Hambantota district parliamentarian and one time Deputy Speaker D. A. Rajapaksa conserved in the National Archives was also presented to the President.

President Rajapaksa lauded the services of the Maha Sangha in protecting valuable documents related to countryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s history and the religion for posterity in temples and monasteries for centuries.

He said the documents preserved by our forefathers helped India identify King Asoka in the 1800. He said that India was able to identify Emperor Asoka due to the documents preserved by Sri Lankans. Stone inscription mentioned of a King called Piyadassi but there were no documentary evidence to prove that he was Emperor Asoka. The President said that Sri Lanka had documents to prove that he was Emperor Asoka.

He said that the National Archives has deposited 22 linear kilometers of archival materials in its present facility and documents of Dutch, Portugese and British era have also been well preserved in the Archives. Minister of National Heritage, Senior Minister A. H. M. Fowzie, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena and Director of National Archives Department Saroja Wettasinghe were also present.

3 Responses to “Some trying to rewrite country’s history for dollars – President”

  1. HussainFahmy Says:

    Watch out, National Heritage can easily be polluted through the Hollywood Cultural Influence. National Debt is another menace to manage with prudent economic plan.

    We Hope Sri Lanka learns a lesson and makes every effort to builds its future on the foundations of:-

    (A) MULTI-CULTURE (B) MULTI-LINGUAL (C) MULTI-FAITH (D) EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES TO ALL CITIZENS (E) RESPECT ALL COMMUNITIES, THEIR HONOUR AND PROPERTY RIGHTS. (F) NO COMMUNITY CLAIMS SUPREMACY OVER THE OTHER OR MANIPULATES ELECTION OUTCOME (G) STRICTLY MERIT BASED GOVERNANCE (H) ALLEGIANCE TO ONE COUNTRY, ONE NATION. (I) MAKE A DIPLOMATIC EFFORT TO CONVINCE THE NEIGHBOUR TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION AND RELIEVE THEIR CONCERNS AND ASSURE THEM OF A FAIR TREATMENT TO ALL COMMUNITIES.

  2. Fran Diaz Says:

    Well stated, Mr President !

    Both Sri Lanka & India have to preserve their ancient heritage sites. Or else, as stated, ‘bought bulldozers’ will erase our history. Others will lay claim to ancient heritage sites by removing them altogether. That type of activity is not permitted in any Democracy anywhere in the world.

    This is a Wake Up Call to caring Sri Lankans to guard all Heritage Sites. Guarding Sri Lanka’s Heritage Sites has nothing to do with multiculturalism. Multiculturalism is well and alive in Sri Lanka – we have Multiculturalism coming out of our ears !

  3. A. Sooriarachi Says:

    Good on you President. Finally a leader of the nation has openly announced what has been going on in the past 30 years. There is a section of Tamil separatists with the support of some sinhalese like Brian Seneviratne on their favoured list, who have been globe trotting distorting the truth as well as the history of Sri Lanka. Not only do they publish a manufactured history of SriLanka, they go a step further and borrow from libraries around the world, the existing true history books on SriLanka , destroy them and then gift to these libraries their own manufactured versions. The Govt of SriLanka, through its diplomats in foreign countries should gift the true history books of the country to as many libraries as possible, including school libraries. This would be an easier task to accomplish than trying to verbally counter the heavily funded separatist Tamil newly manufactured versions.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

 

 


Copyright © 2024 LankaWeb.com. All Rights Reserved. Powered by Wordpress