DISENFRANCHISEMENT OF THE SINHALA BUDDHIST-
Posted on December 28th, 2010

J Jayasunder

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Independence from colonialism should have been the start of a new era of liberation and progress of the Sinhala Buddhist nation. Unfortunately after 60 years of Independence the disenfranchisement of the Sinhala nation which started with British Colonialism in 1815 continues. The propaganda of Sinhala Chauvinism, Mahavansa mindset and more recently alleged human rights abuses and the riots of 1983 have subdued the aspirations and a pride of a nation that is second to none.

The pauperisation and destruction of the Sinhala Buddhist society which characterised British Colonialism has now evolved into a refined form. The remnants of colonialism are still active. The Sinhala Buddhists under this new system of corruption and subjugation has been emasculated into a servile community characterised by sycophancy and an ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”EHEI HAMUDURUWANEƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ mentality. To regain the Sinhala Buddhist nation it has to re establish the connection to its glorious past and to do that an analysis of her recent history is imperative.

A past when they had the morality and compassion to give refuge to the poor and the down trodden be it immigrants from India who were absorbed into society or give refuge to the Catholics who were discriminated by the Dutch in Wahakotte or the Muslims who were given refuge in the Eastern province when they were discriminated by the Portuguese

The Sinhalese society was characterised by the well known components of the Temple, Tank, and the Paddy Fields. The Temple not only addressed the spiritual needs of society but also was the institution of learning, intellect and the vehicle of social cohesion. It was the instrument used by society to see that the administration observed the rules of the DASA RAJA DHARMAYA or THE BUDDHIST RULES OF GOVERNANCE BY THE KING.

The Economy of course revolved around agriculture hence the emphasis on the Paddy Fields and the Irrigation Tank. So it was not unusual for the British colonialists to do its best to destroy the epicentre of the Buddhist Society the temple. It is to the credit of resilience of the Sinhala Buddhists that this institution was still intact at independence. This was even emphasised by no lesser person than the Tamil Nationalists Sir A Ponnambalam at the Prize giving at Mahinda College Galle in around 1914.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ BRITISH COLONIALISM WAS CHARACTERISED BY –

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  1)COLONIAL GOVERNMENT ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…”

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The country was governed by a Governor appointed by the colonial secretary in Britain with an advisory group consisting of collaborators mainly Tamil and Sinhala Christians. When there was a threat of acquisition of the Lands of the Asgiriya and Malwatta ironically it was a Tamil Sir A Ponnambalam who intervened on behalf of the temples .AS THERE WERE NO Sinhala Buddhists in the advisory council. This is how the powerless the Sinhala Buddhist were.

2)ECONOMIC DEPRIVATION OF SINHALA BUDDHISTS

A)ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Acquisition of Sinhala Land by the Waste Lands Act and selling it to the Christian collaborators and Western companies at low prices. The greatest damage to the environment was done with the destruction of the THAHANAM KALE OR THE FORBIDDEN FORREST which was acquired and opened for the Tea Plantations.

B)ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Restricting Employment by preventing access to an English Education the medium of governance and favouring minorities and Christians. The Sinhala Buddhists schooling was restricted to Vernacular Schools where education was restricted to Sinhalese. Attempts were made to make amends to the policy by the Buddhist Theosophical Society in the early 20th century but the discrimination of employment continued under British Colonialism. At Independence 80% of the employment in the public sector was Tamil. The rest mostly were Christians.

3)SUBJUGATION OF SINHALA BUDDHISTS

A)ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Subjugation by violence of the Sinhala Buddhists by violence was characterised by the behaviour of the British after the 1818 1nd 1848 riots. Every young man over the age of 16 years were killed, paddy fields and animal husbandry the essential elements of an agricultural society was destroyed thus not only subjugation of the sinhala community into a subservient nation but also pauperising them into virtual slavery.

B)ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Establishment of a Provinces and installing indentured Indian Labourers to disrupt the continuity of the Sinhala populace to prevent any further uprising. The established provinces had no bearing to the lands of the Sinhala administrative provinces of the TRI SINHALE the Maya Rata, Pihiti Rata and Ruhunu Rata.

C)ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Destroying the Sinhala Buddhist culture by openly encouraging the addiction to alcohol. The richest people in Sri Lanka even today are the descendents of the Rendakarayas or the owners of Arrack Taverns. They are mostly Christians .( It is ironical that J R Jayawardena in his endeavour to establish a Dharmishta Society gave permission for his MPs to issue licenses to open Foreign liquor shops . J R had certainly learnt from history but he was a convert.)ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

4)DISEMPOWERMENT OF THE BUDDHIST TEMPLE

A)ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Acquisition of Temple Land ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Any institution to function needs financial support and by acquiring the land of the temple will only be a barrier to its proper function. Thus the functioning of the Buddhist temple at Independence was mainly on the benevolence of the already pauperised Buddhists .( The burning of the Buddhist library in Aluwihare was another attempt to destroy the Buddhist influence on society -1846).

B)ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Christianisation ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” Christianisation not only was the means of disempowerment of the Sinhala Buddhist Temple but was the only means of human progress available to the Sinhala Buddhists in terms of economic progress, Education and Employment.

5) ECONOMIC AND GEOPOLITICAL INTERESTS OF THE BRITISH

The entire foreign policy and economic policy of the country was completely determined by the interests of Britain. In world war 11 Sri Lanka was automatically at war supporting the colonialists both economically and materially

INDEPENDENCEƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

With universal franchise a subjugated nation finally saw a window of opportunity to reinvigorate the lost aspirations of subjugated nation. The old irrigation systems that made the nation of Sinhale the granary of South Asia was rehabilitated with new colonising schemes restarted in Sinhala land. A land now claimed by the minorities on the basis that it was in their provinces as determined by the British colonialists in an attempt to disenfranchise the Sinhala nation of its inheritance. Free Health and Free Education which are essential elements of a Buddhist society was established not only in the deprived south but also in the North where the majority of the Tamils the beneficiaries of colonialism lived. The hatred for the collaboration in their subjugation by the colonialists was never in the mindset of the Sinhala Buddhist in spite of the propaganda that emanate from the minority community.

SINHALA ONLY ACT -1956

Although the green shoots of a Buddhist Society was seen the majority community that was 75% of the populace were Sinhala educated and had no chance of employment in a government that was conducted in the language of the colonialists English. The choice for the Sinhala educated was limited unless they were willing to sacrifice another generation or two to get competence in English. Thus originated the demand for a Sinhala only act a demand that S W R D Bandaranaike championed under the pancha maha balavegaya. (Sangha,veda,guru,govi , kamkaruƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  ie five groups of Sinhala educated Buddhist priests,physicians,school teachers, farmers and labourers) This act was never an act of vengeance against the minorities as portrayed but an act to correct the discrimination of the Sinhala Buddhists by the European colonialists for centuries.

The remnants of Colonialism who had benefitted by subjugation of the majority were unhappy. The Tamils who had suddenly lost power now demanded separation / federalism based on administrative provinces which had no bearing on the historic ownership of the land of the island. Led by a Tamil Christian who had benefited from both being a Tamil and a Christian.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The other disgruntled group were the Christians who continued the power it had accrued during colonialism to hang on to positions of power by unjust means. This was later exposed and was designated Catholic Action. Catholic Action was the cause that prevented Sinhalese Buddhists acquiring any position of power in the armed services. It took almost 15 years after independence for a Sinhalese Buddhists to lead the Army and many more years to lead the other two forces the navy and the air force. The attempts by the Christian officers to stage a coup in 1962 failed.

The achievements of the post independence Sri Lanka are something that Sri Lankans can be proud. Literacy Rate of 96%, Infant mortality, maternal mortality , social mobility and gender equality that was amongst the best in Asia. With the oil price rise of 1974 started the down turn. The recession in the world economy was reflected in the living standards of the local populace. The government under the expert guidance of a Marxists finance minister who opted for frugality and living within once means his policy created long bread queues which made the government very unpopular. Incidentally, a policy that has since been praised by some for being the most appropriate. The government lost the election in 1977 to a government led by J R Jayawardena who hood winked the people by promising a DHARMISHTA SOCIETY but his intent was to establish the most ADHARMISHTA SOCIETY. J R Jayawardena was a convert who had all the characteristics of disgruntled beneficiaries of the colonial system. His actions reinvigorated destruction of the hopes of a resurgent Sinhala Buddhist nation and re established its des enfranchisement ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ under the false hope of a Dharmishta Society. His policies killed all the green shoots of hope of the Sinhala Buddhist nation when he followed the IMF dictatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  and established the MONEY DEMOCRACY and destroyed the values inherent in the Sinhala society. The foreign debt and the social disruptions that were started by his policies have left the country and the Buddhists especially in a dire state.

PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM AND THE SINHALA BUDDHISTS

With the 1977 Presidential system the colonial past has been revisited from a Sinhala Buddhist perspective. 1977 election when J R Jayewardene was appointed with a two third majority is a defining moment in history of the Sinhala Buddhists. An election, which is alleged to have been influenced by a big power. A new constitution, Presidential Rule, proportional representation, open economy, IMF dictat and dismantling of the welfare state a prescription of disaster from purely a Buddhist Sinhala perspective.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION AND SINHALA BUDDHISTS

Sinhala Buddhists constitutes 75% of the population of Sri Lanka. All the minorities have parties geared mainly for the welfare of the minorities be it Tamil or Muslims. The Sinhalese especially the Buddhists vote for two national parties which does not necessarily have the Sinhala Buddhists welfare at heart. The political reality is such that until this time the minorities were the king makers. Their demands have to be acceded to if the government is to survive. Their power is best reflected by Thondaman who refused to give Jayawardena a predated resignation letter when everybody else had given one.. When their unfair demands are not met the minorities threaten to unite and demand various rights especially in the north and the east thus destabilising the status co forcing the government to pander to the interests of the minorities as it does not wish to be seen as being anti minority. This unfortunately is at the expense of the majority especially the Sinhala Buddhists.

For a successful political leadership there has to be an enlightened policy of succession. Since D S Senanayake succession has been geared to your progeny. The latest debacle in the UNP is a reflection of this policy where the incumbent has not after 14 years cultivated a successor. To this end the parliament is filled with men who do not have the qualifications or the character to make a serious challenge to the leadership. From a Sinhala Buddhist prospect these leaders who have up to now claimed leadership of the Sinhalese Buddhist ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ lack both the qualification and character to lead. This processƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  needs to be democratised.

ECONOMY AND SINHALA BUDDHISTS

Today the Sinhala Buddhists are economically the weakest in Sri Lanka in spite of the general belief. When the colonialists left the Sinhala Buddhists were a pauperised nation their lands acquired, deprived of education and employment. With the 1977 open economy they did not have enough capital to exploit the open economy. What is more important is of course that money is power. It is that capital that eludes the Sinhala Buddhist nation.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ With corruption the growth of capital is with people who have capital but this capital growth is mainly by debt which has been taken in the name of the citizenry who are mainly Buddhists.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Scams be it VAT or otherwise are carried out by minorities but the majority pay.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ EMPLOYMENT AND SINHALA BUDDHISTS

The biggest foreign exchange earner for Sri Lanka is middle East employment. Majority employed in their are Sinhalese Buddhists. Although the much valued foreign exchange earned are misused by the ruling class the social consequences of destabilisation of the Sinhala Buddhist society is immeasurable. It is appropriate to mention the abuse and exploitation that has become the hall mark of this employment is nothing more than slavery.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ WELLFARE STATE AND SINHALA BUDDHISTS

The social mobility that the Sinhala Buddhists achieved was by free education. The reduction of the subsidy on education has resulted in a falling standard of education which has been borne by the Sinhala Buddhists. Politicisation of the appointments have made matters worse

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ TAMIL PROPAGANDA AND SINHALA BUDDHISTS

Sinhala Buddhists are the most abused by Tamil Propaganda .The common allegations are of Sinhala Buddhist chauvinism, Mahavansa mentality, and discrimination of Tamils etc which is nothing more than propaganda. If the sinhala Buddhists have made any progress in terms of wealth and employment it is only a minor correction of the injustices they suffered under the colonialists. Yet for all the Tamils and Muslims are better off than the Sinhala Buddhists both economically and educationally. The famous question what does a Sinhalese have that a Tamil does not have goes unanswered. The ordinary Sinhala Buddhist is more deprived than the average Tamil is the fact of the matter.

1983 riots is another in the armoury of the Tamils in their allegation of discrimination. The Sinhala Buddhists were not the people who carried out the 83 riots. It was a well organised campaign by the UNP thugs. President Jayawardena took 4 days to address the problems for reasons best known to Jayawardena who was at his best an agent of the western powers. To generalise and accuse the sinhala Buddhists is disingenuous.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The UNP and J R Jayawardena has never advocated any constructive help to the Sinhala Buddhists although there was an ingenuous hype of propaganda in terms of a Dharmishta society. JRJ was never a friend of the Sinhala Buddhists.

TAMIL HOMELAND AND NEGOTIATIONS

Having enjoyed the trappings of power under colonialism the Tamils now desire a separate area carve out of the Sinhala Land as an initial step to conquering the whole land and making the Sinhalese the Palestinians of South Asia. It is interesting that the Tamils are exactly following the agenda of the Jews in their establishment of Israel. A failed attempt to establish Eel am with a army, navy and even an air force like the early IsraeliƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  settlers and having a Tamil lobby in the west and in India that funds political establishments no different from the Israeli Lobby.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  An attempt also is been made for a international Tamil forum to achieve their objectives the same way as the Jews.

The Sinhala Buddhist opinion has been subtly excluded from the discussions between the GOSL and Tamils. It is interesting that in the discussions between the GOSL and Tamils the GOSL has been led by Sinhala Christians onut 90% of the time. The reasons for this are only best known by the heads of governments. Ranil ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Wickremesinghes CFA also falls into this category. No one is accountable which goes to show the power of the Sinhala Buddhist. These discussions have also failed to impress upon the international community the land rights of the Sinhalese and the mass murder and destruction carried out by the Tamils.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In this propaganda the Catholic church which attempted to undermine the revival of the Sinhala Buddhists in the 60s by catholic action has actively helped Tamils. Cardinal Rangith in his evidence to the LLRC commission cautions Sinhala settlements in Sinhala Land in the North and East. The purpose is to weaken the Sinhala Buddhist nation so that the church can Christianise and dominate the country as they did under colonialism.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ MEDIAƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  AND NGOS

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The corporate media has failed the Sinhala Buddhist. The invincibility of the Tigers and not reflecting the fears of the Sinhala Buddhists and lack of investigatory journalism brings in to question the part played by the media in the disenfranchisement of the sinhala Buddhists.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ THE TEMPLE AND GOVERNANCE

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The temple right through history has been the institution of Sinhala unity even during colonialism. Today the temple has lost the power to unite the Sinhala people for the following reasons

1)ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Priests do not have the finances to maintain their temples

2)ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  To maintain temples the priests have been forced to gain employment

3)ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Politicisation of priests who are now party political animals not necessarily lobbyists for Buddhist values and social welfare

4)ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Christianisation has made a marked impact on the power of the temple. Today the Christian church has more financial and economic power although they are only 7% of the populace

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ INDIAN HEGAMONY AND SINHALA BUDDHISTS

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ India has been the bane of the Sinhala Buddhists right through the ages. It has been the historical enemy of the Sinhalese who have never allowed the country to prosper. From the time of independence India has been trying to use the disharmony between the Tamils and the Sinhalese to imprint their authority on Sri Lanka. India now does not show any hesitation about their activities especially in the north and the East. To his credit Prabahakaran was the first to realise and fight this hegemony. India is no friend of the Sinhala Buddhists nor for that matter Tamils. The disharmony is being used to dominate and exploit Sri Lanka. Their behaviour during the allocation of drilling rights for oil was a factor that should not go unnoticed. The information of the activities of India has been kept away from the people. It is time it is exposed.

CONCLUSION

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Today the Sinhala Buddhists are suffering from the same circumstances they suffered during colonialism except that the forces against it are much varied. A NEW BUDDHIST LEADERSHIP FROM THE INTELLIGENSIA WITH A VISSION IS NEEDED.ITS VISSION SHOULD ENCOMPASS BUDDHIST VALUES AND ADDRESS THE THREATS OF TAMIL RACISM ,CATHOLIC CHURCH DOMINANCE, INDIAN HEGEMONY AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF THE SINHALA BUDDHISTS. TO ACHIEVE THIS BUDDHISTS UNITY IS ESSENTIAL. THE TEMPLE NEEDS TO BE REINVIGORATED TO ENFORCE THE DASARAJA DHARMAYA.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

6 Responses to “DISENFRANCHISEMENT OF THE SINHALA BUDDHIST-”

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  2. A. Sooriarachi Says:

    Mr Jayasundera, what you say is so true and I applaude you for being brave enough to deviate from the prevailing practice of bashing the sinhala buddhist in order to get recognition as an interlectual and a moderate. I also read with interest the comments made by a British national, where he mentions that before independence SriLanka was virtually ruled by Jaffna Tamils, as the second in command to the colonial rulers and only after independence the sinhalese were able to regain some of their lost rights. This explains why the British, yet have a soft corner for Tamils. I also wondered why Cardinal Malcolm Ranjit made that insensitive statement requesting the Govt of SL to disallow sinhalese settling down in the North which is an integral part of SriLanka.

  3. M.S.MUdali Says:

    First I appreciate the points of Mr. Jayasundara how the Christians controlled Sri Lanka.

    Jaffna and Colombo were become cities after the arrival of Portugeuse. That is why UNP and Jaffna based parties go togethe always.

    How many millionaires among Jaffna Tamils now? Anyone will find more Christian Sinhalese are wealthy than any Tamil. Jaffna Tamils were trained to work in the offices like the Sinhalese in Clombo as well.

    Now who are in the public offices? 99.999 are Sinhalese. Then what is the problem in Sinhala areas and why the Sinhala masses are unable get any thing from the public service. Are you all blame this on TAMILS or the corrupt Sinhalese?

    Eelam or separation is the colonial Christian activity. That is why UNP and Catholic Church openly supported LTTE. Sinhalese just run away when questions comes about the support to LTTE by Sinhalese and Christian churches.

    Not only Buddhists, Hindus too an oppressed segment of the society. After Independence, The Sinhala Christians and Tamil Christians are united in serving their foreign Christian masters. Minorities are the easy targets of colonial masters.

    A.J.Wilson, a well known CIA agent and son-in-law of S J V Selvanayakam was the architect of the current constitution which gave power to a Single person.

    If Mr.Jayasundara goes deep he will find why Catholic Church and UNP backed or back LTTE. It is not for Tamil homeland but for a Catholic enclave like East Timor to propel terror or to give a foot hold for Christian powers to work against India from the South.

    For foreign powers, Sri Lanka is just a BASE for their domination of ASIA. Britain and their allies continuously try to do the same. Killing Bandara Nayake, Coup of 1960, JVP insurrection, JR’s new constitution, LTTE and now they try to intimidate the current government to surrender to the Christian powers.

    Can Mahinda survive the Christian intimidation or surrender?

  4. De Costa Says:

    Mudali,
    Parangiya again.
    Buddhism cannot be conquered by any religion except that Hinduism hiding under avihimsa has the power to gradually change it.
    Definitly not any form of Christianity or Islam is able do that because of lack of simple logic in there doctorines.
    Some people may be converted by sweets at crucial time but not in mass.
    Only possibility is Islam extremism can do it overnight because they do it by force – even present times they openly practice violence.
    Give me an example of a single Buddhist nation which became a Christian nation.
    If you cannot, just do not try to use religion to divide Sinhala nation which is your only aim.

  5. M.S.MUdali Says:

    Just think how you become Costa!

  6. Andare Says:

    Mr. Jayasundera, has addressed all the real issues affecting us in life. This brings to mind a little snippet I saw on the Thom Harmann show in USA. He said the early Europeans were different tribal groups with their languages and religions and history. Then the Celts had come and destroyed the groups to bring them together. After that the Romans came along and destroyed their languages by insisting that only Latin be used. Then the Catholic church had come along and destroyed all the religions saying they are pagan religions and imposing Catholicism on them. As a result Thom Hartmann, himself a white man, says “the white people are like hungry ghosts, spiritually empty, wandering the earth”. I think as a result they cannot bear to see people who have history, tradition, religion which gives them something to hang onto. That is why the Aborigines, the Red Indians, the Incas, the Mayans, etc, were destroyed and their wealth taken away. All that the Sinhala people had was their Land, and that was taken away. It was basically the same reasons why they wanted to destroy the Sinhalese.

    When Chandrika and Ranil’s Government stopped teaching the history of the Sinhalese to the children they were destroying a basic foundation upon which the Sinhala people could build their lives. I remember as a child listening to Sinhala history and feeling proud and sad at the same time. Even now in my dotage I remember vividly the history lessons. We were also taught Western history which did not have the same profound effect on me. We must teach history in our schools and the minorities too can learn from our history lessons. Otherwise we will also end up like “hungry ghosts spiritually empty wandering this earth”.

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