“Sinhalese should be allowed to live in Jaffnaâ€Â, says Tamil movement
Posted on November 6th, 2013
‚ Asada M Erpini
An interesting news item that appeared in the media on 06 November is that that was attributed to one Ravi Kumar: -Sinhalese who wish to live in the Jaffna peninsula should be allowed to do so-.
The report is interesting from many angles.
Firstly, it is heartening to note that there exists a Jaffna Tamil Buddhist Association. Most Sri Lankans are used to associating the Sinhala ethnic group with the Buddhist religion, so much so that there is even the phrase Sinhala Buddhists, an expression in which the two ideas go hand in hand. As opposed to that, nearly all Tamils are Hindus, with a small proportion being Catholics (or Christians), just as one would find those who belong to other religions in the case of the Sinhalas.
Secondly, which, in fact, is the more important point, is that the Sinhalas (or the Moors or other ethnic groups) do not have to be granted permission by any association in Jaffna -” be it Sinhala, Tamil, Buddhist, Hindu, Moor or Muslim – to live in Jaffna. All that they have to do is to acquire property legally to do so. Tamils who have taken over Wellawatte and Kotahena never asked for or were given permission by the Sinhalas to move in massive numbers to some of the most priced real estate in the periphery of Colombo to -live in harmony- with people of other origins or religions.
Sri Lankans of all ethnic or religious groups have the right to live in any part of the country, if they wish to do so. A barrier to that as far as Jaffna is concerned is the thesavalamai law in Jaffna that prevents non-Tamils from buying property in Jaffna. No law or practice of this calibre exists in any other part of the country, and the Jaffna Tamil Buddhist Association would do well to at least initiate steps to get such illegal laws removed for good.
A point that is worth mentioning in this connection is that one should also be wary of how some of the propagandists of Eelam interpret the existence of many Buddhist ruins and inscriptions in the North: they claim that such artefacts were evidence of Tamil Buddhists who populated the Northern regions for thousands of years and that there were no settlements by people belonging to the Sinhala (Buddhist) group. The writer sincerely hopes that the Jaffna Tamil Buddhist Association espouses the pristine values of Buddhism and is not prodded on by some extremists who wish to use the innocent-sounding association to gain their ulterior motives.
Asada M Erpini
November 6th, 2013 at 2:54 pm
I thought it was understood since the end of the war that any Sri Lankan of any faith or ethnicity can live in any part of the nation. Whether the Tamil Buddhists approve it or not should not be the matter. What should be the issue is the law of the land as dictated by Colombo.
If the majority waits for acceptance or rejection by the minority when the law states otherwise it only weakens the law. Nothing goes against the law of the land. Not bigotry that keeps Sinhalese outside of Jaffna or tolerance that allows them in.
IT IS NOT FOR THE TAMILS TO DECIDE. IT IS FOR COLOMBO TO DECIDE.
November 6th, 2013 at 2:58 pm
Second comment:
If the majority allows this philosophy that change can happen only if the Tamils decide then Eelam would be a nation. The 30 year war was fought partly because to deny that power to the minority Tamils who if they had their way would resurrect the movement for Eelam. That is why it is so important that the issue of where one can live is a decision only Colombo can make.
November 6th, 2013 at 2:58 pm
Bravo! This is what we want to hear: EQUAL TREATMENT for Sinhalese as well!
……………………
Sri Lankan Tamil movement says Sinhalese should be allowed to live in Jaffna
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Nov 06, Colombo: A Tamil movement in Sri Lanka says that Sinhalese who wish to live in the Jaffna peninsula should be allowed to do so.
The Jaffna Tamil Buddhist Association says Sinhalese should not be prevented from living in Jaffna.
President of the Association, Ravi Kumar issuing a statement has said that Sinhalese and Tamils in the North should be encouraged to live in harmony without any differences.
He has pointed out that Tamils live peacefully with Sinhalese in certain areas in the South.
He has made this comment in reference to statements made by some Tamil National Alliance (TNA) members against Sinhalese settling down in the North.
According to Kumar, Sinhalese and Tamils should be allowed to live together and they will be able to find solutions to their issues.
November 6th, 2013 at 3:25 pm
Not just Sinhalese should be ALLOWED TO LIVE in Jaffna, they should be SETTLED BY THE GOVT. in Jaffna.
Don’t fall into this trick.
Typical Tamilians. During the war they said they wanted peace (only if the govt. agrees to a political solution based on federalism).
TNA does NOT complain about SINHALESE POEPLE’S RIGHT to live in Jaffna. They agree Sinhalese have the RIGHT to live in Jaffna. But Tamils used VESAWALAMI, bomb attacks (2 months ago Tamil CIVILIANS, not LTTE threw a bomb to a Sinhala Buddhist temple in Jaffna) and other racist act to PERVENT Sinhalese from exericising this RIGHT. TNA knows this.
It is like import controls in France. Oh! you can import stuff that can compete with French manufacturers. But when you import them, approaval delays will keep them in store for 6 months when their use by date will pass.
That is why STATE SPONSORED SINHALA SETTLEMENTS AND RESETTLEMENTS are needed.
Tamil IDPs were resettled with state sponsorship!!!
November 6th, 2013 at 3:53 pm
If you accept “Sinhalese should be ALLOWED TO LIVE in Jaffna” which is a stupid statement, we fools are accepting JAFFNA is a separate state !
November 6th, 2013 at 4:30 pm
LOrenzo, Nanda,
TRUE: There should be NO DOUBT, NO CONTEST, NO ARGUMENT about ANY Sri Lankan citizen, Sinhalese or Otherwise, being “Allowed” by ANYBODY to live in Jaffna. That is their INALIENABLE right as citizens, and the GOSL should ENFORCE that right under the Law.
But, this is the FIRST TIME, in my memory, that a Tamil group is supports that INALIENABLE right instead of CONTESTING and OPPOSING it!
MOREOVER, as Lorenzo points out, and I have long advocated, the GOSL should SETTLE large numbers of Sinhalese, not only in Jaffna but in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, to DEMOLISH the VERY BASIS of the Eelamist claim to a Tamils-only Ethnic Fiefdom in those areas.
It is ONLY GOSL ACTION to do so, and WIPE-OUT the Ethno-Religious demographic concentrations in Sri Lanka that will put this Ugly Racist Apartheid Communal Separatist BEAST, FINALLY and PERMANENTLY to rest!
November 6th, 2013 at 6:16 pm
“I have long advocated, the GOSL should SETTLE large numbers of Sinhalese, not only in Jaffna but in the Northern and Eastern Provinces, to DEMOLISH the VERY BASIS of the Eelamist claim to a Tamils-only Ethnic Fiefdom in those areas.
It is ONLY GOSL ACTION to do so, and WIPE-OUT the Ethno-Religious demographic concentrations in Sri Lanka that will put this Ugly Racist Apartheid Communal Separatist BEAST, FINALLY and PERMANENTLY to rest!”
ABSOLUTELY!
UNTIL this is done Tamil trouble will haunt SL. NO ESCAPE.
IF it is done, mark my word, Tamils will take their Elam project to Endia or Malaysia. May be Canada!
They will claim TORONTO (Tamilized into THARANTHANNI) area was a historical homeland. So was SCARBOROUGH (Tamilized into SIKKAARAPPURAM).
Tamils are like electricity! A good servant but a TERRIBLE MASTER and a peer!
November 7th, 2013 at 6:40 am
Re the Jaffna Tamil Buddhist Association (JTBA) :
We are wary of this Jaffna Tamil Buddhist Association. Never heard of it until now, and never knew (in all our many years) that there were Tamils who are Buddhists under their own Tamil names. These people were completely absent from the scene when Sri Lanka was in the throes of war and the aftermath with War Crimes accusations etc thrown at GoSL. Where were they in our hour of need ?
At present, hopping from religion to religion to suit various needs, lose Caste/lower Class, usually financial help, upping social status, jobs, education, go abroad, etc., is the fashion. What is there to prevent the whole lot of Tamil folk in Buddhism or other various religions, re-converting to Hinduism with the Caste tag attached, at a suitable time ?
Question: Why is this Association surfacing now, at this point in time ?
Even though the Daily News of 31 Dec 2012, carried the article below, we would move with wariness and caution with this Tamil Buddhist Association. Mr Vairamuttu, mentioned in the article below, had worked with then Minister for Industries Cyril Mathew. Unfortunately, Mr Mathew was widely believed to have been involved in the 1983 Riots.
The JTBA may prove to be another ‘gundu’ to import more Tamils of Dalit origin to Sri Lanka. They may attempt to make Lanka ‘Tamil property’ via Buddhism and Tamil language. Sri Lanka will then become an appendage of socially backward Tamil Nadu.
To safeguard Sri Lanka, keep State & religion apart. The Law of the Land must prevail. Activate the 6-A and deport all illegal migrants. Also keep a sharp eye on the JTBA activities.
In all fairness, we hope we are wrong in our fears and the JTBA proves to be a genuine Buddhist Association. Only time will prove them to be genuine, and in the meantime we ought to be wary and watchful. Not only should the JTBA work with GoSL on repealing the Thesavalami Law, but also officially retracting through a written declaration, the Vaddukoddai Resolution (1976).
————–
“First president of Jaffna Tamil Buddhist Association dies
Priyanka Kurugala
Daily News, Dec 31, 2012
The funeral of Tamil Dhamma Buddhist Association first president Maruthar Vairamuttu will be held in Manipay today.
He was one of the first persons who dedicated himself to forge religious harmony between Buddhists and Hindus from 1959. He passed away in his home in Manipay in Jaffna on December 27 at the age of 94.
Vairamuttu was born in Manipay on October 20, 1918. He was the father of three sons and one daughter. He had eight grandchildren. Until his death he lived in Manipay with his daughter Puganalogini, his son-in-law Thiruchelvam and grandson Tharsigan and two grandchildren.
Vairamuttu was a retired teacher in handicrafts. He had served in many areas in the country.
He was fluent in all three languages. Eventhough he was born a Hindu, he got an opportunity to study Buddhism.
He understood the depth of Buddhism and became a follower of the teachings of the Buddha.
Among his close associates were Ven Akuretiye Amarawansa Thera, Madihe Pannaseeha Thera, Kanaweththewe Nandarama Thera and Ganegama Saranankara Thera. He showed great reverence towards these eminent monks.
He studied Buddhism and followed in the footsteps of these monks. These monks taught Vairamuthu and like minded individuals from among the Hindu community about and how to practice meditation. He had supported the people in many ways at that time. Vairamuthu had worked with former Parliamentarian Cyril Mathew and former Jaffna Government Agent Nissanka Wijeratne. He also supported individuals from depressed castes to obtain jobs.
The funeral will be held with the participation of Jaffna Nagaviharadhikari Ven Meegahajandure Siri Wimala Thera, the present President of Tamil Buddhist Association in Jaffna A Ravi Kumar and Nandarama Tamil Dhamma School Children in Jaffna, Monday evening”.
November 7th, 2013 at 10:12 am
Fran Diaz said:
” We are wary of this Jaffna Tamil Buddhist Association. Never heard of it until now
Why is this Association surfacing now, at this point in time ? ”
VERY GOOD QUESTIONS deserving VERIFIED ANSWERS!
Indeed we should be wary of it being another Eelamist SCAM … and investigate the history of this “organization” and its “leaders” including the “venerable monk” identified as “Jaffna Nagaviharadhikari Ven Meegahajandure Siri Wimala Thera, the present President of Tamil Buddhist Association in Jaffna”!
GOSL should take an interest in this to make sure that this is a BONA-FIDE religious outfit and not an Eelamist wolf bleating from under a sheepskin!
November 7th, 2013 at 10:40 am
BONA-FIDE religious outfit and not an Eelamist wolf !
We never trust each other for last 2500 years but blaming for outsiders ( Indian , US ,UN etc…)
forget & forgive
live together for ever !!!
November 7th, 2013 at 11:51 am
I heard about Tamils who converted to Buddhisiam in Jaffna before 30 years. Discriminated Tamils who were unable to enter hindu Temples, discrimination at Schools, Govt offices Tea shops joined or founded Budhist association with assistance from the south.
November 7th, 2013 at 12:39 pm
Another GEM from Russia.
Russia has been impressive in 2013.
“The head of the State Duma’s Constitutional Legislation Committee has blasted as “extremely dangerous” the suggestion to regulate some relations in certain regions by adhering to the norms of Sharia law.
“We cannot leave an excessively large space of unregulated relations because when we do, other regulators start to fill that space in, and these other regulators are extremely dangerous,” MP Vladimir Pligin (United Russia) told a parliamentary expert council on Wednesday, according to Interfax news agency.
“<b<Even if we discuss territories which have a certain mentality, it is not possible to let even a part of legal relations be regulated by Sharia law. This space must be regulated by Russian law and there is no doubt about it,” he said.”
– RT
November 7th, 2013 at 3:02 pm
thurai,
Must have been very few ? How many in numbers converted to Buddhism, do you reckon ?
The Social Disabilities Act (SWRD) which enabled Tamils to access schools & places of worship was in 1957, and that was 46 yrs ago.
November 8th, 2013 at 12:14 am
The Social Disabilities Act (SWRD) – you know we Tamils are not law obeing people . also Hindhu Saiva religian based on this caste system , only way out for so called law caste to become high caste change religian or run away to western world . and you said run from TN to Sri lanka ( I am not convinced bescause we SL Tamil treat Indian & state Tamil as law caste ).
November 8th, 2013 at 1:14 am
forgive but never forget
live together but always be alert for the next kolaveri !!!
November 8th, 2013 at 3:56 am
Nanda
never forget- no eg: if I did not forget after your advice ( killer need to worry about his Karma not killed person ) still I would not able to slip
be alert for the next kolaveri – if you think another Kolaveri on it way than no point in live together.
Live & let live machan ,
Vanaththila Sun..nu , Pumiyila Man..nu , tensan akathe !!!!
You have MR & we have New CM CVW let them short out our ethnic problem (if any? (:-( ) !!!
November 8th, 2013 at 5:16 am
Lingam,
We must always be alert because தமிழ் கொலைகாரன் might strike again.
November 8th, 2013 at 7:26 am
Kumar/Andy,
‘We Tamils are not law obeying people …”. So that’s the problem ! Tamils obey the Caste Law, but not the Laws of Lanka.
You have shown that it is now entirely the problem of Tamil People and not the problem of others that Tamil folk are unhappy.
Not even a dozen Eelams will make Tamil folk happy, isn’t it ?
Re the Tamil Problem: It is not a political solution that is called for, but a spiritual solution, an understanding about human life and that the Caste system is man made and not God made. It may have suited ancient times, but not now, same as Animal Sacrifice.
————-
Poor Lanka, saddled with India’s insurmountable and ancient problems. Time to awaken all Tamils and all Lankans by activating the 6-A.
November 8th, 2013 at 9:28 am
Nanda
தமிழ் கொலைகாரன் might strike again- From Sky ? abbey Maththara Mathaya ontha veda katha ne (May 2009)
Good think more Sinhalese understand Tamils nowadays , in our olden days We Tamil speck dikka dikka chinhalam
Fran Diaz
entirely the problem of Tamil People and not the problem of other- agreed but you have to live with us for another 2500 years . miserable people make other people miserable is not it?
Caste system will be with forever because Saiva Hindhu religion will be with us for ever !
Poor Lanka, saddled with India’s insurmountable and ancient problems.- only 20 miles away (from kachcha theevu) indian with SL for ever & make sure we never implement 6-A but they implement their 16A(similar to our Separation is criminal offence)
What can We Do !
Simple We both talking together sort out our own problem -We have not done since 1948 ?
I know spiritual solution is correct path but in present world Economical solution may work (working in western world ) !
have nice weekend Bro!
November 8th, 2013 at 9:40 am
Kumar/Andy,
The Caste aspect is doubted by others, i.e. non-Tamils.
That is because, if Caste is God made (as supposed in your religion), then Caste has to be Universal for Mankind. ALL God made matters are Universal for Mankind e.g. Air & Breathing, Hunger & Food, Illness & Disease, Old Age & Death, and so on. As Caste is not a a Universal phenomenon, it is NOT God made.
Therefore, your argument that Caste will last another 2,500 yrs is not true. The sooner it is understood and let go, the better for us all.
To de-conditon the mental conditioning in anything, Meditation really helps. Follow either HIndu Raj Yoga or Buddhist meditation. That is the wisest thing to do, not dependent on any economic structures.
November 8th, 2013 at 9:53 am
Economic growth & Education will help, but not eradicate Caste if it has been embedded for so long. Only Meditation may help along with some psychiatric/psychology help to bring understanding about self and human nature.
November 8th, 2013 at 1:01 pm
SA Kumar said “forget & forgive”
I say, NEVER FORGET and only FORGIVE THE DESERVING!
Eelamists are NOT DESERVING, and we will NEVER TRUST or FORGIVE them.
When the Eelamists demonized the Sinhalese and launched a terrorist war killing hundreds of thousands of innocents to create a Racist Apartheid Separate State of Eelam just because they could get help from Tamil Nadu’s 60+ million Tamils and the India hegemon … they LOST OUR TRUST forever.
For law-abiding Tamils … EQUAL Citizenship and our friendship; For Eelamists EVERY ASSISTANCE to join their SunGod in HELL!
November 8th, 2013 at 1:15 pm
Jayawewa!
…………………
Computer assembling plant opened in Southern Sri Lanka port city
ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Nov 08, Colombo: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa Friday officially declared open Sri Lanka’s first PC computer manufacturing plant in the southern port city of Hambantota.
Microsoft OEM partner, EWIS Computer Assembly Plant at Sooriyaweva in Hambantota is expected to bring the country another step closer to its goal of becoming the IT hub of Asia as outlined in the Mahinda Chintana policy.
The 25,000 sq. ft. facility is a partnership between EWIS and Microsoft and is aimed at manufacturing tablet PCs, laptop computers and desktop computers to meet the growing demand for innovative yet affordable computers in Sri Lanka as well as in the Asia Pacific region.
The plant has obtained the ISO Certificate and the production will be carried out according to the international technical standards.
The plant is also the only computer production facility in Sri Lanka that has been accredited as a Microsoft OEM Named Partner. The factory is equipped to manufacture PCs of varying form which will cater to multiple segments in the country such as private, public and education sectors who have different IT requirements.
Production at the plant commenced in July 2013 and it is expected to create 250 job opportunities for rural youth in the field of new high-tech manufacturing, during the first phase of its operation.
Ministers Bandula Gunawardena, Mahinda Amaraweera, Ranjith Siyambalapitiya, Rajitha Senaratne, and Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, parliamentarians Namal Rajapaksa and the Chairman of EWIS Sanjeeva Wickremanayake also participated in the opening.
November 8th, 2013 at 3:19 pm
These xxxx forget something all the time. Sri Lanka is Sinhalays’ country. We don’t need the permission these
xxxxxxtes to live any place we like in our country. You all should go back to where your heart is. Where you belong.
That is Tamil Nadu (nadu is country in tamil). While these xxxx live all along coastal belt (former kallathonis), north, east, Colombo. These xxxx believe it is their country.
While half of these xxxx are abroad making trouble for our country. The other half do whatever they can do undermine
the country. Enemy within. NOW RISHARD BATHURDEEN (SNAKE HEAD) AND ATHE ULLA HAVE STARTED SETTLING DOWN ROGUE AFGANS AND PAKIS IN THE NORTH AND THE EAST SAYING THEY ARE RESETTLING WAR DISPLACED. NOW THE MOSSIE NUMBERS WILL SWELL TO 50% 60% IN NO TIME. WE HAVE TO THANK OUR SCUM BAG POLITICIANS FOR RUINING OUR COUNTRY.
November 8th, 2013 at 4:13 pm
Fran Diaz
if Caste is God made (as supposed in your religion), – I did not say caste system is God made but in Hindhusim based on caste sysyem eg: Bramis are priest ie high caste, my agument is as long as Hindhu Saiva reliegin exist caste sysyem will live .
Meditation (yoga)is correct way of living but we Tamil want short cut all the time so it won’t work for us.
I know you are geting anger with me but I have to tell you true about us to find permante solution for us as your majority in our country ( as in a family big brother).
Economic growth & Education will help, but not eradicate Caste- no it will we can see in western world they do not have waste time for these caste , only clever & stonger is in top.
Ancient Sinhalaya
why this kolaveri machan , live & let live !
November 8th, 2013 at 5:34 pm
Kumar/Andy,
If anything is not God made, ditch it – not worth wasting time on it. All man made imaginary stuff is transient. The 3,000 yr
history of the Caste structure is less than a blink of an eye in God’s time.
November 8th, 2013 at 5:50 pm
Lingam,
“only clever & stonger is in top”
Chingalam விட நாம் தமிழர் ச்லேவேர் பெஒப்லே .
நாம் தமிழர் Chingalam விட வலிமையானது என்று.
நாம் தமிழர் Chingalam லேன்ட் கைப்பற்றப்பட்ட
ஏன் இந்த கொலைகார சிந்தனை
November 8th, 2013 at 7:04 pm
Andy,
I am not angry. But there is no “permanent solution” for ANY of us – so how can there be a permanent solution for your Tamil group ? I am sorry, but that is how it things are in real life. We just have to live together in some peace, whether in Sri Lanka or elsewhere.
We are all travelers on this transient journey called Life. Whatever we do, we shall have to face our true selves Within, caste or no caste, low caste or high caste. Some day it has to be done so that Life is understood and death accepted. But the prospect of Meditation is not attractive to everyone. I understand that. No hard feelings here. Shall close my case.
November 9th, 2013 at 3:27 am
Nanda
நாம் தமிழர் ( naam thamilr) nothing to do with us. we SL Tamil ( Eelam Tamil – in chinhalam Eelam mean Hela)
We Tamil living in mother lanka are Eelaver not Tamilar ( yes We speck Tamil not Tamil TN Tamil speck)
eg: : We say for yes OM not AM ( TN Tamil say that is correct Tamil) & Our chinhala sakotharaya you say OF
see how We are related each other .
why this Kovalver machan , We both are clever ofcause We Tamil thought You chihalavar are modayas for long period but you have proofed in May 2009 we wre wrong . We 297,000 people were with sappaddu thaddu(food plate) in queve to get 3 meal for a day in IDP camp from same army we wre fights agains last 33 years .
this Tharma(m) will safe gurd you for ever even if you have killed 40,000 (govt figure 7,000) Karmam.
that all machan
live & let live , agrred We Tamil wre wrong all alon.
Fran Diaz
No hard feelings here.- agreed Sakothram !