Elara was not a Tamil – Part I and Part II
Posted on April 10th, 2017

Dr. Sooriya Gunasekara Courtesy Ceylon Today

Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran responded to Dr. Sooriya Gunasekara, Chairman of a registered political party called Sinhaladipa Jathika Peramuna, who called the CM for a debate, based on the CM’s interview that appeared in Ceylon Today of 19 February 2017.

Dr. Gunasekara’s questions touching on the various claims on Tamil Homeland were responded by the Chief Minister again on Ceylon Today, 23 and 24 March 2017.

Below is the response by Dr. Gunasekara to the Chief Minister’s reply. Ceylon Today agreed to publish Dr. Gunasekara’s response.

Dr. Gunasekara’s question to the CM: In fact, I would like initially to focus our conversation on certain statements he has made at the interview and elaborate the matter further more. His Statement “I find that there is a well-planned move by certain Sinhalese pseudo intellectuals to rewrite history to suit their whims and fancies,” should further be explained, what necessities should be fulfilled to write a countries history.

Dr. Gunasekara’s response: History cannot (has not been) be written on whims and fancies. Historical statements made should be supported with accepted, credible historical Literature and/or archaeological findings.

Dr. Gunasekara’s question to the CM: Occupation of the North and East of Sri Lanka from pre Buddhist time by forefathers of Tamil people, was not taught either in school or in universities during our student days. Therefore, we expect a briefing on that matter.

Dr. Gunasekara’s response: CM has come out with a lengthy answer without any historical proof. His answer is purely based on assumption saying population of Sri Lanka and India was same 7,000 years ago, which reveals that the CM has a very poor knowledge regarding Indian history. Tamil is only a language and neither a nation nor a civilization. Tamil means only a language-centred ethnic group. They do not have a unique culture as ‘Tamil’. Their culture is ‘Hindu’. No Tamil civilization is found anywhere in the world. After exceeding the primary life only mankind becomes producers living at a permanent place. Along with the production (not nowadays industrialized production) an economy starts, along with the economy civilization starts, civilization starts forming a nation. During the primary life mankind is known as humans. But, there is nothing called a Tamil civilization.Therefore, Tamils are not considered as a nation, but only an ethnic group.

‘Right of Nations’, the universally accepted concept and theory regarding an ownership of a country goes as:

I. People who formed a civilization and affiliated cultures in a country identified as a ‘Nation’

II. Owner of the country (the entire land) is nobody other than the said ‘nation’

III. Their deed for that land country is the history of the people who civilized that particular land and this is identified as ‘historic deed’, even in European countries such as France.

This is the accepted traditional norm in all the countries which did not undergo colonialism. It is properly known as ‘Right of Nation’ in all over Europe. If Tamils to be identified as a nation in Ceylon, they should show ‘Tamil civilization’ they have formed in this land?

Accordingly, it says Sangam literature developed during 1-3rd Century AD. But, there is no exact determination proving Sangam literature has been written during this period, as there is a missing gap in the existence of Tamil language between 3rd and 6th Century AD. Also, there is no evidence found to describe South Indian history for the period of 3-6 Century AD. (K.A.N. Sasthri, A History of South India, Oxford University Press, Second Edition, 1958 page 15)

K.A.N. Sasthri denotes, in order to build up Indian history the main sources are copper plates and stone inscriptions (pages 1-34). Till about 4th Century AD languages used in stone inscriptions were ‘Prakrith’ and those are ‘barmy’ letterings. From 4-7th Century AD Sanskrit has been used on inscriptions. After 7th Century AD, beginning and end of inscription had been written with Sanskrit and middle section of inscription in Tamil, Kennedi, and Theluga Languages. Inscription done with pure Tamil, Kennedi, and Thelugi found only after 10th Century AD.

According to Dr. Paranavithana, Sangam Literature has been written during 6th Century AD.

Iyengar, P T S History of Tamils (Asian Education Services) states – “Certain scholars try to say there had been a group of people called ‘Tamils’ in South India before 4-5 Century AD. For that there are a few sources they try to use. Those are the inscriptions established by Emperor Asoka during 3rd Century BC. In those, Cholas and Cheras are mentioned. But, there is no proof to say Cholas and Cheras were Tamil speaking dynasties.

All the above facts reveal, even a language called Tamil has come into light after 6th Century AD. Therefore, it proves language based Tamil community started after 6th Century. Then how could there were forefathers of Tamils existing in Ceylon in the pre Buddhist era?

Certain Tamil extremist scholars who present Tamil emigration theory accept the fact that Tamils emigrated from North Africa.

But, they try to say, Tamils migrated around 6,000 BC and also stakes claims for the Mohenjo-Daro Harappa civilization too. But, to support these claims no evidences provided. The CM’s statement of saying “population of South India and Sri Lanka were of same” has not been supported with sources of facts. One question to the CM, India being an undivided sub-continent, why were there so many kinds of ethnic groups with different cultures in India? According to his theory, they all should be Tamils. But, it wasn’t and isn’t the case. Sinhala is a civilization and not an ethnic group or race such as Tamil.

Replying to the CM’s stone/Iron age comment; humans and nations are different mankind before and after civilization. Living in a primary life they are identified as ‘Humans’. As explained above, after civilization they become ‘Nation’. In the primary age, the lifestyles of humans have similar status everywhere in the same world climatic zones. E.g. – Aborigines lifestyle in Australia is similar to Veddas in Sri Lanka. It does not mean Veddas and Aborigines are of same stock. Therefore, just because stone tools looks similar, it is not a valid evidence to determine South India and Sri Lanka had a same set of ‘people’. Therefore, the CM’s assumptions based statements are dropped since those are not supported with valid evidences.

Reply to CM on his comments about archaeological findings in Sri Lanka

No single archaeological or literature evidence found to prove Tamil settlements before Westerns arrived in Ceylon. There are no historical evidences in Eastern and Western countries, North or South Indian history to prove Tamil settlements in Sri Lanka

.Kandarodai has been identified as a Buddhist establishment and not a Tamil Urn. Though it says urns in Pomporripu has similarities to some urns in South India, it doesn’t mean Tamils were living in this country, even before the Tamil language was formed. Then, how could Tamils be there in existence before 2000 years ago?

In Dr. Karthigesu Indrapala’s PhD thesis, he says; “No definite evidence regarding any significant Tamil settlement in the Batticaloa District of the Eastern Province, or in other parts of Southern Ceylon has so far come to light.” (Page 233)

“The language of the gold plate inscription from Vallipuram, the earliest epigraphic record discovered in the Jaffna Peninsula, is the early form of Sinhalese, in which inscriptions of the time in other parts of the island were written. This may suggest that the Sinhalese were settled in the Jaffna Peninsula, or in some parts at least, in the Second Century. The gold plate from Vallipuram reveals that there were Buddhists in that part of the peninsula in the Second Century AD. At the site of this inscription the foundations are in the premises of a modern Vishnu Temple”.

“Although it may appear reasonable to presume that these Buddhists were Sinhalese like those in other parts of the island”
“There is evidence to show that the Buddhists who occupied the Jaffna Peninsula in the Anuradhapura period were Sinhalese”.

“It may be recollected that several writers on the history of Jaffna, basing their studies on the traditional legends found in the late Tamil chronicles, have put forward certain theories claiming the establishment of Tamil settlements in Jaffna in the period of the Anuradhapura rulers. These theories are not accepted by serious students of history as they are not based on trustworthy data”.

(Page 266)’

After quoting Dr. Indrapala’s thesis, there is nothing more to explain. How the CM tried to put Archaeological evidences belong to Sinhalese into his pocket. Is this the professional and academic way of arguing? And the CM’s assumption that “King Dutugemunu could not have been a Sinhalese,” the answer for that can be found in Dr. K. Indrapala’s extracts given above. Further, King Dutugamunu ruled 161-137 Century BC before even the Tamil Language was formed, and not even an ethnic group called Tamils existed. Even Elara was a Kalingan (North Indian) not a Tamil, and ‘Magha’ from Kalinga was also a North Indian.

My Answer to the CM’s Statement, “The Mahawamsa had been identified as a chronological legend,” I must say not only archaeological evidences such as Stupa etc., in Ceylon, but identifying Emperor Asoka, determining time period of Seelappadikaram were also made possible by Mahawamsa.

Dr. Gunasekara’s Question to the CM: There are two sets of boundaries to the Northern and Eastern Provinces demarcated in 1833 and 1888. Which North and East boundary is claimed as the Tamil homeland?

This question is very specific, but the CM evaded the question. In replying to this again I will put in a form of question.

In 1833, the British demarcated five provinces and then in 1888 British further demarcated nine provinces. Present North and East Tamil homeland map is similar to the map of demarcation done by the British in 1888. Did your so called Pre Buddhist Tamil homeland had the same demarcated areas? And if it is the pre historic Tamil homeland, how come the same area of land strip was obtained by the Dutch from the Sinhala King by the Hanguranketha Treaty in 1766? Then, is it the British who are the forefathers of Tamils in the so-called homeland? Need your explanation. A direct reply is needed to say homeland boundaries are similar to either 1833 demarcation or of 1888.

Dr. Gunasekara’s response: Leader of TNA and the Opposition Leader, Mr. R. Sampanthan states that Tamil people occupied Jaffna since 1215 AD and he stakes claims for a Tamil Kingdom of Jaffna from 13th Century to 17th Century. But, Mr. Wigneswaran, being a member of the same political party and Chief Minister of the Northern Province, claims that Tamil people occupied the North and East before 3rd Century BC. Accordingly, two different types of statements made by two main leaders of the same party reveals that there is a controversy about the Tamil history. We need a proper explanation on this with relevant facts.

Dr. Gunasekara’s question to the CM: Mr. Sampanthan has made his statement in an interview with Divaina newspaper on 14 March 2016 claiming the existence of a Jaffna Tamil Kingdom. Further, he had mentioned that the Jaffna Kingdom existed up to 1833 until the British made the area demarcation.

The CM failed to support his statement with proper facts regarding Tamil settlement in this country in the pre Buddhist era, as there was not even a trace of permanent Tamil settlement in this country till 19th Century. The Shiva and Vishnu Srines in the Vanni District were constructed by ‘Vannairs’ who migrated to the Vanni to protect themselves from ‘Malik Kapoor’ invasion in the 14th Century. Since they were Hindus, those Shiva and Vishnu shrines were built by them. But, gradually they absorbed themselves into the Sinhala Buddhist culture and have become Sinhalese by the 19th Century.

Guru Nayak, the founder of Sikh religion in his travel report by his secretary says, the area around Batticaloa was known as ‘Madda Kalaapaya’ i.e. mid zone which means mid portion of ‘Ruhunu’ Desha.

There was no evidence found to prove any Tamil colonization until the time the British started ruling this country. Also, Mr. Sampanthan’s claim too is not justified with any reliable accepted source of information. He makes his claims based on Dr. K.M. de Silva’s book which has been composed sourcing the book ‘Yalpanam Vipawamalayi’, which is in a controversy, as John Martiyns argues, Vipawamale was originally written by C. Brito in 1879 (Notes on Jaffna, Chronological, Historical, Biographical etc., By John H. Martyn). Further, Vipawamale does not provide sources of information to support its content. Original Tamil copy of Vipawamale is not to be found, except the English translation of C. Brito.

The CM’s statement in the first interview – “Already Sinhalese names are given to traditional Tamil villages in the North and East quoting fantasy histories… contd./-” This is a false statement by the CM.

A reply to the CM’s statement can be found in the above ‘Reply to CM on his comments about archaeological findings in Sri Lanka’ Dr. Indrapala’s quotations given there proves existence of Sinhalese in the said areas and the nonexistence of Tamils. Dr. Indrapala’s thesis further says, “This peninsula, there occur over a thousand Sinhalese place names which have survived in a Tamil garb.”

“The large percentage of Sinhalese element and the occurrence of Sinhala and Tamil compounds in the place names of Jaffna point to a long survival of the Sinhala population and an intimate intercourse between them and the Tamils.” (Page 270-273)
In 1898 AGA Trincomalee says, “This part of the District (Kaddukulam West) is inhabited by the Sinhalese villagers of Kandyan descent forming an outlying community, which is, and I fear rapidly dying out or becoming effaced. This district is most interesting, being dotted over by numerous village tanks, some of which are restored and others abandoned. The villagers retain many of the primitive customs of the Kandyans, but they are rapidly becoming ‘Tamilized’, which is a great pity. They inter-marry with Tamils and many of them speak Tamil as well as Sinhalese. Even the Government School Master is Tamil and only that language is taught in the only school, and unfortunately in some cases lands in Sinhalese villages have been bought out by the Tamils, who now own all the paddy lands of some villages. The Sinhalese have given up their patronymics and adopted the Tamil custom of prefixing father’s name instead of the usual patronymic and even the names of the villages are assuming a Tamil dress. This perhaps not to be wondered at when the interpreters of the Court and the Kachcheri, the petition drawers and all through whom the villagers have access to the government officers, can speak nothing but Tamil. I must say I regard this as a great misfortune. I should like to see a strong Sinhalese headman acquainted with English appointed as chief headman of the district and I should like to see the Tamil school abolished. However, the most important assistance which can and ought to be rendered to these villagers would be the restoration of their village tanks. This would render them Independence of the Tamils and make them less likely to abandon their villages”.(Ceylon Administrative Reports Trincomalee District 1898, Public Records Office Kew London).

Part II

Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran responded to Dr. Sooriya Gunasekara, Chairman of a registered political party called ‘Sinhaladipa Jathika Peramuna’ who called the CM for a debate, based on the CM’s interview that appeared in the Ceylon Today of 19 February 2017. Dr. Gunasekara’s questions touching on the various claims on Tamil homeland were responded by the Chief Minister again in the Ceylon Today on 23 and 24 March 2017.

Below is the response by
Dr. Gunasekara to the Chief Minister’s reply. The Ceylon Today agreed to publish Dr. Gunasekara’s response.

Further, CM has stated that Sinhalese were originated from Tamils. The truth is, there were no Tamils in Ceylon until the arrival of Westerners and heavy influx of Tamils took place in British era, resulted in forcible Tamilization of Sinhalese, conversion of villages also into Tamil. Trincomalee AGA’s report proves as to how these changes took place.

The Treaty between King Dharmaparakramabahu and Lorenzo De Almeda in 1517 says, “Rightful Lord of the Empire of Cota and of the Realms of Jafanapatao and Candea.” According to this treaty Jaffnapatao belonged to Kotte Kingdom in 1517. (A true and exact description of the great island of Ceylon by Philp Baladeus, published by Thisara Prakashakayo, first published in 1672.

Rajasinghe Emperor of Ceylon

King Rajasinha’s title is described in Philp Baladeus’ book page 396, – “Rajasinghe Emperor of Ceylon, King of Candea, Cota, Ceytavaka, Dambadan, Amaray aport, Jaffna Patanam, Prince of ouva, Matare, Dinavaca, and the four corles. Great Duke of seven CorelsMathale, Earals of Cotiar, trikunamale, Batecalo, velase, Vintana, Drembra, Panciapato, Veta, Puttalum, Vallar, Galle” etc.

According to Malwana Treaty dated 29 May 1597, signed between King Don Juan Dhramapala of Kotte and Portuguese Capt. Aswedu. It states that the countries belong to Kotte Kingdom as “Jaffna Patanam, Sithawaka Rata, Gampola rata, Uva rata, Mathale, Wellassa and panama rata etc.” Jaffna Peninsula was under the rule of Kotte Kingdom.

Stating the whole agreement signed between Portuguese and Sangili II, the book, The Temporal and Spiritual Conquest of Ceylon by Fr. Quveros published in 1630 (composed by Fr. Francisco Nigaro who was the teacher of Dona Catharina and he had the King’s permission to travel anywhere in the island), book 2, on page 371 says “These terms (written) in the Portuguese and the Chingala languages.” If there was a Tamil Kingdom in Jaffna, why wasn’t the treaty drafted in Tamil ans Portuguese? According to this book all ten main officials of Sangili II are also Sinhalese.

Jaffna peninsula

The Temporal and Spiritual – Book 1, page 48 states this about Jaffna peninsula: “This land was for long years without cultivation and subject to Emperors of Ceylon and though it abounded it groves of trees, its inhabitants lived more on fish and game than on other fruits of their labour. Its government at the beginning was only that of Vidanas or stewards (abegoes) afterwards industry increasing and with it profits, it came to govern by Araches and finally by Mudeliares. Under this (form of) government it remained for many long years until with the progress of the natives and commerce of the foreigners, when the court of Ceylon was already in the Metropolis of Cota”.

Temporal and Spiritual – Book 1, page 49 further states, “In cause of time there came some Brahmanes, native of Guzarate, called Arus, who claimed Royal descent; and with the favor of the Nayque of Madure they erected the pagoda of Ramanacor, whence they began to have trade and friendship with Kings of Jafnapatao, and one of them married a daughter of that king; and finally his descendants became heirs to that Kingdom of these, the first that tried to free himself from subjection to the King of Cota, was Ariaxaca Varti who being naturally proud and not brooking the haughtiness of the officers of that King, took the life of the one who governed there, and the King of Ceylon prepared to punish him. They say he went to meet him at Ceytavaca and took him some verses wherein he so flattered him with praises of him and his ancestors that he left him completely vainglorious and satisfied, and the verses being helped by a goodly present, he not only made him desist from war, but also obtain olas from him (What we should call provisions) and the title king of Jaffnapatao which his successor preserved paying in acknowledgement only some tribute; and because this was the beginning of their greatness, his descendence from the name Aria, were called
Ariavance, which means the generation of Aria.”

TRADING POST

According to Quiroz Jaffna was a trading post by 1600 AD where Muslims were in trading activities. Jaffnapatao was a Jungle and there were 4 Arrachchi Divisions came under Muddier of Jaffna along four coasts namely Vediaarchchchi, Pashelapali, Thenarachchi and Welihama (All Sinhala names now these are converted into Tamil names)

Temporal and Spiritual, further says, “In 1618 when Portuguese capturing Jaffna Peninsula they fought with Sinhalese army. No any clue about Tamils. If there had been a Tamil Kingdom in Jaffna, why should Sinhalese fight with them?”

The book A description of Ceylon containing an account of the country’s inhabitants and natural production had been composed by James Cordiner, the Chaplain to Colombo Garrison from 1801-1807. Reporting daily events during his stay in this country, he reports Sinhalese attacks on British fortresses after defeating British troops in Kandy 1803 AD. On page 243,244, he mentions, fights with British in Molethive, Batticaloe, Jaffna, Elephant pass etc. Killing and chasing Sinhalese away from those areas. All over his book he mentions Sinhalese (rebellions) and Kandyans as enemy, but nothing about Tamils fighting to protect their so-called North and East Tamil Homeland or Kingdom.

Ancient inhabitants

Page No. 92 says, “The beddas appears to be the most ancient inhabitants. Next in order are Cingalese and Candians who were originally one people, and now only distinguished by local circumstances. The Malabar’s must have obtained a footing in the country at a later period”.

Page No. 137 states, “It is mentioned that, on arrival of the Portuguese in Ceylon they only found it peopled by only two classes of inhabitant, The Beddas occupying the Northern, the Cingalese the southern part of Island.”

James Condoner’s above statement further confirms that there were no Tamil settlements in this country even in 1505 AD.

According to page No. 92 and 93 of A description of Ceylon, the British tried to form a native infantry using Sinhalese, but their attempt failed, and he says, “At length a sufficient number of recruits was obtained from coast of Coromandel. In those regiments which are now called Ceylon native infantry, there is scarely to be found one native of Island.” Then the question is, if there were Tamils in this country since the pre-Buddhist era and if there was a Jaffna Tamil Kingdom, why did they get down Malabars from India to form the “Native infantry” (As they say). Where were the so-called Tamils forefathers? Doesn’t it mean that the Indian Malabars who fought against Sinhalese along with the British forces at the early stage of British arrival?

A true and exact description of the great island of Ceylon by Philp Baladeus on page 316 states this about the Kingdom of Jaffnapatan: “It remained under the Portuguese away for upward 40 years , wrested from the Emperor by Philippod’ Olivero when he defected the Cingalezen forces near Achiavelli by the great pagoda.”

Question to CM

It proves only Sinhalese and Waddas were in this country on Portuguese arrival in 1505 AD. Only Sinhalese fought with the European invaders. No trace of Tamils during that era. Where were the forefathers of Tamils in the North and East during that period?

Further, I will prove, Tamil colonization was done by the British after 1834 in Jaffna and 1865 in the East.

Summarizing and adding a few more evidence in short form:

  1. Sinhala Kings were always the rulers of Jaffna and there was no trace of Tamils until the arrival of Western invaders.
  2. Portuguese fought with Sinhalese soldiers to capture Jaffna in 1619 AD.
  3. The Dutch military map 1751 says that Jaffna Commandment ended up at Elephant Pass and there was a large fortress. The treaty in 1619 was drafted in Sinhala and Portuguese only.
  4. A strip of land along the coast of the North and East including Jaffna Peninsula was obtained by the Dutch from Kirthi Sri Rajasinha, King of Kandy. So there was no room for Jaffna Tamil homeland or kingdom.
  5. On 29.1.1830 Jaffna Collector (G.A) stated before the Colebrook Commission that there are no crown lands, private properties, no agriculture and no permanent population in Jaffna.

Therefore, the claim of the Jaffna Tamil Kingdom from pre-Buddhist era and from 13 to 17th century are historically wrong.

All the facts quoted above are unbiased notes made by people who were the enemy of the Sinhalese. And those are true and exact events that took place during the stipulated era. The credibility and validity of these information are much greater than CM quoting biased research papers submitted by Tamil elites. All the evidence provided above proves that it’s not Sinhalization that took place about 100 years ago as the CM says. It’s Tamilaization that took place during the British regime about 100-150 years ago.

Tamil colonization

I request the CM to prove, permanent Tamil colonization in this country before the British arrival, but your statements should be supported with valid acceptable facts and not with fabricated jargons. In return I will prove that Tamils were brought down to this country by the British as coolies and made them to settle in this country approximately 150 -175 years ago. Further Tamils are only a set of illegal immigrants and they do not belong to this country. Also Tamils do not have any rights in this land.

Fifth question

The concept of Federalism is to bring together two or more separate states. What are those separate states within Sri Lanka to amalgamate into Federal States?

Any declaration of a separate Federal state in the North and East of Sri Lanka will be against the definition of Federalism and it will only divide Sri Lanka into two. We expect his explanation on this matter.

Reply to CM’s comments on my 5th question:

CM says, “The request for Federalism is based on the existing ground situation.” But this is what the concept of Federalism says:

In order to bring in Federal or confederal status, there should be two or more independent states or kingdoms. In Federalism two or more states join together and form a large and strong state with a powerful central government. The central government holds more and important powers and the rest are divided among the Federal states. Examples are India and the United States.Confederal states can get together and form a central governing body which is weak and more powers are held by individual states and the central government will hold very low powers. An example is the Europe Union. But in this country there have been no independent states or kingdoms with different nations.

Replying to the 4th question I proved with facts that there was no Jaffna Tamil kingdom. Therefore, establishing an illegal Federal state for illicit immigrants means dividing the country into pieces. Tamils who were brought down as coolies of the British have no right to fight or request for a Federal state, devolution of power or any other right in this country.

In fact if there were any migrants from India before the arrival of Western invaders to Ceylon, all of them were absorbed into the Sinhala civilization before the Portuguese arrival and they eventually became Sinhalese. Differentiation among communities is done according to civilization and culture. Once a person leaves a civilization or cultural group and accepts some other country or ethnic group he is considered as a member of the new one.

The 12,000 Cholas brought by King Gajaba became Sinhalese according to the way of production in Ceylon between its earth and sky (Investing sun, moon, sky and earth) which made a self-sufficient civilization and this disappeared with the introduction of commercial economy by the British. This is the reason that Malabars brought by the British still remain in their foreign cultural identity as a different ethnic group.

Sixth question

What does he mean by Signalization? And who is an Ilangaiyist?

Reply to CM on my 6th question

About Sinhalization and Tamilization I have discussed in details under questions 4 and 5. But mistakenly CM has used Sinhalization to describe Sinhala colonization. As proved above with unbiased factual evidence, it is the illicit Malabar immigrants who colonized lands that belonged to the Sinhalese. They did so by force with the blessings of the British regime.

The Sinhalese have a civilization unique to them. The civilization is formed with the correct use of earth and sun in the country. If getting adjusted to Ceylon’s earth and sky is meant by illangaiyist, it means becoming a Sinhalese or getting absorbed into the Sinhalese nationality. Tamil Illankai is nothing other than Ceylon.

There is no need to explain more on Ilangaiyist as Tamils don’t belong to this soil. So they must understand whether they are Ilangaiyist or not.

Reply to CM’s comments on 7th question

I need not to give my comments on his answer as I have not asked any question as such. After discussing pre historical facts, if the necessity arises I will discuss current political issues. But when it is a proved fact that Tamils do not belong to this soil, current political issues will have no value.

Replying to CM’s statement “This is typical of conditions in Sri Lanka.” There are certain pseudo intellectuals among us in Sri Lanka who would like to barter the truth and cogent evidence for their fanciful ideas to distort history. The Northern Provincial Council passed a resolution recently with 15 points including a proposal to rewrite the history of Sri Lanka and submit it to the government. CM’s answers clearly show that Tamils do not have historical evidence other than assumptions. It is quite obvious that rewriting of Tamil history would be on whims and fancies. So, isn’t it the CM-led Tamil Intellectuals who are considered to be ‘pseudo intellectuals’ among us trying to rewrite history on their whims and fancies? Any new historical arguments should be supported with very strong evidence. Do you have such evidence and if so what are those?

I suggest that the Tamil homeland concept is not for the betterment of Tamil people but it shows the hunger for power by Velar and Velar politicians. What do you have to say about it?

After breaching the Kandyan Convention of 1815, the British rule in this country became illegal. Malabarians who spoke Tamil were brought to Ceylon and settled down illegally by the British. As such Tamils living in this country are descendants of illegal immigrants brought by the British rulers.

Finally, CM’s statement ‘ground situation’ is only an opinion.. Party politics should not be mixed with history of a country. After 1976 Waddukoddai Conference Tamil people were asked to refrain from talking about the real history. But they talk about a bogus Eelam history giving rise to racial politics. At least now CM Vigneswaran should understand what a big damage it can cause to the image of an outstanding personality.

11 Responses to “Elara was not a Tamil – Part I and Part II”

  1. Charles Says:

    Wigneswaran was an unknown man. He was a judge, but had not made any significant name as a Jadge. He was heard of only when the TNA brought him to be their Chief Minister in Jaffna after the first Provincial elections held thanks to President Rajapakse. Now the Chief Minister for the Tamil people in Jaffna has gone to his head and he makes deliriums wanting to be more Tamil than the Tamils in Jaffna.

    He has now forgotten that he was born in Colombo, studied in Colombo and his two sons had married Sinhala Women and he has grand children who are half Sinhala. All his achialogical facts calling Mahavansa a legend, talk about Tamils being in Jaffna before Buddhism, and that the Sinhala carried out genocide against Tamil are all a part of his delirium.

    It is better now itself to have a place reserved for Wigneswaran at the Angoda Mental Hospital to lock him up before he goes uncontrollable with his delirium turning to a worse case of Dementia.

  2. Senerath Says:

    “Tamil is only a language and neither a nation nor a civilization. Tamil means only a language-centred ethnic group. They do not have a unique culture as ‘Tamil’. Their culture is ‘Hindu’. No Tamil civilization is found anywhere in the world. ”

    -Very TRUE. A Golden Statement.

    Elara must be great great grandfather of Ranil.

  3. Fran Diaz Says:

    The Tamil Homeland is in Tamil Nadu, INDIA.

    The Tamil leaders want a second Homeland in Sri Lanka ??? !!
    If so, Why ?

    And, Where else has this type of thing ever happened ?

  4. Ratanapala Says:

    The word Demala means foreigner and in this context Elara and all those who marauding invaders who occupied Anuradhapura on several occasions before and after are simply foreigners without any distinct nationality. Thus Elara and Magha from Kalinga and Chandra Bhanu from Java. However it is possible these invaders had sizeable number of South Indians in their armies. It is evident that any remnants of those invasions have assimilated with the Sinhalese and become Sinhalese in the ensuing years. The fact that their numbers couldn’t have been large is evinced by the fact these people have not left anything of archaeological value that stand scrutiny by unbiased historians.

    What happened to Jaffna and its environs is not very much different to what has happened to the hill country in Sri Lanka, where Sinhalese who were not willing to serve in the estates were displaced by the imported indented labour – South Indian Tamils. In the case of Jaffna it was the Portuguese to begin with and then the Dutch who brought labour from South India to tend their tobacco plantations and this was extended to the Eastern Province by the Dutch and then by the British. The Dutch instituted the Thesavalamai Laws to help retain the South Indian – at that time called Malabar Tamils to stay in the plantations permanently, instead of periodically leaving to South India to visit their families.

    Even in the South of Sri Lanka there are many who have become Sinhalese as is evident from their Ge- Names, most being remnants of armies brought to Sinhale by warring Sinhala Clans from across the Palks Straights – mostly from Kerala.

    Main identity of being Sinhalese is the Sinhala Language which is still spoken by the vast majority of Sri Lankans and further by being Buddhist. Even as we speak there are smaller communities in Sri Lanka in the Western Province who are fast becoming Sinhalese by having Sinhala as their mother tongue and also by intermarrying into Sinhala families. The Colombo Chettis is one such community!

    It is this process of assimilation and that brought nations such as France an assemble of Gallic tribes, where majority speaks French and Germany a union of Germanic Tribes who ended up speaking the current German Language. Germany’s current borders are those that were determined by Count Bismarck a Prussian Prince.

    Vigneswaran could have very well ended up as a Sinhalese, but he has left his family – his sons and grandsons in Colombo to give distinction to worldwide Tamils who have no nation to call their own, by stealing another’s. Shame on this ungrateful apology for a human being!

  5. SA Kumar Says:

    Doctor
    TN. Only 16 miles away from Mother Lanka .
    We-Thamil arrived yester year ?

    Now you know why we call you …..

  6. Fran Diaz Says:

    Kumar,

    It’s not a question of “who came first” to Lanka.

    The pertinent Questions are :

    * The Question is are Tamil folk in present day Sri Lanka loyal and PATRIOTIC to Sri Lanka which has done much for them ?

    * Are TAMIL LEADERS PATRIOTIC to Sri Lanka or some other country ?

    * Also, is the fight by the Tamil Diaspora to get Tamil Eelam really a CASTE fight which starts in Tamil Nadu, NOT in Lanka ?

  7. SA Kumar Says:

    We-Thamilar as always patriotic to Chignkala Theevu.
    Thats why We kicked out IPKF even though they offered NEP in gold plate.

    Live & let’live in united mother lanka for ever .

  8. Fran Diaz Says:

    Kumar,

    INDIA trained the LTTE in Tamil Nadu.
    And the INDIAN IPKF gets kicked out by the LTTE !

    How can We-Tamils be patriotic to Sri Lanka when there is a call to divide Sri Lanka, both abroad and locally ?

    Contradictions everywhere.

    Make Life simple for ALL Lankans : Invite all Tamils be truly PATRIOTIC to Sri Lanka, the land that feeds, educates and shelters the Lanka Tamils.

  9. SA Kumar Says:

    NO contradiction .
    From 1956 to 1983 ypu Sinhalese kicked out us from South to North and you create TE idea for us. not we-Thamilar
    than India trained us . We realised India want to stay in mother Lanka 100 years .
    Than we both know what happiend .
    Now please tell me are we not patriotic

  10. Fran Diaz Says:

    Kumar,

    We have to accept the fact that Lanka was under Colonial rule for nearly 500 yrs.

    You-Tamils gained a great deal from the British ‘divide & rule’ and even after so called Independence, the top posts in the govt etc plus the economy were held by educated Tamil folk.
    The Sinhala language was thrown aside for English by Colombo elites, and the Sinhala rural people thoroughly neglected during the Colonial times.
    After the Colonial period ended, there had to be a balancing of Rights for the majority of people in Lanka.

    After Independence, I think that the marginalising was happening only for the Upcountry Tamils who were in the Tea Plantations sector.

    The North had it good ! After Independence, most of the early industries were all taken to the North.
    – the Paper factory at Valachenai
    – KKS Cement factory
    – Chlorine & HCl production at Paranthan
    – Elephant Pass salterns, etc.

    A large number of schools too opened in the North, together with the Jaffna University.

    All this happened because the govt decision making areas were mainly occupied by educated Tamil people.

    Balance had to happen !

    If you do not understand this, Kumar, your Patriotism is questionable, is it not ?

  11. SA Kumar Says:

    Balance had to happen !- I fully agreed Sinhala island needed balance after independence.
    but mistake was Tamil not given facility to learn sinhala in their Tamil school before Sinhala only act .
    to get balance what our sinhala leaders done kicked out We-Tamil to North&East.
    than We all know to 2009.

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