Dr. Daya Hewapathirane
My
motherland – whatever label you may wish to ascribe to it – Sri Lanka, Ceylon, Heladiva,
Helabima or Sinhalay, is one of the few countries in the world that has
remained intact within the same national borders, as a single political entity
or island nation for over 2500 years or a prolonged long period of time. This
is not the case with most other countries in the world, where national
boundaries have been subject to significant changes in the past. This unique historic
island nation has existed as an independent sovereign nation as far back as the
6th century BCE. Her civilization has achieved an
individuality and identity that distinguishes it from her neighbors. Cultural
traits brought from India have undergone significant change and independent
growth, largely influenced by Buddhism which was formally introduced to the
island in the 3rd century BCE. The Sinhala Buddhist culture,
the national culture of Sri Lanka is one of the world’s oldest, continuous and unchanged cultures in existence and a
culture that is unique to Sri Lanka.
Sri
Lanka is the only country in the world with an unbroken written history that
goes back to more than 2500 years. This recorded history matches perfectly with
archaeological evidence and foreign records on the island. What Sri Lanka, clearly
projects, then and now, is its Sinhala Buddhist imprint. The strength of this
cultural foundation was tested several times in the past, during periods of
foreign invasion, devastation and exploitation. But the nation remained intact,
withstanding threats, perils and calamities, largely owing to the power and
potency of its Sinhala Buddhist cultural foundation. It is the inspiration of
this strong Buddhist foundation that is reflected in the lives of the
indigenous Sinhala community of the country.
NATIONAL CULTURAL HERITAGE
The unique Sinhala Buddhist identity of
our country which began to take shape about 2300 years ago was reinforced with the
development and widespread use of the proto-Sinhala language based on the
Prakritic language used popularly in the numerous ancient lithic inscriptions
found across our country. Starting in the 3rd century BCE, for as many as 15
centuries or for over 1500 years, our island was inhabited almost exclusively
by Sinhala Buddhists. This period witnessed the development of a unique civilization
based a hydraulic agrarian system, and a rich culture and system of
administration and governance, based on Buddhist norms and principles. This
period saw the rise to power of many outstanding Sinhala Buddhist kings who
ruled the country for some 1200 years from the national Capitol City
Anuradhapura, and subsequently for an additional 300 years until about the 13th
century, from the Capitol Polonnaruwa. This 1500 year period in the country’s
history can be considered, indisputably, as its golden age.
During this period, there were violent
invasions of the country by South Indian, Tamil-speaking Dravidian mercenaries.
There were times when these invaders were able to dislodge the seat of Sinhala power
and rule for limited periods of time. However, they were eventually ousted and
the country was unified under the rule of Sinhala Buddhist monarchy. During
their invasions and rule, the country was plundered of its wealth and much
destruction was caused to priceless monuments of the country. They were
instrumental in setting fire and burning down the 700 year old Sinhala Royal
palace in the citadel of Anuradhapura.
Buddhist stupas were destroyed and valuables enshrined within them including
gold images and gems were stolen.
In mid 10th century the South Indian
Chola invaders looted Anuradhapura extensively.
The destruction of the Thuparamaya dagabo which had been one of the oldest Buddhist monuments
of South Asia was an irreparable loss. This exquisite Buddhist monument housed
the Buddha’s right-collar bone and the Alms-bowl. The Relic chamber of this
stupa was broke open and values plundered to make payments to South Indian Tamil
mercenaries. The crowning ornament on Thuparama was robbed and the great canopy
over Thuparama, that protected it from bad weather, was smashed in order to get
the priceless gems and golden decorations fixed on it.
The huge dome-roofs of stupas decorated
in gold and silver, and embedded with gems, built to cover large stupas and to
protect them from bad weather, were destroyed. These included the golden
umbrellas over Mirisavetiya and Thuparamaya stupas. The main library in the
citadel, housing the sacred books, was maliciously burnt. Jethavanaramaya, the
gigantic monument recorded in history as the third tallest structure of the
world, was destroyed. Temple of the Tooth Relic in the citadel was destroyed.
Golden doors were ripped off from buildings. The pride of the nation,
skyscraper LovaMahapaya was maliciously destroyed completely. This was the 6th time it was destroyed by
these Dravidian plunderers. This was the end of the city of Anuradhapura.
BUDDHISM
The
Buddhist tradition in Sri Lanka is one of the oldest there is. The Sinhala
people have been practicing Buddhism continuously, for longer than anyone else
in the world. Buddhism
has been and continues to be the basis or foundation of the country’s
culture. for over 2300 years. All deeper
aspects of the country’s culture are reflective of Buddhist ideology,
principles, ethics, virtues, values, morality, traditions, customs, thoughts,
temperament, attitudes and way of life. Whatever new elements that have been
absorbed into the culture at different times, were subject to appropriate
modifications, adjustments and adaptations in order to make them compatible
with Buddhist principles and values. Buddhist principles were intertwined in
these new additions although there may be exceptions which often are those
elements which are in the process of being adapted to fit into the cultural
norms of the country.
Buddhism is not a religion with a dogmatic canon. Buddhism
functions not through crusades, but through tolerance, openness and the
persuasive power of its philosophical foundation. Tolerance and the enormous
adaptability of Buddhism are qualities that have remained unchanged throughout
its remarkable history. Buddhism upholds
everything worthy and meaningful. It promotes peace, peaceful coexistence, and
democratic principles in governance. It promotes human rights, development of
individual and community virtues and discipline in accordance with the pancha
seela”. Non-violence
and compassion towards all living beings has been the cornerstone of the
national culture of Sri Lanka from early times. Peaceful cohabitation was
promoted by Sinhala Buddhist kings from early times.
Respect for the natural
environment and sustainable and participatory development of resources and
upheld in Buddhism. In addition, Buddhism strongly promotes tolerance of other
faiths, religious and social harmony, and cordial relations with other nations.
OLDEST BUDDHIST
COUNTRY
Ours is the oldest Buddhist country in
the world with Buddhism arriving in the island and establishing itself far and
wide since 237 BCE, or about 2247 years ago. Buddhists across the world respect
Sri Lanka as the country where pure Buddhism or Buddhist teachings in its
original form prevails – the Theravada tradition. The significance of this
should be seen in the light of the following background. Sri Lanka accounts for
about a mere 1% of the estimated 1472 million total Buddhists population in the
world. There are about 25 countries in the world with Buddhist populations. Of
them, 17 account for a substantial number of Buddhists which qualifies them to
be referred to as Buddhist countries. The 150 million Theravada Buddhists of
the world are found basically in six countries and Sri Lankan Buddhists account
for about 10% of the total Theravada Buddhist population across the world. It
is also noteworthy that the traditional Sri Lanka Buddhist flag has become the
global Buddhist flag.
Despite invasions, threats, challenges,
Buddhist culture did not disappear from our island, unlike in the case with
several other countries. Today, over 70% of the total population of Sri Lanka
is Buddhists. The simple and uncomplicated lifestyle promoted by our culture,
is based on the five precepts of Buddhism. Their mind-set, temperament and
attitude towards life are clearly reflective of Buddhist norms and values such
as compassion, non-violence, tolerance, morality and peaceful coexistence with
other living beings and with nature.
BUDDHIST SITES,
MONUMENTS AND INSTITUTIONS
The outstanding imaginative and creative
powers of the Sinhala people, their talents, skills, and foresight are well
evident in what still remains as marvels architecture, sculpture, art,
literature and other forms of visual culture, in irrigation technology
displayed magnificently across the country as living evidence of an outstanding
cultural heritage. The world recognition of the greatness of this unique
Sinhala Buddhist culture is reflected by the UNESCO designating our ancient
royal sites as World Heritage Sites – Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Mahanuwara
(Kandy), Sigiriya and Dambulla, all built upon and strongly reflecting
inspiration drawn from Buddhism. It is a fact that, if there is anything unequivocally
worthwhile that our country can offer to the world today, it is the Buddha
Dhamma and its outstanding culture and attitude towards life and its natural
habitat.
Ours is the only country in the world
that had the privilege of having three visits of the Buddha at three different
times in the past. During these times the Buddha set foot on 16 different
places within our country which are still venerated as sacred sites.
Some of the most venerated relics of the
Buddha are found in Sri Lanka, including the Tooth relic, the right collar bone
and the Alms Bowl. Sri Lanka and Thailand are the countries with the largest
collection of relics of the Buddha.
Oldest Institution in the world is Sri
Lanka’s Sangha Sasana, which is still active and operational in our country.
The oldest recorded tree in the world –
the Sri Maha Bodhi, is found in Sri Lanka.
Oldest Buddhist monuments, dagabos,
architecture, sculpture, paintings, literature, poetry are found in our
country.
There is ample evidence that our ancient
builders and planners were quite familiar with the principles of building
construction or structural engineering. Some of their structures have lasted
for over 1600 years.
The Lovamahapaya is the world’s oldest skyscraper
which is 145 feet high with 9 stories and 1000 rooms. The largest brick
structures of the world are the ancient Buddhist dagabos of Sri Lanka such as
the Jetavanaramaya, Abayagiriya, Ruvanweliseya, and Tissamaharamaya. The Jetavanarama Stupa is about 400 feet high
and is the largest brick structure in the world.
The oldest religious building/structure
in Sri Lanka is the Thuparamaya stupa built by King Devanampiyatissa (307-267
BCE).
CULTURAL
HERITAGE
Cultural heritage encompasses material
culture, in the form of objects, structures, sites, as well as living (or
expressive) culture as evidenced in forms such as music, crafts, performing
arts, literature, oral tradition and language. Sculpture, architecture, paintings
and other forms of fine arts were used profusely in Sri Lanka from very early
times to express Buddhist ideas and sentiment. The exceptionally rich heritage
of visual arts of the Sinhala people of Sri Lanka extends to a period that
exceeds 2300 years, from the 3rd century BCE to the 21st CE. A spectacular collection of ancient
sculpture, architecture and paintings adorns the island’s culture. They are
conspicuous elements of the island’s Buddhist culture even today.
Culture is organic and evolving. There
is however, cultural continuity from the past, through the present and into the
future. Some cultural elements are preserved in an original or earlier state,
whereas other cultural materials, elements and forms may have observed dynamic
change, adaptation and development with time and with exposure to other
cultures, circumstances and environments. The outcome of this dynamic change is
often something unique but not necessarily completely new. However, it is
peculiar to the culture concerned. It is an outcome which reflects a
combination of elements of several cultures blended together but in keeping and
compatible with the fundamentals of the long preserved cultural and social
values of the culture. This outcome reflects a unique identity that is special
to the culture. The evolution of the Buddha statue, the stupas of Sri Lanka,
Buddhist paintings and the Sinhala language, are good examples.
SINHALA
LANGUAGE
All salient aspects of our national
culture – tangible and intangible, either grew or evolved within the borders of
our country. Sinhala language and literature originated in Sri Lanka. Sinhala
language in fact is the most important defining element of our nation’s culture
and heritage, from historic times. The Sinhala language grew out of Indo-Aryan dialects and exists only in Sri Lanka and has its
own distinguished literary tradition. Sinhala is one of the world’s
oldest living languages. There have been
a wide range of languages in the world, particularly in Asia which lived and
died without leaving evidence of their existence, because they were never written
down. This is not the case with the Sinhala language. All other languages used
in Sri Lanka originated in other countries.
It is significant to note that the overwhelming majority of people of
Sri Lanka are distinguished by their language – Sinhala, which even today has a
strong unifying effect in our motherland helping to reinforce the solidarity of
our people as a unique cultural entity in the world. Almost all place names of
the country from historic times, are in the Sinhala language – in the North,
South, East, West and Central regions.
‘OLA’
MANUSCRIPTS
It
was customary in ancient times to place on record, on ‘ola’ palm leaf
manuscripts, information pertaining to Buddhism, our royalty, the history of
our nation, and most importantly, on many secular subjects. A greater part of
these priceless manuscripts were destroyed by foreign invaders, especially by
South Indian Dravidians. Some were destroyed when the Catholic Portuguese and
the Christian Dutch and British destroyed our Buddhist places of learning,
temples and monasteries where most ola manuscripts were stored from ancient
times. However, what remained in places where these foreign plunders could not
reach, such as remote temples, were later collected and stored in the National
Archives, National Museums and prominent temples. A good part of these
manuscripts have not been read yet. Therefore, a wealth of information on
various fields lies hidden in the innumerable ‘ola’ manuscripts. There may be
many old ‘ola’ manuscripts that contain past scientific and technological
information.
CITY PLANNING
AND SURVEYING
Remains of the ancient cities of
Anuradhapura, Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa in particular reveal the highly advanced
state of ancient city planning. It was an amazing system of well laid out
buildings with a road network, bridges, parks, cemeteries etc. Sigiriya had a
sophisticated system of water management including underground canals.
Ancient Sri Lankans had a brilliant
surveying tradition which is well reflected in the laying of the sophisticated
irrigation system and related agricultural land management system. A sound
understanding of the topography, geology and structure of the land was
necessary to pan and implement such sustainable water conservation and transfer
systems, where to locate reservoirs and associated irrigated lands etc.
The high degree of sophistication in
engineering technology and skills in surveying are well reflected in ancient
Buddhist structures and monuments. These skills were transferred to Buddhist
architecture, sculpture, and other works of art. Brick-making, plasters for
reinforcing bricks and rocks used in buildings and making of huge statues, both
indoor and outdoor, are of special significance.
Mathematics and Astronomy were highly
developed. The ‘Sandesha Kavya’ written in the 15th century refers
to the teaching of Mathematics. Geometry would have been highly developed
science in the past because all the massive and complex structures designed and
built in the past had to utilize principles of geometry.
SUSTAINABLE
FARMING
What was developed and promoted by our
royalty and followed by the large preponderance of our people in ancient Sri
Lanka was a highly productive form of farming/agriculture which reflected a
sound knowledge of prevailing environmental conditions. The use of irrigation
technology in a most prudent manner resulted in a farming system that was highly
sustainable. The land and water management mechanisms that were observed were
meant to have benefits in the short term and long term. Environmental
conservation measures assumed importance where watershed resources management
was given high priority treatment by our kings paying attention to conservation
of forests, soil and water resources including wildlife and biodiversity.
Respect for the environment was a part of the lifestyle of farming communities
of the past. The Worlds first and oldest wildlife sanctuary was established in
Mihintale in the 3rd century BCE.
IRRIGATION
Ancient irrigation system developed by
our kings is still operational and is considered as – Engineering marvels. Our earthen and stone dams and reservoirs
systems the canal network and related water control and management structures
and techniques show the skills of our ancient people. These works have
sustained until today, still serving their purposes. Our canal system has
minimum siltation. The Jayaganga is 54 miles long and its first 17 miles
gradient is ONE inch per mile. Our ancient irrigation engineers, more than 2100
years ago, were the first inventors of both, the hydraulic surge chamber and
the valve tower and to incorporate both principles in the same structure called
the ‘bisokotuva’.
METAL WORKS
There was remarkable achievement in
metal work industry. There were iron
implements even during the 4th and 5 century BCE. The Tara statue of Sri Lanka exhibited in the
British museum is considered as one of the best metal works of the past. So is
the statute of Avalokethiswara presently exhibited at the Colombo National
Museum, which has been displayed in several European and American Museums?
Special types of plasters were developed
and used on rock and brick wall surfaces to effect paintings, ensuring their
durability. Some paintings found on such ancient plasters are 1500 to over 2000
years old – Hindagala, paintings are over 2000 years and those of Sigiriya are
more than 1500 years. Pigments used in paintings are based on natural products
and are used on varied surfaces – walls, ceilings, statues, wooden, cloth, and
earthenware. Our own traditional Pottery, ivory works, brass works, lacquer
work that developed in the past are continued today.
HEALTH SERVICES
Ayurveda health services were highly
developed in the past with its integrated approach to health and wellness. It
received royal patronage and one of our famous kings named Buddhadasa was a
well reputed Ayurveda physicians. There
had been many books written in Sri Lanka, in Sinhala, Sanskrit and Pali on
medical science. Among books compiled by King Buddhadasa on medicine is the
famous Saarartha Sangrahaya”.
Sri Lanka is the first country in the
world to have established a dedicated hospital at Mihintale in the 4th
century BCE. There is archeological evidence of several other hospitals built
in our ancient cities. The ruins of the hospitals in Mihintale and Polonnaruwa
are still evident. A number of surgical instruments have been discovered in
Polonnaruwa. There were great physicians and surgeons in the past including
Veterinary surgeons and Animal Hospitals. There is reference in ancient
chronicles of sick elephants being treated by our ancient veterinary
practitioners. The World’s first animal hospital was built in Sri Lanka
INTERNATIONAL
RELATIONS AND TRADE
International relations were cordial and
useful during the times of our kings. Sri Lanka
had diplomatic relationships with places such as
China and Rome from ancient times. The first envoy from Sri
Lanka to China was in 428 CE. Pliny (45
CE) chronicles an account of a Sri Lankan envoy to Rome in the reign of Emperor
Claudius Caesar (10 BCE – 54 BCE). ”It had been of long time thought by men in
ancient days that Taprobane (Sri Lanka) was a second world”.
Among
foreign sources of information on our foreign relations with the outside world,
are written records and reports of
foreigners who visited our land. Also,
there are archeological evidence that is indicative of diplomatic relations we
had with foreign nations in the European and Asian continent.
The
sea-faring nations knew Sri Lanka from very early times because of its position
on the trade routes. The Greeks called it Taprobane. Cosmos Indecopleustes (545
CE), the Greek merchant from Alexandria gives us the fullest account of Sri
Lanka. “The island being as it is, in a position, is much frequented by
ships from all parts of India and from Persia and Ethiopia and it like wise
sends out many of its own and those from remote countries like China and other
trading places…” The Chinese, Arabian, Persian, South and North Indian,
Malay were the first traders of our country, followed by Portuguese, Dutch and the
British. The ancient port of Mantota is reputed to have been an important
port of call between China and Rome.
Sri Lanka was the ideal stopover of the
Ancient Sea farers sailing in the Indian Ocean to East Asia and Pacific. We had
our own ships and were involved in the export of rice. Ancient Chinese reports
refer to Sinhala ships”. Our ships
crossed the ocean to Java (as Indonesia was known at the time). The present
Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Maldives islands, and a good part of
India including Southern and Eastern India were predominantly Buddhist in
ancient times. There is evidence of close interactions and travel between these
countries in the past.
Contemporary
Chinese records maintain that Persia bound vessels from China traded in gems,
spices and ivory at the flourishing port of Mantota. The Chinese, Arabian, Persian, South and North Indian, Malay were the
first traders followed by Portuguese, Dutch and British. Many
Arabian traders have arrived in Beruwala Bay and made pilgrimages to ‘Adams
Peak’ via Ratnapura where they have traded Gems. Beruwala was the sea port of
early Arab travelers who traveled to the ‘Adam’s peak’.
James
Emerson Tennent (1861) in his well known book Sketches of Natural History of
Ceylon states There is no island in the world… that has attracted the
attention of authors in so many distant ages and so many different countries as
Ceylon. There is no nation in ancient or modern times possessed of a language
and a literature… the writers of which have not at some time made it their
theme. It’s aspect, its religion, its
antiquities and productions have been described as well by the classic
Greeks….by the Romans, by the writers of China, Burma, India, Kashmir and the
geographers of Arabia and Persia, by the medieval voyagers of Italy and France,
by the analysts of Portugal and Spain, by the merchant adventurers of Holland
and topographers of Great Britain.”
Pliny (45 CE)
-one of the
greatest Roman Historian writes about Sri Lanka in his encyclopedic work ”It
had been of long time thought by men in ancient days that Taprobane (Sri Lanka)
was a-second-world”. Fa Hien (414 CE) – the famous Chinese pilgrim
spent two years in Sri Lanka, mostly at Anuradhapura then a famous center of
learning and writes about Sri Lanka in his works “This country is an oasis, prosperous and happy; it’s people are
well-to-do…”
ACCURACY OF HISTORIC RECORD
The
Mahawamsa, Culavamsa, Dipavamsa,
Rajawaliya, Pujawaliya, Attana-galu Vihara Vamsa, Dhatuvamsa,
Elu-Attangaluvamsa, Elu-Bidhivamsa, Maha Bodhivamsa, Thupavamsa, Daladavamsa
and Viharavamsa provide detailed information of the history of our Sinhala
Buddhist Nation, its people and their way of life. They provide information on
Sinhala Buddhist Kings who rescued the Sinhala race, the island and Buddhism
from marauding Dravidian armies of powerful South Indian kingdoms, hell bent on
plunder and pillage, murder and mayhem, sack and ruin with sword and fire. Also
about our benevolent rulers who performed deeds of piety, who made the country
self sufficient in rice by way of irrigation engineering, promoted Ayurveda
medicine and medical practice, build Buddhist temples, stupas and reigned with
efforts to follow Dasaraja Dharma – the tenfold righteous path of a king.
The
accuracy of this historical record of ancient Sri Lanka is generally accepted
by means of other numerous local and Indian edicts such as King rock edict of
Indian Emperor Asoka and records of the Fa Hien the Chinese pilgrim monk, Roman
historian Pliny and several others who have already been referred to. Also by
means of inscriptions, historical works, and literary works as well as by way
of ruins, renovated historical and Buddhist monuments, ancient yet
sophisticated irrigation networks, which extend the lifeline to date.
NATION AND NATIONALITY
A nation is, in general terms, a human
cultural community who feel a common bond. Members of a Nation share a common
identity, and usually a common origin, in the sense of history, ancestry,
parentage or descent. Therefore, a nation extends across generations. Almost all nations are associated with a specific
territory, the national homeland. The national identity refers both to the
distinguishing features of the group, and to the individual’s sense of
belonging to it. Nationalism is closely associated
with patriotism.
A nation is a historically
constituted, stable community of people, formed on the basis of a common
territory, a common culture and language, a common set of social values and
psychological make-up. Traditionally a nation is monocultural. Members of a
“nation” share a common identity, and usually a common
origin, in the sense of ancestry, parentage or descent. The
first requirement for the definition is that the characteristics should be shared
– a group of people with nothing in common cannot be a nation. Because they are shared, the national
population also has a degree of uniformity and homogeneity. And finally,
at least some of the characteristics must be exclusive – to distinguish
the nation from neighboring nations.
The word ‘nation’ implies ancestry and descent. Almost all
nationalist movements make some claim to shared origins and descent, and it is
a component of the national identity in most nations. The fact that the
ancestry is shared among the members of the nation unites them, and sets
them apart from other nations, which do not share that ancestry.
A shared language is often used as a defining
feature of a nation. Unlike a language, a national culture is usually unique to the nation, although
it may include some elements shared with other nations. Additionally, the
national culture is assumed to be shared with previous generations, and
includes a cultural
heritage from these
generations, as if it were an inheritance. In Sri Lanka, the Sinhala language is
exclusive to the nation, and is or should be central to the national identity.
Indigenous national sovereignty of a country is an
inalienable right based on profound justice. Sovereign national rights of Sri
Lanka rests with the Sinhala people who are indigenous to this country, forming
its dominant majority community for over 2500 years. Sri Lanka is the only national sovereign motherland of the Sinhala
people. Their culture, way of life and their Sinhala language originated and
developed in Sri Lanka.
Tamils, Muslims, and Malays are non-indigenous
minority communities of Sri Lanka who settled in the island at different times
in the past, coming from their own motherlands. The Tamils came from their
motherland, the Tamilnadu where their culture and language originated. The
Tamil nation of Tamilnadu is seven times bigger than Sri Lanka, where one must
be a pure Tamil in order to hold any high official position. Wherever they
live, the Tamils have their national heritage and aspirations protected within
their nation – the Tamilnadu. Any initiative that would dilute or threaten
the national sovereignty of the Sinhala people is not only unjust but also
illegal, and will not be acceptable to the Sinhala community.
Within any sovereign national country many non-indigenous
minorities have settled down but they do merge with the host nation into a
single file. It is only by upholding the right of national sovereignty
throughout the land that it will function without being violated. The granting
of excessive rights to minorities in the form of alien-national rights of
language, cultures and religions and exclusive ethnic areas will threaten a
country’s sovereignty.
Hence, strict controls of immigration to a country are
paramount in protecting its national sovereignty and territorial integrity – a
basic human right of a nation of people ONLY in their indigenous national
motherland. Finally, high political positions in Sri Lanka including
national leadership must be kept within the genuine Sri Lankan Hela nationals.
It is noteworthy that for a high position in the Tamil Federal State of Tamil
Nadu, first qualification is one must be a full-blooded Tamil.
Those settling down or have already
settled down in host countries have a bounden duty to merge with the host
nation into a single coherent nation of members. It is basically, a state of mindset, not
necessarily physical interaction. Within these host countries, human rights and
civic rights of the host nation are what the settler minorities are entitled to
and not the alien-national rights of the countries of their national origins
they left behind for pastures anew. Their alien-national rights will shift to
the private domain when in host countries and not to threaten the national
sovereignty of the host countries either.
Sri Lanka wants all non-indigenous minorities of our nation such
as the Tamils, Muslims, Moors and others of whatever label, to be a part of our
Nation, to join the country’s mainstream, just the way how minority communities
are expected to do in all countries of the world, especially in places like
Canada, Australia, USA, UK, Norway and help to strengthen our nation founded on
the noble principles of non-violence, tolerance, compassion, where peaceful
co-habitation has been the cornerstone from historic times. Forgiving and
forgetting” has been the attitude of our people, even to those who have harmed
us repeatedly from historic times, because our people know that eventually
justice and truth will prevail.
Dr. Daya Hewapathirane daya.hewapathirane#gmail.com
