JOIN TO BUILD A UNIFIED NATION
Posted on November 2nd, 2010

Dr. Daya Hewapathirane East Avenue, Vancouver BC CANADA –

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It is most discouraging to note that still; there are some Tamil extremists such Mr. Sithamparapzillai Kathieravelu & His foreign Friends who appear to be thinking that they can resort to falsehood, fabrications and lies, or in other words sheer dishonesty, deliberate misinterpretation and distortion of facts, in order to serve their self interests at the expense of our nation. They have been circulating emails highlighting Sinhala discrimination against Tamils, but as usual, without being specific as to the nature and type of discriminatory practices they have faced and continue to face. This is my reaction to these unfounded allegations.

ƒÆ’‚£ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¡‚¬Non Indigenous Minority Community

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ƒÆ’‚£ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¡‚¬Indigenous National Sovereignty

Democracy and equality is a commonly held view based on justice and fair play. In every indigenous national sovereign country it is an unwritten law, a natural law or even common sense that what is in effect the practising governance is firmly based on “indigenous national sovereign democracy”. It means constitutionally unitary in nature, oneness, and state of forming a whole from separate parts. The nation being this state of form whose nucleus is its original or indigenous race of people who evolved as the nation and built the civilization.

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ƒÆ’‚£ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¡‚¬Non indigenous Merging with the Host Nation

Within this nation other races of people from their national lands merged through migration who were officially subjected to diversity with the host nation. At the same time the host nation too were affected by diversity unconstitutionally, meaning the nationhood and culture these non indigenous races brought with migration will have no legal or moral entitlement within the host nation too because they have their national heritage and aspirations protected within their nation elsewhere. Fundamentally, the migrated people will be known as non indigenous minority communities in the host country but not as other nations. So that migratory nationalities by merging with the host nation transformed into a single nation and observing the traditional norms of the national culture. This is the equality and democracy that all non indigenous minorities can have and entitled to but not to colonize in host countries they have chosen to live or their ancestors have done so in the bygone days.

ƒÆ’‚£ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¡‚¬Also, taking over another nationƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s land or land robbing in the past how distant it may be, does not qualify for any national rights or self-determination (sovereignty) in the host country as well. The crimes of robbing and genocide have no rights. This is one of the reasons why the then British land robbers returned most of the lands to their rightful owner-nations. However, these non indigenous minorities may practise their language and culture privately without any threat to the host nation. This is the democracy and equality which is being practised in other national sovereign countries. In fact, democracy enshrined in a sovereign national country is “an indigenous national sovereign democracy” and not an open ended loose democracy free for all, all for free.

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ƒÆ’‚£ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¡‚¬No Ethnic Problem in Our Country

These vociferous Tamil extremists who live in Sri Lanka and elsewhere must realize that there has never been an ethnic problem in our country based on so called injustices to one ethnic group. It is a fact that the Sinhala people, starting with their kings and leaders of the past, have been quite accommodative of the Tamils and others who made our country their home. Although they came as invaders, mercenaries, merchants, illegal immigrants and so on, they were permitted to settle wherever they pleased and live according to their cultural norms without any harassment.

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ƒÆ’‚£ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¡‚¬Buddhist Cultural Foundation

Perhaps, the Sinhala people may be one of the few native majority communities in the world who maintained a genuine multi-cultural society and a nation where everyone could live and benefit under Buddhist norms and principles which formed the basis of the nation.

The continuity of the nation and the ability of this nation to withstand and cope with untold hardships and atrocities brought about by foreign invaders from historic times, was possible because of the sound cultural base of the Sinhala community.

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ƒÆ’‚£ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¡‚¬Unbroken Recorded History of the Country

Sinhala Buddhist culture is unique to Sri Lanka and is one of the WorldƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s oldest, continuous, unchanged cultures in existence. Their written history alone, which matches perfectly well with foreign records and archaeological findings, goes back to more than 2500 years. Their written history in Mahavansa is regarded as the Second-most remarkable history in existence of an ancient and cultured civilization and their dynasty. It is second only to the records maintained by the Shu Chinese emperors. As one of worldƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s important and exemplary cultures in existence, Sinhalese do have their traditional and historical right to the country as a civilization unique to Sri Lanka alone. That does not mean that others do not have communal, civil and human rights.

ƒÆ’‚£ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¡‚¬The problem is that the minorities, led and brainwashed by power-hungry racists, are NOT aware of the true history of the country or refuse to accept well recorded historic facts about our nation.

These selfish minority leaders refuse to recognize the rights of the Sinhala people. That is the basic root cause of this problem in Sri Lanka. The importance of the Sinhala civilization can best be described in the words of the Tamil philosopher Ananda Kumaraswamy who, while testifying at the Manning Commission under the British invaders in 1906, said “Take anything from this country. But please donƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t corrupt or destroy that beautiful Sinhalese culture that survives in villages. Because someday when you, with your greedy and selfish policies, destroy this world both materially and spiritually, the answer to rebuild that ruined world can only be found in that beautiful Sinhalese philosophy.” That is what the poor Sinhala people are trying to protect for future generations whether they are Sinhala or not. They are branded as racists, chauvinists and warmongers by, if you do a close analysis, no one else but real racists, actual chauvinists, and genuine warmongers with thug and militant mentality.

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ƒÆ’‚£ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¡‚¬Anti-National Attitudes and Actions of Tamils

It is a well-known fact that until most recent times for several decades, the large majority of Tamils in our country and those living abroad have been openly supportive of the LTTE racism and terrorism and many subscribed to the extreme forms of divisive propaganda of this ruthless terrorist outfit. Some were actively involved in criminal activities and atrocities promoted by the murderous LTTE.

Those Tamils living overseas started campaigns in an organized manner, using mass media to ridicule and discredit our country, our democratically elected leaders, our Buddhist Bhikkhus, our military force personnel and Sinhala Buddhists in general citing reasons that were totally unfounded. Our heroic military personnel who were making untold sacrifices to protect our people and the territorial integrity of our country were subject to extreme forms of indignity, insult and disgrace by these Tamils, using most deceitful and dishonest accusations.

Our illustrious national culture and our Buddhist Sangha community responsible for nurturing, promoting and uplifting this outstanding indigenous culture and the Sinhala language for some two thousand three hundred years, were subject to debase and disrespect by these treacherous Tamil racists and extremists, following their barbarous and maniac leader.

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ƒÆ’‚£ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¡‚¬Tamil Racism and Extremism

Even after the LTTE has been eliminated, some of these misled Tamils living overseas continued to participate in demonstrations and activities that reflect treachery, deceit, and gruesome anti-social and anti-national attitudes. Having interacted with a good cross section of these Tamils while I was living in Canada for some three decades, there is no doubt in my mind, that the root cause for the emergence Tamil extremism and Tamil terrorism, is their deep-felt racist attitude. It is well evident from their utterances that these extremists like to think that they are better than the others, and that their culture is superior to others. The basis of Tamil extremism is this racist attitudinal ailment they suffer from, which evidently is inherent in them.

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ƒÆ’‚£ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¡‚¬South Indian Propagation of Racism and Extremism

In the 1950s and 60s, there were many South Indian Tamil films that propagated this type of Tamil racism and extremism. They were produced, directed and acted by extremist South Indian Tamils. These films contained themes that were clearly reflecting extreme forms of Tamil racism. I have seen many of these films which I felt even at that time to be way short of quality. Often they included long speeches by the main actors, on the greatness of Tamils. Among the directors and cast of these films were the well known Tamil extremists, such as Karunaneedi, M.G. Ramachandran , Shivaji Ganeshan and Jayalalitha. They on all counts very poor actors, and the whole purpose of these low-budget films was to generate Tamil racism. At that time, Tamil films in general were popular in Sri Lanka, and these films were shown widely in the island and appeared to be exceedingly popular among the Tamils living in Sri Lanka. The extreme attitudes that these films and the Tamil media helped to generate at the time made the them feel elevated and superior to others. This was capitalized by the Tamilnadu politicians, so much so, these film producers, directors, actors and script writers soon became leading political figures of Tamilnadu political scene.

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ƒÆ’‚£ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¡‚¬Dishonesty Deceit and Distortion of Facts

The extremist Tamil attitude made them want to take control of others.

It is this unfounded superior race attitude that makes them talk of Tamil nationalism, Tamil national struggle and Tamil homeland and so on. Some Tamil extremists resorted to dishonesty, deliberate misinterpretation and distortion of historic facts pertaining to our country. They resorted to falsehood, fabrications and lies. Eventually they resorted to terrorism in order to establish themselves as a force to reckon with among the majority Sinhala people.

ƒÆ’‚£ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¡‚¬Some of these Tamil extremists either fail to understand or wish to overlook the true reasons for or circumstances surrounding the racist Tamil terrorist menace in our motherland. It appears that Tamil extremists do not want to accept the fact that, all along, the biggest impediment to overall progress of our country and the well-deserved well-being of our people at large has been this savage Tamil extremism and terrorism. It is well-known that it was this racist Tamil terrorism that has brutalized and stunted our nation during the past few decades.

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Post- Independence Privileges

It is important to note, that even during the post independence era, the Tamils have been permitted to move anywhere in the country, and be involved in whatever gainful employment they wished anywhere in our country. They were/are allowed to build their Tamil schools, Hindu kovils and conduct their religious and cultural activities just the way they did in their motherland – Tamilnadu. Tamils have been accorded official recognition by their representation in our national flag by means of the orange colour band; Tamil culture is recognized by the State and their major cultural days are public holidays; The Tamil language is officially recognized as a national language of the country; Hinduism the main religion of Tamils is recognized by the State and its religious days have been declared as national holidays.

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ƒÆ’‚£ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¡‚¬Tamils Living in Sinhala Areas

Tamils – as a small minority community enjoy undue privileges that are not enjoyed by the majority Sinhala community in the country. In fact no other minority community in any major country in the world enjoys the privileges that the Sri Lankan Tamils enjoy. Today, and for many years in the past, more than half of the Tamil population of Sri Lanka lives among the Sinhala people in predominantly Sinhala areas in the Western, Southern, Central and Eastern parts of the island. Here, they have their kovils and festivals, thoosa kades, their Tamil newspapers, magazines, videos, music audios, films and free to intermingle with others in their neighborhood without being harassed.

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ƒÆ’‚£ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¡‚¬Undue Privileges as a Minority

Tamils have the opportunity of living and owning property including real estate anywhere in the country. About 31% of all privately owned land in Sri Lanka belongs to the 12% Tamil population, compared to the Sinhala who own 51% of land although they are more than about 75% of the population. About 70% of the land, and 85% of the businesses, in the administrative and residential capital, Colombo, are owned by Tamils. The per capita income of Tamils is far greater than the indigenous Sinhala people (estimated to be twice that of the Sinhala) and the rate of unemployment of Tamils is half that of the Sinhala.

More than 30% of professional and managerial jobs are held by this less than 12% minority.

ƒÆ’‚£ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¡‚¬Most Tamils are either businessmen or professionals and are dependent on the Sinhala people for their business and professional success.

They earn their living using the Sinhala market, Sinhala clients or Sinhala people. Sinhala employers hire Tamils as employees. However, it is well evident that Tamil employers rarely if at all, employ Sinhala people in their establishments. Some of the largest wholesale and retail businesses in Colombo are owned and run by Tamils. Most jewelry establishments, travel agencies, telecommunications outlets are owned and operated by them. The rich Tamils in Colombo and other urban areas in Sinhala areas are owners of the high-priced property including land and houses and expensive vehicles. In fact, the children of these well-to-do urban Tamils attend leading schools in the country, including expensive international schools.

ƒÆ’‚£ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¡‚¬No comparable minorities (including Indians, Pakistanis, Sinhalas, and Tamils etc. in the UK) in any major country have been given such preposterous benefits and opportunities, which are not rights but ridiculously high privileges. Since the privileges of one person can only be had at the expense of the rights of another, this shows that, in fact, it is the indigenous SinhalaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s, 75% of the population, who are discriminated against in Sri Lanka.

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ƒÆ’‚£ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¡‚¬Privileges During British Colonial Era

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ƒÆ’‚£ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¡‚¬The Plight of the Sinhala Masses

All colonial powers acted on pure and absolute “self interest”.

British occupation of Sri Lanka was one of sheer exploitation and devastation. Whatever benefits that were derived by local inhabitants were merely incidental to their exploitation of the countryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s natural and human resources in order to reap enormous benefits for the British government. The vast changes that they brought about in almost all areas of life in the country, led to the disruption of the long held culture, values and way of life of local inhabitants, particularly those of the main stream community the Sinhela Buddhists. The well-planned program of activities of the British, for a continuous period of about 150 years, led to the greatest damage to the countryƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s culture, social cohesion, unity and dignity. In 1815 the British captured the Sri Lankan king and the entire country came under their control. This ended Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s long history of royalty with some 295 kings. The British rule continued until 1948.

ƒÆ’‚£ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¡‚¬Traditional agriculture declined rapidly with vast areas of former productive land either being abandoned owing to neglected irrigation facilities or being acquired or bought over by the British for development of coffee, tea, rubber, for export. Traditional agriculture was a way of life for the people. It had the influence of bringing about social cohesion, or a sense of togetherness among people. They worked jointly helping in each other in their farm activities. It provided them with sufficient leisure time to be engaged in other productive and creative pursuits including cultural and religious activities.

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ƒÆ’‚£ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¡‚¬Import of South Indian Tamil Labourers

The rural Sinhela people considered it below their dignity to work as virtual slaves for the British in their newly opened coffee and tea plantations. Under the infamous “Waste Lands Ordinance” plantations were established on lands expropriated from the rural Sinhela people, without compensation. Because the dispossessed Sinhela people were unwilling to work on the plantations the British imported Tamil laborers from South India, who later became a new element in the demographic composition of the country.

ƒÆ’‚£ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¡‚¬As far as the ordinary people were concerned, the loss of freedom and privileges that they enjoyed under their kings and traditional leadership had a strong negative psychological impact on people. This situation did not permit the emergence of leaders from rural areas where the large mass of the dominant community lived. When the British left Sri Lanka in 1948, they made sure that power remained in the hands of the English educated and English speaking few, who were toeing their line.

ƒÆ’‚£ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¡‚¬Often I have heard people saying that Sri Lanka did not shed blood for freedom unlike India. This is plain nonsense. Those who are better conversant with Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s colonial history know that much blood was shed for freedom. Prior to the Kandyan Convention of 1815, thousands upon thousands of Sinhela people sacrificed their lives to free the country from colonial repression. More were killed during the rebellion of 1818 and 1848. During the Kandyan rebellion of 1818, every man over 14 years was ordered by the British to be killed and some sixty thousand Sinhela people were massacred. Large numbers of local leaders were annihilated by the British – – Veera Keppetipola, Veera Puran Appu and Veera Gongalegoda Banda are the better known.

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ƒÆ’‚£ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¡‚¬Economic Power Makes Tamils a Dominant Influence

Using their influence and massive economic power, these rich Tamils, have become a dominant influence on most Sri Lankan governments from Independence in 1948 onwards. A good many of these rich Tamils are Christians and Catholics with international connections particularly in the western world. Using their financial power and links with the so called “international community” with their own self interests to “fish in troubled waters”, these extremist elements continue to resort to anti-national propaganda activities against Sri Lanka resorting to dishonest and deceitful means, in order to destroy the good international image of our nation. Some are closely linked with the defunct racist terrorist Tamil LTTE organization functioning illegally in western countries where it has been banned.

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ƒÆ’‚£ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¡‚¬Abusing of International Media and Organizations to Discredit the Nation

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ƒÆ’‚£ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¡‚¬During the last few decades, it was the Sinhala Buddhist community who underwent traumatic experiences and all fatalities, owing to the efforts of the local Marxists to counterbalance the imbalance created by the outer-oriented Colombo clan. The colonial attitudes and mentality was diminishing somewhat during the late 1950ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s, 1960ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s and early 1970ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s, but in late 1970ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s with globalization and open economy, and attendant increased western influence led to a drastic degeneration of local culture and values. The study of history was dropped from school curriculum thereby preventing children from being exposed to their history and cultural heritage.The influence and authority of the village temple was reduced to a level of parasite owing to the willful neglect and undermining of these traditional institutions by the rulers.

ƒÆ’‚£ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¡‚¬Most youth of last two decades were not conversant with the history of their country. They do not know that Sri Lanka is the oldest continually Buddhist country in the world. They do not know that history and culture of the Sri Lankan people have been shaped and mounded by Buddhism since its introduction to the island over 2200 years ago. Being unaware of the richness of their cultural heritage, most youth became indifferent to their culture. Youth did not have proper role models to follow and genuine leaders to guide them. It is the greatest tragedy that befell Sri Lanka, because youth are our greatest resource and they determine the future of our country and its cultural heritage.

ƒÆ’‚£ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¡‚¬Under the so called ” open economy” the new governments of late seventies permitted foreign NGOs to enter this country in the guise of helping Sri Lanka in socio-economic development work. These NGOs were Christian backed organizations with hidden agendas. It was they who began a systematic onslaught to create religious and racial disharmony. Leadership at all levels ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” political, professional and secular – deteriorated during this time. This was also a time which saw extreme divisiveness, animosity and criminal activity among people supporting opposing political parties. This was a time when bribery and corruption was institutionalized, and Crime became rampant.

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ƒÆ’‚£ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¡‚¬Popularly Elected President and Popular Mandate

Today we have a democratically elected President with a stable government, with a popular mandate to restore the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country by means of reinforcing and consolidating the unitary and not the federal system of government of this small country of ours. The “Mahinda Chinthanaya” lays out categorically the profound goals that he has set for our nation, and how the major problems of our country are to be handled. This is the mandate that was democratically approved by the people. All of this was possible, in spite of the “antics of vociferous and mean minority Tamil terrorists, the entrenched chauvinists who stand in the way of resolving the problems” of the people of our nation. However, the country is witnessing an encouraging trend in its overall development never seen in the recent past, with large scale nationwide development investments in all major sectors of development. Of course the country is faced with numerous hurdles and challenges occasioned by both national and foreign forces, but that cannot and will not deter the development momentum that has been generated and the strong determination to succeed on the part of the government.

ƒÆ’‚£ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¡‚¬One of the most encouraging developments of recent times is the emergence of a truly Buddhist leadership committed to the Sinhala Buddhist cause. Most people are hopeful that this leadership will usher in a political culture that reflects Buddhist culture and values and thereby help to rid the country of the crude and corrupt political culture that the people have been subject to for many years in the recent past. Most Buddhists are hopeful that the welfare of the ordinary citizens, particularly the marginalized people will receive needed attention.

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Joining to Build a Nation that Shuns Extremism

We have nothing against anyone who wishes to shed extremist feelings and joining us to build a nation which is peaceful and prosperous, a nation which shuns extremism and terrorism and where democracy prevails, and a nation led by bold, patriotic and compassionate persons, who will not permit racism and terrorism to ever raise their heads in our land. We want all the non-indigenous minorities of our nation such as the Tamils, Muslims, Moors and others of whatever label, to join us, the dominant majority Sinhala community of Lanka, 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 build our country as one NATION, a 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 and the Dharmadeepa will succeed, characterized by non-violence, tolerance and the accommodation and cohabitation with all other communities, reminiscent of the regimes of the Sinhala Buddhist royalty of the past.

ƒÆ’‚£ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¡‚¬Dr. Daya Hewapathirane

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