Connecting Sri Lanka’s South to North by train
Posted on October 11th, 2012
Asada M Erpini
A news item on 11 October reports that a new train service will connect Sri Lanka South to the North. All Sri Lankans will be happy that the transport services and the infrastructure to keep it going in many regions of Sri Lanka are being rejuvenated after many decades.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ But is there something special about the North that does not exist in any other province or region of Sri Lanka? Sri Lanka has nine provinces and until the LTTE was allowed ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” nay, promoted by Norway and some of the other do-gooders in the Western world – to create its own administrative territory, the different provinces had equal prominence and significance in the political structure in the country.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The relationship between the Northern Province of Sri Lanka and the Southern province is exactly the same as that that exists between the Eastern province and the Western province. The continued reference to the North as if it is different from the rest of the country negates all attempts by Sri Lanka to continue as a unitary state, and it is time that the media persons stopped continuing with the myth that individuals such as GG Ponnambalam and SJV Chelvanayakam originated and which has been perpetuated by the likes of Pirabaharan and continues today with the active involvement of the members of the Tamil National Alliance.
ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ All regions of Sri Lanka are for all ethnic groups. If the Sinhalese or the Moors wish to settle in the North, through legal means, there should be no hindrance whatsoever just as the Tamils of the North have come to the South of the country, making the population of Colombo nearly 40 per cent Tamil.
October 11th, 2012 at 1:21 pm
It mainly benefits Tamils and not others. The rail link was there when the problem emerged. Putting it back will not change anything.
There is a big danger. No checkpoints.
October 11th, 2012 at 6:01 pm
Lorenzo, I like to disagree on this point. Train is for every one and maily for turists where SL can make money if proper accomodation is provided at main railway stations. The author Asada must provide a definition of Moors. Most of these moors are Sinhala Muslims, that is if they have darker skin. Now if they have white skin then they are direct descendents of Saudis. If they are pitch black, then they are Tamil Nadu muslims like the Jaffna Catholic Bishop (they should be sent back to Tamil Nadu). All these people eventually will buy property and have businesses that will require weekly travle to Matara and Galle. So Asada is right. Eventually SL can request a 200 miles per hour train service that runs above ground (so the Elephant is saved) like in China can function.
October 11th, 2012 at 8:03 pm
Kit,
“If they are pitch black, then they are Tamil Nadu muslims like the Jaffna Catholic Bishop (they should be sent back to Tamil Nadu).”
what happened to you ? Do you have a white skin now , after many years in Canada ?
October 11th, 2012 at 9:20 pm
Kit,
“All these people eventually will buy property and have businesses”
This will NOT happen, buddy.
Jaffna people will NEVER allow this. They see it as “encroachment”, “colonization”, “invasion”, “genocide”, etc.
Thesawalama law does not allow this to happen.
After that this train will be used to bring drugs, bombs, illegal saris, terrorists, stolen goods DIRECTLY from the north to Colombo. This is what happened in the 1970s. When the train came to Medawachchiya, Tamils had occupied all the seats and put dirt on seats they could not occupy to discourage Sinhalese from getting in. This is the attitude. Sad situation. But true.
Instead of Yarl Devi, it is better to name it Pulan Devi.
October 12th, 2012 at 6:19 am
Agree with Lorenzo. The NS railway was there when the Tamil Caste problems split over to the South too. A new railway solves no problems re Integration of the Tamil community into mainstream life here, unless there is a genuinely multi-ethnic North which is accepted by Tamil leaders and people of the North.
With Unis of the North being reserved for Tamils only, is Integration ever possible ?
October 12th, 2012 at 7:20 am
1) The service will help the Tamils to come to the South and buy Property, while raising a hue and cry about other nationalities coming to the North.
2) As Lorenzo said, there will not be check points, meaning that GOSL is compromising National Security.
THIS TRAIN SHOULD BE CHECKED BY THE FORCES AT DIFFERENT STATIONS AT DIFFERENT TIMES, DAILY, PERIOD. Same function as check points.
October 12th, 2012 at 1:14 pm
SW,
Then they will complain about harassment, discrimination (why other trains are not checked. Why only their trains are checked), etc, etc. and get those check points removed.
Election time is best for that.
There is a fundamental difference in cultures.
Sinhala culture originated from SL – “how can we please non-Sinhalese”.
Tamil culture originated from TN – “how can the Sinhalese please us more and more”.
October 12th, 2012 at 1:16 pm
e.g. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of Tamils from TN come to SL and do business, pilgrimage.
Nothing happens to them.
But if ONE Sinhalese goes to TN, he is attacked!!!
In Sinhalese there is not even a name for Tamil illegals!!!
The ONLY name – kallathoni is a TAMIL WORD!!