Dilrook Kannangara

In 1971 there were more than 20,000 ethnic Sinhalas were living in the Jaffna District alone. None of them lived on rent. They had their own properties as with everyone else in Jaffna. However, after the TULF election win in July 1977, Tamils attacked Sinhala people in the north during Black August 1977, evicted them permanently and grabbed their properties which Tamils occupy to this date.

Having robbed Sinhala property, Tamils repeated the same act of robbery against Muslims in August 1990. It is also called Black August 1990. The number of Muslims evicted is estimated to be 100,000. Their movable and immovable property was looted by Tamils. None has been returned still.

Although LTTE was blamed for terrorizing Sinhalas and Muslims, LTTE holds no land. LTTE simply hold no land today! These Sinhala and Muslim land in the north are illegitimately occupied by Tamils today. Not the LTTE.

Before demanding 13A land powers, Tamils must hand back these looted properties to Sinhalas and Muslims from whom they were looted. If not, 13A land powers will reward the looters and make this land robbery permanent.

What’s worse is the same template may be used by Tamils against Sinhalas in Colombo, Nuwara Eliya, Negombo, etc. in time to come.

The government has no mandate to fully implement 13A. It must get a fresh mandate for the purpose. If Tamil tribal demands continue, the day Sinhalas will also demand their own Sinhala Only nation cannot be too far away. What is good for the goose must be good for the gander.