{"id":88971,"date":"2019-05-17T16:03:06","date_gmt":"2019-05-17T23:03:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=88971"},"modified":"2019-05-17T16:03:06","modified_gmt":"2019-05-17T23:03:06","slug":"sri-lanka-take-pride-in-being-a-part-of-this-sinhala-buddhist-nation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2019\/05\/17\/sri-lanka-take-pride-in-being-a-part-of-this-sinhala-buddhist-nation\/","title":{"rendered":"SRI LANKA: TAKE PRIDE IN BEING A PART OF THIS SINHALA BUDDHIST NATION"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dr. Daya Hewapathirane<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n

My\nmotherland \u2013 whatever label you may wish to ascribe to it \u2013 Sri Lanka, Ceylon, Heladiva,\nHelabima or Sinhalay, is one of the few countries in the world that has\nremained intact within the same national borders, as a single political entity\nor island nation for over 2500 years or a prolonged long period of time. This\nis not the case with most other countries in the world, where national\nboundaries have been subject to significant changes in the past. This unique historic\nisland nation has existed as an independent sovereign nation as far back as the\n6th century BCE. Her civilization has achieved an\nindividuality and identity that distinguishes it from her neighbors. Cultural\ntraits brought from India have undergone significant change and independent\ngrowth, largely influenced by Buddhism which was formally introduced to the\nisland in the 3rd<\/sup> century BCE. The Sinhala Buddhist culture,\nthe national culture of Sri Lanka is one of the world\u2019s oldest, continuous  and unchanged cultures in existence and a\nculture that is unique to Sri Lanka. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sri\nLanka is the only country in the world with an unbroken written history that\ngoes back to more than 2500 years. This recorded history matches perfectly with\narchaeological evidence and foreign records on the island. What Sri Lanka, clearly\nprojects, then and now, is its Sinhala Buddhist imprint. The strength of this\ncultural foundation was tested several times in the past, during periods of\nforeign invasion, devastation and exploitation. But the nation remained intact,\nwithstanding threats, perils and calamities, largely owing to the power and\npotency of its Sinhala Buddhist cultural foundation. It is the inspiration of\nthis strong Buddhist foundation that is reflected in the lives of the\nindigenous Sinhala community of the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

NATIONAL CULTURAL HERITAGE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The unique Sinhala Buddhist identity of\nour country which began to take shape about 2300 years ago was reinforced with the\ndevelopment and widespread use of the proto-Sinhala language based on the\nPrakritic language used popularly in the numerous ancient lithic inscriptions\nfound across our country. Starting in the 3rd century BCE, for as many as 15\ncenturies or for over 1500 years, our island was inhabited almost exclusively\nby Sinhala Buddhists. This period witnessed the development of a unique civilization\nbased a hydraulic agrarian system, and a rich culture and system of\nadministration and governance, based on Buddhist norms and principles. This\nperiod saw the rise to power of many outstanding Sinhala Buddhist kings who\nruled the country for some 1200 years from the national Capitol City\nAnuradhapura, and subsequently for an additional 300 years until about the 13th<\/sup>\ncentury, from the Capitol Polonnaruwa. This 1500 year period in the country\u2019s\nhistory can be considered, indisputably, as its golden age.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During this period, there were violent\ninvasions of the country by South Indian, Tamil-speaking Dravidian mercenaries.\nThere were times when these invaders were able to dislodge the seat of Sinhala power\nand rule for limited periods of time. However, they were eventually ousted and\nthe country was unified under the rule of Sinhala Buddhist monarchy. During\ntheir invasions and rule, the country was plundered of its wealth and much\ndestruction was caused to priceless monuments of the country. They were\ninstrumental in setting fire and burning down the 700 year old Sinhala Royal\npalace in the citadel of Anuradhapura. \nBuddhist stupas were destroyed and valuables enshrined within them including\ngold images and gems were stolen.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In mid 10th century the South Indian\nChola invaders looted Anuradhapura extensively. \nThe destruction of the Thuparamaya dagabo  which had been one of the oldest Buddhist monuments\nof South Asia was an irreparable loss. This exquisite Buddhist monument housed\nthe Buddha\u2019s right-collar bone and the Alms-bowl. The Relic chamber of this\nstupa was broke open and values plundered to make payments to South Indian Tamil\nmercenaries. The crowning ornament on Thuparama was robbed and the great canopy\nover Thuparama, that protected it from bad weather, was smashed in order to get\nthe priceless gems and golden decorations fixed on it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The huge dome-roofs of stupas decorated\nin gold and silver, and embedded with gems, built to cover large stupas and to\nprotect them from bad weather, were destroyed. These included the golden\numbrellas over Mirisavetiya and Thuparamaya stupas. The main library in the\ncitadel, housing the sacred books, was maliciously burnt. Jethavanaramaya, the\ngigantic monument recorded in history as the third tallest structure of the\nworld, was destroyed. Temple of the Tooth Relic in the citadel was destroyed.\nGolden doors were ripped off from buildings. The pride of the nation,\nskyscraper LovaMahapaya was maliciously destroyed completely.  This was the 6th time it was destroyed by\nthese Dravidian plunderers. This was the end of the city of Anuradhapura.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

BUDDHISM <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nBuddhist tradition in Sri Lanka is one of the oldest there is. The Sinhala\npeople have been practicing Buddhism continuously, for longer than anyone else\nin the world. Buddhism\nhas been and continues to be the basis or foundation of the country\u2019s\nculture.  for over 2300 years. All deeper\naspects of the country\u2019s culture are reflective of Buddhist ideology,\nprinciples, ethics, virtues, values, morality, traditions, customs, thoughts,\ntemperament, attitudes and way of life. Whatever new elements that have been\nabsorbed into the culture at different times, were subject to appropriate\nmodifications, adjustments and adaptations in order to make them compatible\nwith Buddhist principles and values. Buddhist principles were intertwined in\nthese new additions although there may be exceptions which often are those\nelements which are in the process of being adapted to fit into the cultural\nnorms of the country.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buddhism is not a religion with a dogmatic canon. Buddhism\nfunctions not through crusades, but through tolerance, openness and the\npersuasive power of its philosophical foundation. Tolerance and the enormous\nadaptability of Buddhism are qualities that have remained unchanged throughout\nits remarkable history.  Buddhism upholds\neverything worthy and meaningful. It promotes peace, peaceful coexistence, and\ndemocratic principles in governance. It promotes human rights, development of\nindividual and community virtues and discipline in accordance with the pancha\nseela”. Non-violence\nand compassion towards all living beings has been the cornerstone of the\nnational culture of Sri Lanka from early times. Peaceful cohabitation was\npromoted by Sinhala Buddhist kings from early times. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Respect for the natural\nenvironment and sustainable and participatory development of resources and\nupheld in Buddhism. In addition, Buddhism strongly promotes tolerance of other\nfaiths, religious and social harmony, and cordial relations with other nations.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OLDEST BUDDHIST\nCOUNTRY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ours is the oldest Buddhist country in\nthe world with Buddhism arriving in the island and establishing itself far and\nwide since 237 BCE, or about 2247 years ago. Buddhists across the world respect\nSri Lanka as the country where pure Buddhism or Buddhist teachings in its\noriginal form prevails \u2013 the Theravada tradition. The significance of this\nshould be seen in the light of the following background. Sri Lanka accounts for\nabout a mere 1% of the estimated 1472 million total Buddhists population in the\nworld. There are about 25 countries in the world with Buddhist populations. Of\nthem, 17 account for a substantial number of Buddhists which qualifies them to\nbe referred to as Buddhist countries. The 150 million Theravada Buddhists of\nthe world are found basically in six countries and Sri Lankan Buddhists account\nfor about 10% of the total Theravada Buddhist population across the world. It\nis also noteworthy that the traditional Sri Lanka Buddhist flag has become the\nglobal Buddhist flag. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite invasions, threats, challenges,\nBuddhist culture did not disappear from our island, unlike in the case with\nseveral other countries. Today, over 70% of the total population of Sri Lanka\nis Buddhists. The simple and uncomplicated lifestyle promoted by our culture,\nis based on the five precepts of Buddhism. Their mind-set, temperament and\nattitude towards life are clearly reflective of Buddhist norms and values such\nas compassion, non-violence, tolerance, morality and peaceful coexistence with\nother living beings and with nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BUDDHIST SITES,\nMONUMENTS AND INSTITUTIONS <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The outstanding imaginative and creative\npowers of the Sinhala people, their talents, skills, and foresight are well\nevident in what still remains as marvels architecture, sculpture, art,\nliterature and other forms of visual culture, in irrigation technology\ndisplayed magnificently across the country as living evidence of an outstanding\ncultural heritage. The world recognition of the greatness of this unique\nSinhala Buddhist culture is reflected by the UNESCO designating our ancient\nroyal sites as World Heritage Sites – Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Mahanuwara\n(Kandy), Sigiriya and Dambulla, all built upon and strongly reflecting\ninspiration drawn from Buddhism. It is a fact that, if there is anything unequivocally\nworthwhile that our country can offer to the world today, it is the Buddha\nDhamma and its outstanding culture and attitude towards life and its natural\nhabitat.
\n
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ours is the only country in the world\nthat had the privilege of having three visits of the Buddha at three different\ntimes in the past. During these times the Buddha set foot on 16 different\nplaces within our country which are still venerated as sacred sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the most venerated relics of the\nBuddha are found in Sri Lanka, including the Tooth relic, the right collar bone\nand the Alms Bowl. Sri Lanka and Thailand are the countries with the largest\ncollection of relics of the Buddha. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oldest Institution in the world is Sri\nLanka\u2019s Sangha Sasana, which is still active and operational in our country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The oldest recorded tree in the world –\nthe Sri Maha Bodhi, is found in Sri Lanka. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oldest Buddhist monuments, dagabos,\narchitecture, sculpture, paintings, literature, poetry are found in our\ncountry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is ample evidence that our ancient\nbuilders and planners were quite familiar with the principles of building\nconstruction or structural engineering. Some of their structures have lasted\nfor over 1600 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lovamahapaya is the world\u2019s oldest skyscraper\nwhich is 145 feet high with 9 stories and 1000 rooms. The largest brick\nstructures of the world are the ancient Buddhist dagabos of Sri Lanka such as\nthe Jetavanaramaya, Abayagiriya, Ruvanweliseya, and Tissamaharamaya.  The Jetavanarama Stupa is about 400 feet high\nand is the largest brick structure in the world.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The oldest religious building\/structure\nin Sri Lanka is the Thuparamaya stupa built by King Devanampiyatissa (307-267\nBCE). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

CULTURAL\nHERITAGE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cultural heritage encompasses material\nculture, in the form of objects, structures, sites, as well as living (or\nexpressive) culture as evidenced in forms such as music, crafts, performing\narts, literature, oral tradition and language. Sculpture, architecture, paintings\nand other forms of fine arts were used profusely in Sri Lanka from very early\ntimes to express Buddhist ideas and sentiment. The exceptionally rich heritage\nof visual arts of the Sinhala people of Sri Lanka extends to a period that\nexceeds 2300 years, from the 3rd century BCE to the 21st CE.  A spectacular collection of ancient\nsculpture, architecture and paintings adorns the island\u2019s culture. They are\nconspicuous elements of the island\u2019s Buddhist culture even today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Culture is organic and evolving. There\nis however, cultural continuity from the past, through the present and into the\nfuture. Some cultural elements are preserved in an original or earlier state,\nwhereas other cultural materials, elements and forms may have observed dynamic\nchange, adaptation and development with time and with exposure to other\ncultures, circumstances and environments. The outcome of this dynamic change is\noften something unique but not necessarily completely new. However, it is\npeculiar to the culture concerned. It is an outcome which reflects a\ncombination of elements of several cultures blended together but in keeping and\ncompatible with the fundamentals of the long preserved cultural and social\nvalues of the culture. This outcome reflects a unique identity that is special\nto the culture. The evolution of the Buddha statue, the stupas of Sri Lanka,\nBuddhist paintings and the Sinhala language, are good examples. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

SINHALA\nLANGUAGE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All salient aspects of our national\nculture \u2013 tangible and intangible, either grew or evolved within the borders of\nour country. Sinhala language and literature originated in Sri Lanka. Sinhala\nlanguage in fact is the most important defining element of our nation\u2019s culture\nand heritage, from historic times. The Sinhala language grew out of Indo-Aryan dialects and exists only in Sri Lanka and has its\nown distinguished literary tradition. Sinhala is one of the world\u2019s\noldest living languages.  There have been\na wide range of languages in the world, particularly in Asia which lived and\ndied without leaving evidence of their existence, because they were never written\ndown. This is not the case with the Sinhala language. All other languages used\nin Sri Lanka originated in other countries. \nIt is significant to note that the overwhelming majority of people of\nSri Lanka are distinguished by their language \u2013 Sinhala, which even today has a\nstrong unifying effect in our motherland helping to reinforce the solidarity of\nour people as a unique cultural entity in the world. Almost all place names of\nthe country from historic times, are in the Sinhala language \u2013 in the North,\nSouth, East, West and Central regions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018OLA\u2019\nMANUSCRIPTS <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

 It\nwas customary in ancient times to place on record, on \u2018ola\u2019 palm leaf\nmanuscripts, information pertaining to Buddhism, our royalty, the history of\nour nation, and most importantly, on many secular subjects. A greater part of\nthese priceless manuscripts were destroyed by foreign invaders, especially by\nSouth Indian Dravidians. Some were destroyed when the Catholic Portuguese and\nthe Christian Dutch and British destroyed our Buddhist places of learning,\ntemples and monasteries where most ola manuscripts were stored from ancient\ntimes. However, what remained in places where these foreign plunders could not\nreach, such as remote temples, were later collected and stored in the National\nArchives, National Museums and prominent temples. A good part of these\nmanuscripts have not been read yet. Therefore, a wealth of information on\nvarious fields lies hidden in the innumerable \u2018ola\u2019 manuscripts. There may be\nmany old \u2018ola\u2019 manuscripts that contain past scientific and technological\ninformation.          <\/p>\n\n\n\n

CITY PLANNING\nAND SURVEYING <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remains of the ancient cities of\nAnuradhapura, Sigiriya and Polonnaruwa in particular reveal the highly advanced\nstate of ancient city planning. It was an amazing system of well laid out\nbuildings with a road network, bridges, parks, cemeteries etc. Sigiriya had a\nsophisticated system of water management including underground canals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ancient Sri Lankans had a brilliant\nsurveying tradition which is well reflected in the laying of the sophisticated\nirrigation system and related agricultural land management system. A sound\nunderstanding of the topography, geology and structure of the land was\nnecessary to pan and implement such sustainable water conservation and transfer\nsystems, where to locate reservoirs and associated irrigated lands etc.     <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The high degree of sophistication in\nengineering technology and skills in surveying are well reflected in ancient\nBuddhist structures and monuments. These skills were transferred to Buddhist\narchitecture, sculpture, and other works of art. Brick-making, plasters for\nreinforcing bricks and rocks used in buildings and making of huge statues, both\nindoor and outdoor, are of special significance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mathematics and Astronomy were highly\ndeveloped. The \u2018Sandesha Kavya\u2019 written in the 15th<\/sup> century refers\nto the teaching of Mathematics. Geometry would have been highly developed\nscience in the past because all the massive and complex structures designed and\nbuilt in the past had to utilize principles of geometry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

SUSTAINABLE\nFARMING<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What was developed and promoted by our\nroyalty and followed by the large preponderance of our people in ancient Sri\nLanka was a highly productive form of farming\/agriculture which reflected a\nsound knowledge of prevailing environmental conditions. The use of irrigation\ntechnology in a most prudent manner resulted in a farming system that was highly\nsustainable. The land and water management mechanisms that were observed were\nmeant to have benefits in the short term and long term. Environmental\nconservation measures assumed importance where watershed resources management\nwas given high priority treatment by our kings paying attention to conservation\nof forests, soil and water resources including wildlife and biodiversity.\nRespect for the environment was a part of the lifestyle of farming communities\nof the past. The Worlds first and oldest wildlife sanctuary was established in\nMihintale in the 3rd century BCE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IRRIGATION <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ancient irrigation system developed by\nour kings is still operational and is considered as – Engineering marvels.  Our earthen and stone dams and reservoirs\nsystems the canal network and related water control and management structures\nand techniques show the skills of our ancient people. These works have\nsustained until today, still serving their purposes. Our canal system has\nminimum siltation. The Jayaganga is 54 miles long and its first 17 miles\ngradient is ONE inch per mile. Our ancient irrigation engineers, more than 2100\nyears ago, were the first inventors of both, the hydraulic surge chamber and\nthe valve tower and to incorporate both principles in the same structure called\nthe \u2018bisokotuva\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

METAL WORKS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was remarkable achievement in\nmetal work industry.  There were iron\nimplements even during the 4th<\/sup> and 5 century BCE.  The Tara statue of Sri Lanka exhibited in the\nBritish museum is considered as one of the best metal works of the past. So is\nthe statute of Avalokethiswara presently exhibited at the Colombo National\nMuseum, which has been displayed in several European and American Museums? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Special types of plasters were developed\nand used on rock and brick wall surfaces to effect paintings, ensuring their\ndurability. Some paintings found on such ancient plasters are 1500 to over 2000\nyears old \u2013 Hindagala, paintings are over 2000 years and those of Sigiriya are\nmore than 1500 years. Pigments used in paintings are based on natural products\nand are used on varied surfaces \u2013 walls, ceilings, statues, wooden, cloth, and\nearthenware. Our own traditional Pottery, ivory works, brass works, lacquer\nwork that developed in the past are continued today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HEALTH SERVICES<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ayurveda health services were highly\ndeveloped in the past with its integrated approach to health and wellness. It\nreceived royal patronage and one of our famous kings named Buddhadasa was a\nwell reputed Ayurveda physicians.  There\nhad been many books written in Sri Lanka, in Sinhala, Sanskrit and Pali on\nmedical science. Among books compiled by King Buddhadasa on medicine is the\nfamous Saarartha Sangrahaya\u201d.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sri Lanka is the first country in the\nworld to have established a dedicated hospital at Mihintale in the 4th<\/sup>\ncentury BCE. There is archeological evidence of several other hospitals built\nin our ancient cities. The ruins of the hospitals in Mihintale and Polonnaruwa\nare still evident. A number of surgical instruments have been discovered in\nPolonnaruwa. There were great physicians and surgeons in the past including\nVeterinary surgeons and Animal Hospitals. There is reference in ancient\nchronicles of sick elephants being treated by our ancient veterinary\npractitioners. The World\u2019s first animal hospital was built in Sri Lanka <\/p>\n\n\n\n

INTERNATIONAL\nRELATIONS AND TRADE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

International relations were cordial and\nuseful during the times of our kings. Sri Lanka <\/p>\n\n\n\n

had diplomatic relationships with places such as\nChina and Rome from ancient times. The first envoy from Sri\nLanka to China was in 428 CE.  Pliny (45\nCE) chronicles an account of a Sri Lankan envoy to Rome in the reign of Emperor\nClaudius Caesar (10 BCE – 54 BCE). ”It had been of long time thought by men in\nancient days that Taprobane (Sri Lanka) was a second world”. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among\nforeign sources of information on our foreign relations with the outside world,\n are written records and reports of\nforeigners who visited our land.  Also,\nthere are archeological evidence that is indicative of diplomatic relations we\nhad with foreign nations in the European and Asian continent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nsea-faring nations knew Sri Lanka from very early times because of its position\non the trade routes. The Greeks called it Taprobane. Cosmos Indecopleustes (545\nCE), the Greek merchant from Alexandria gives us the fullest account of Sri\nLanka. “The island being as it is, in a position, is much frequented by\nships from all parts of India and from Persia and Ethiopia and it like wise\nsends out many of its own and those from remote countries like China and other\ntrading places…” The Chinese, Arabian, Persian, South and North Indian,\nMalay were the first traders of our country, followed by Portuguese, Dutch and the\nBritish. The ancient port of Mantota is reputed to have been an important\nport of call between China and Rome. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sri Lanka was the ideal stopover of the\nAncient Sea farers sailing in the Indian Ocean to East Asia and Pacific. We had\nour own ships and were involved in the export of rice. Ancient Chinese reports\nrefer to Sinhala ships\u201d.  Our ships\ncrossed the ocean to Java (as Indonesia was known at the time). The present\nIndonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Maldives islands, and a good part of\nIndia including Southern and Eastern India were predominantly Buddhist in\nancient times. There is evidence of close interactions and travel between these\ncountries in the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contemporary\nChinese records maintain that Persia bound vessels from China traded in gems,\nspices and ivory at the flourishing port of Mantota. The Chinese, Arabian, Persian, South and North Indian, Malay were the\nfirst traders followed by Portuguese, Dutch and British. Many\nArabian traders have arrived in Beruwala Bay and made pilgrimages to \u2018Adams\nPeak\u2019 via Ratnapura where they have traded Gems. Beruwala was the sea port of\nearly Arab travelers who traveled to the \u2018Adam’s peak\u2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

James\nEmerson Tennent (1861) in his well known book Sketches of Natural History of\nCeylon states There is no island in the world\u2026 that has attracted the\nattention of authors in so many distant ages and so many different countries as\nCeylon. There is no nation in ancient or modern times possessed of a language\nand a literature\u2026 the writers of which have not at some time made it their\ntheme.  It’s aspect, its religion, its\nantiquities and productions have been described as well by the classic\nGreeks\u2026.by the Romans, by the writers of China, Burma, India, Kashmir and the\ngeographers of Arabia and Persia, by the medieval voyagers of Italy and France,\nby the analysts of Portugal and Spain, by the merchant adventurers of Holland\nand topographers of Great Britain.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pliny (45 CE)\n-one of the\ngreatest Roman Historian writes about Sri Lanka in his encyclopedic work  ”It\nhad been of long time thought by men in ancient days that Taprobane (Sri Lanka)\nwas a-second-world”. Fa Hien (414 CE) – the famous Chinese pilgrim\nspent two years in Sri Lanka, mostly at Anuradhapura then a famous center of\nlearning and writes about Sri Lanka in his works “This country is an oasis, prosperous and happy; it’s people are\nwell-to-do\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ACCURACY OF HISTORIC RECORD<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nMahawamsa, Culavamsa,  Dipavamsa,\nRajawaliya, Pujawaliya, Attana-galu Vihara Vamsa, Dhatuvamsa,\nElu-Attangaluvamsa, Elu-Bidhivamsa, Maha Bodhivamsa, Thupavamsa, Daladavamsa\nand Viharavamsa provide detailed information of the history of our Sinhala\nBuddhist Nation, its people and their way of life. They provide information on\nSinhala Buddhist Kings who rescued the Sinhala race, the island and Buddhism\nfrom marauding Dravidian armies of powerful South Indian kingdoms, hell bent on\nplunder and pillage, murder and mayhem, sack and ruin with sword and fire. Also\nabout our benevolent rulers who performed deeds of piety, who made the country\nself sufficient in rice by way of irrigation engineering, promoted Ayurveda\nmedicine and medical practice, build Buddhist temples, stupas and reigned with\nefforts to follow Dasaraja Dharma \u2013 the tenfold righteous path of a king. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\naccuracy of this historical record of ancient Sri Lanka is generally accepted\nby means of other numerous local and Indian edicts such as King rock edict of\nIndian Emperor Asoka and records of the Fa Hien the Chinese pilgrim monk, Roman\nhistorian Pliny and several others who have already been referred to. Also by\nmeans of inscriptions, historical works, and literary works as well as by way\nof ruins, renovated historical and Buddhist monuments, ancient yet\nsophisticated irrigation networks, which extend the lifeline to date. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

NATION AND NATIONALITY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A nation is, in general terms, a human\ncultural community who feel a common bond. Members of a Nation share a common\nidentity, and usually a common origin, in the sense of history, ancestry,\nparentage or descent. Therefore, a nation extends across generations. Almost all nations are associated with a specific\nterritory, the national homeland<\/a>. The national identity refers both to the\ndistinguishing features of the group, and to the individual’s sense of\nbelonging to it. Nationalism is closely associated\nwith patriotism<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A nation is a historically\nconstituted, stable community of people, formed on the basis of a common\nterritory, a common culture and language, a common set of social values and\npsychological make-up. Traditionally a nation is monocultural. Members of a\n“nation” share a common identity<\/a>, and usually a common\norigin, in the sense of ancestry<\/a>, parentage or descent<\/a>. The\nfirst requirement for the definition is that the characteristics should be shared<\/em>\n– a group of people with nothing in common cannot be a nation.  Because they are shared, the national\npopulation also has a degree of uniformity and homogeneity<\/em>. And finally,\nat least some of the characteristics must be exclusive<\/em> – to distinguish\nthe nation from neighboring nations.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The word \u2018nation\u2019 implies ancestry<\/a> and descent<\/a>. Almost all\nnationalist movements make some claim to shared origins and descent, and it is\na component of the national identity in most nations. The fact that the\nancestry is shared<\/em> among the members of the nation unites them, and sets\nthem apart from other nations, which do not share that ancestry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A shared<\/em> language is often used as a defining\nfeature of a nation. Unlike a language, a national culture<\/a> is usually unique to the nation, although\nit may include some elements shared with other nations. Additionally, the\nnational culture is assumed to be shared with previous generations, and\nincludes a cultural\nheritage<\/a> from these\ngenerations, as if it were an inheritance<\/a>. In Sri Lanka, the Sinhala language is\nexclusive to the nation, and is or should be central to the national identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indigenous national sovereignty of a country is an\ninalienable right based on profound justice. Sovereign national rights of Sri\nLanka rests with the Sinhala people who are indigenous to this country, forming\nits dominant majority community for over 2500 years. Sri Lanka is the only national sovereign motherland of the Sinhala\npeople. Their culture, way of life and their Sinhala language originated and\ndeveloped in Sri Lanka. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tamils, Muslims, and Malays are non-indigenous\nminority communities of Sri Lanka who settled in the island at different times\nin the past, coming from their own motherlands. The Tamils came from their\nmotherland, the Tamilnadu where their culture and language originated. The\nTamil nation of Tamilnadu is seven times bigger than Sri Lanka, where one must\nbe a pure Tamil in order to hold any high official position. Wherever they\nlive, the Tamils have their national heritage and aspirations protected within\ntheir nation \u2013 the Tamilnadu.  Any initiative that would dilute or threaten\nthe national sovereignty of the Sinhala people is not only unjust but also\nillegal, and will not be acceptable to the Sinhala community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Within any sovereign national country many non-indigenous\nminorities have settled down but they do merge with the host nation into a\nsingle file. It is only by upholding the right of national sovereignty\nthroughout the land that it will function without being violated. The granting\nof excessive rights to minorities in the form of alien-national rights of\nlanguage, cultures and religions and exclusive ethnic areas will threaten a\ncountry\u2019s sovereignty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hence, strict controls of immigration to a country are\nparamount in protecting its national sovereignty and territorial integrity \u2013 a\nbasic human right of a nation of people ONLY in their indigenous national\nmotherland.  Finally, high political positions in Sri Lanka including\nnational leadership must be kept within the genuine Sri Lankan Hela nationals.\nIt is noteworthy that for a high position in the Tamil Federal State of Tamil\nNadu, first qualification is one must be a full-blooded Tamil.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those settling down or have already\nsettled down in host countries have a bounden duty to merge with the host\nnation into a single coherent nation of members.  It is basically, a state of mindset, not\nnecessarily physical interaction. Within these host countries, human rights and\ncivic rights of the host nation are what the settler minorities are entitled to\nand not the alien-national rights of the countries of their national origins\nthey left behind for pastures anew. Their alien-national rights will shift to\nthe private domain when in host countries and not to threaten the national\nsovereignty of the host countries either. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sri Lanka wants all non-indigenous minorities of our nation such\nas the Tamils, Muslims, Moors and others of whatever label, to be a part of our\nNation, to join the country\u2019s mainstream, just the way how minority communities\nare expected to do in all countries of the world, especially in places like\nCanada, Australia, USA, UK, Norway and help to strengthen our nation founded on\nthe noble principles of non-violence, tolerance, compassion, where peaceful\nco-habitation has been the cornerstone from historic times. Forgiving and\nforgetting\u201d has been the attitude of our people, even to those who have harmed\nus repeatedly from historic times, because our people know that eventually\njustice and truth will prevail. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Daya Hewapathirane                                         daya.hewapathirane#gmail.com<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dr. Daya Hewapathirane My motherland \u2013 whatever label you may wish to ascribe to it \u2013 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[101],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-88971","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-dr-daya-hewapathirane"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88971","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=88971"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88971\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88971"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88971"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88971"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}