“In order to make a separatist claim LTTE recreate history of Sri Lanka according to their way; therefore in order to understand the reality on Sri Lanka it is important to know the correct Tamil history in Sri Lanka. In short, Tamils were originally from “Tamilnadu” India. The birthplace and homeland for over 50 million Tamils. They settled in Sri Lanka during the “Chola” invasions and during peace times, just crossing across narrow Polk straight. Tamils who settled among Singhalese learn their language and automatically became Singhalese.”_____________________________________
by Hasaka Ratnamalala
(March 13, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) This is an answer for the article written by Mr. Bruce Fein under the heading of “Tamil Statehood?” and the conversation took place after that. Mr. Fein’s article signals LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam) separatist agenda on Sri Lanka has reached another stage. While it’s terrorist wing massacring innocent civilians throughout Sri Lanka the LTTE lobby in United States is trying to mislead Americans using false information. Mr. Bruce Fein who as a well known lawyer and former deputy attorney general of United States is unfortunately in an unknown territory and this time he is truly acting as a “Devil’s Advocate”.
Invasions, separatism, foreign influence are not new phenomenon to Sri Lankans. Sri Lanka, as an island near a major sea route had its troubles through out her history. Time to time she became a victim of several colonial invasions. Starting with several “Chola (Tamil)” invasions in (1215-1236 AD), later Portuguese in (1505), Dutch (1638), British (1803). Despite the well-documented Sinhala history for 2500 years LTTE claim that they need a half of Sri Lanka based on the boundaries created by one of the “Chola” invaders.
In order to make a separatist claim LTTE recreate history of Sri Lanka according to their way; therefore in order to understand the reality on Sri Lanka it is important to know the correct Tamil history in Sri Lanka. In short, Tamils were originally from “Tamilnadu” India. The birthplace and homeland for over 50 million Tamils. They settled in Sri Lanka during the “Chola” invasions and during peace times, just crossing across narrow Polk straight. Tamils who settled among Singhalese learn their language and automatically became Singhalese. Those who settled Northern and Eastern parts of the country kept their traditions and the language, as they were close to their homeland “Tamilnadu”.
During British colonial era they brought thousands of Tamils from Tamilnadu to work in Tea plantations, which were created by chasing Singhalese farmers out of their ancestral lands. Thus, Tamils settled in different parts of the country in different eras in Sri Lanka’s history.
These different Tamils identified by different names. Tamils settled in Colombo and other parts of the country are called “Colombo Tamils” or “Colombo-Chetty”. Tamils in Jaffna are called “Jaffna Tamils”. Jaffna Tamils mostly belongs to so called “ Wellala caste”; the caste that the Tamils consider the top of their caste hierarchy. Even in a war situation Jaffna Tamils don’t want to mixed with so called “low caste Tamils”, who are living in Eastern province.
Tamils who brought by British to work in Tea plantations are called “Indian Tamils”. Neither Jaffna no Eastern Tamils does get alone with Indian Tamils. Also there are Tamils who became Catholics, because they were not allowed to go into Hindu Temples due to caste discrimination by fellow Tamils. There are Tamils mixed with Sinhala people who gave up their routes and took Sinahala names, eventually became Singhalese and even one of them became the first executive president of Sri Lanka. (J R Jeyawardene of Sri Lanka - A Political Biography, Volume 1) These multiple types of Tamils and fight within them had its roots in Sri Lanka’s national issue. Even though the highly funded LTTE propaganda machine doesn’t want to admit; the root cause for Tamil problems in Sri Lanka lays within their caste system. Instead, LTTE lobby blame Singhalese.
Tamils should blame their racist and caste minded Tamil leaders like G.G. Ponnambalam and S.J. Chelvanayagam for all of their mishaps. Ponnabalam opposed universal franchise to all Sri Lankans, because his “high caste”, “Oxford educated” Tamil elite would loose their upper hand in Sri Lanka’s politics. He converts his personal jealousy into a national dilemma making a fiery speech in Nawalapitiya in 1939 carved the first stone in Tamil separatism. According to newspapers of the day Ponnambalam threatened to burn Sinhala history book “Mahawamsa” and threatened to bring millions of Tamils from Tamilnadu to destroy homeland of Singhalese. Since that day the Singhalese feared their right to live in their homeland was threatened. As this was way before Sri Lanka became an independent state, no one can blame Singhalese for Ponnabalam’s way of thinking.
This caste-based politics of Tamils haven’t changed even today. In 1993, I interviewed Anton Balasingham the LTTE theoretician who creates the recent separate state episode. I asked him, if he managed to obtain a separate state what will happen to the Tamils in other parts of Sri Lanka. His answer was “They are the people who lived with the Sinhala people for a long time. Therefore, we do not like to interfere in their problems”(RAWAYA-October 31st 1993-page 5).
In other words Tamil people who are living in other parts of the Sri Lanka will not have the citizenship in his dream state. Therefore the so called low caste Eastern Tamils who moved out with Colonel Karuna due to caste discriminations of LTTE or the Indian Tamils in hill country who never collaborate with LTTE or the so called high caste Tamils in Jaffna who reject LTTE in every Jaffna city elections by choosing TULF (Tamil United Liberation Front) over LTTE will not have the citizenship either. Therefore those who are proposing Tamil state actually promoting a state for LTTE terrorists; it will never be a state for Tamils. If someone really wants to create statehood for Tamils as an ethnic group the best place for that is the state of “Tamilnadu” in India, but not in Sri Lanka. As India knows the hidden agenda of Tamil separatism as a fact, she will never allow Sri Lanka to be divided.
Tamil statehood claim is covered with lies created by LTTE and “fund hungry” NGOs. They hijacked Sri Lanka’s economic issues and posed them as Tamil issues. These lies were not properly confronted by Sri Lanka’s lazy diplomatic front until Hon.Lakshman Kadiragarmar became Sri Lanka’s foreign minister. Mr.Kadiragarmer who was an ethnic Tamil from Jaffna but confront LTTE lies as a Sri Lankan. In 2005 LTTE assassinated him because he delivered the real picture about Sri Lanka and the LTTE terrorism to the world
One of the main lies of LTTE is that “Sri Lankan state is blocking Tamil students to go to University by using “standardization”. Even though Sri Lanka is a poor nation she manages to give her citizens free education up to the university level. When there is free education it suppose to be delivered to all the citizens equally but before 1972 the benefits of free education was circled around major cities and among wealthy Sri Lankans. It never reached to rural provinces. Due to lack of teachers, schools and other education opportunities children in the rural provinces lagged behind. Not only Tamil majority districts like Killinochi, Mulative, Batticloa, Trincomalee, Badulla (significant Indian Tamil population), Nuwara Eliya (significant Indian Tamil Population) but also Sinahala districts like Monaragala, Polonnaruwa, Hambantota, were among them.
In 1969, 74% students who enter into Agriculture, Science and Engineering faculties were from Colombo and Jaffna (MARGA vol-12 page 4 by Dr. Swarna Jayaweera). The other 22 districts got only 26% of the total intake. In 1967, out of 218 Tamil students who entered to Medical faculty 139 of them were from Jaffna (63%) and 62 (28%) were from Colombo rest of the Tamil districts got only One (1) student. Therefore quick changes were needed in the education system. Even in other countries had similar conditions, James S. Coleman report (1966-United States) underlines due to lack of facilities students in rural areas are falling behind. Therefore in 1972 then minister of education Mr. Badudeen Mohamed (a Muslim) introduce the standerization system. This was essential because Sri Lanka’s highly competitive university entrance exam (Advance Level) neglects poor children in rural villages, despite their ethnicity. According to standardization, fixed amount of marks were add to the results of a student coming from a rural district. None of the critics failed to mention about the positive side that the less privileged low caste Eastern Tamil students from the rural districts (Killinochchi, Mulative, Batticloa, Trincomalee etc.) got a better chance to go to University because of Standardization.
In his much public speech at Toronto University, Professor Ratnajeevan Hoole (a Tamil) admits, “there is one good thing in standerszation is children in Tamil low caste and students in rural provinces were able to go to university…” (Speech made by Professor Ratnajeevan Hoole at University of Toronto on April 21st 2007-page 9). In fact that is the only thing expected from standardization system. Professor Ratnajeevan also points out in his speech how hard for him to be the Vice Chancellor of Jaffna University as a Catholic and also it is a well-known fact that the opposition Sri Lankan government got from “Tamil high caste” when the Government was planning to build University of Jaffna. Again, Tamil high caste in Jaffna was afraid that low caste Tamils get a university education. Despite the opposition so called “racist Sri Lankan government” not only built University of Jaffna but also Eastern University, for Tamils. But unfortunately still LTTE front is using this high caste slogan for their so-called separation war. Today some of these districts are in a much better place therefore standerazation has removed. But standardization was one of the most progressive actions taken by Sri Lankan government in order to establish equality in education system in Sri Lanka. Best proof for that is Sri Lanka’s high literacy rate (80%). Which is the highest in South Asia and on the top within the developing countries.
This is the inside view of one of the main Tamil separatist slogans; there is no much difference in other slogans either. Only problem is when there is no one to deny; a lie become the fact. That is what happened to Sri Lanka.
In conclusion, there are more Tamils living among Singhalese in other parts of Sri Lanka who wants one undivided Sri Lanka whom are even fighting against LTTE in the battlefront. LTTE claim for a separate state is a unrealistic dream of a selfish self- centered, feudalistic caste minded individuals with the help of fund hungry NGOs and imperialist foreign governments which carry a bigger and deeper agenda in their baggage. If the LTTE claim would be succeeded it will definitely create bloodshed in Sri Lanka for another hundred years. If that the peace western nations want? So, be it! We are here to fight to the end for a much bigger pluralistic Sri Lanka, which is open to all ethnicities. This is our freedom struggle.
by Hasaka Ratnamalala
(March 13, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) This is an answer for the article written by Mr. Bruce Fein under the heading of “Tamil Statehood?” and the conversation took place after that. Mr. Fein’s article signals LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam) separatist agenda on Sri Lanka has reached another stage. While it’s terrorist wing massacring innocent civilians throughout Sri Lanka the LTTE lobby in United States is trying to mislead Americans using false information. Mr. Bruce Fein who as a well known lawyer and former deputy attorney general of United States is unfortunately in an unknown territory and this time he is truly acting as a “Devil’s Advocate”.
Invasions, separatism, foreign influence are not new phenomenon to Sri Lankans. Sri Lanka, as an island near a major sea route had its troubles through out her history. Time to time she became a victim of several colonial invasions. Starting with several “Chola (Tamil)” invasions in (1215-1236 AD), later Portuguese in (1505), Dutch (1638), British (1803). Despite the well-documented Sinhala history for 2500 years LTTE claim that they need a half of Sri Lanka based on the boundaries created by one of the “Chola” invaders.
In order to make a separatist claim LTTE recreate history of Sri Lanka according to their way; therefore in order to understand the reality on Sri Lanka it is important to know the correct Tamil history in Sri Lanka. In short, Tamils were originally from “Tamilnadu” India. The birthplace and homeland for over 50 million Tamils. They settled in Sri Lanka during the “Chola” invasions and during peace times, just crossing across narrow Polk straight. Tamils who settled among Singhalese learn their language and automatically became Singhalese. Those who settled Northern and Eastern parts of the country kept their traditions and the language, as they were close to their homeland “Tamilnadu”.
During British colonial era they brought thousands of Tamils from Tamilnadu to work in Tea plantations, which were created by chasing Singhalese farmers out of their ancestral lands. Thus, Tamils settled in different parts of the country in different eras in Sri Lanka’s history.
These different Tamils identified by different names. Tamils settled in Colombo and other parts of the country are called “Colombo Tamils” or “Colombo-Chetty”. Tamils in Jaffna are called “Jaffna Tamils”. Jaffna Tamils mostly belongs to so called “ Wellala caste”; the caste that the Tamils consider the top of their caste hierarchy. Even in a war situation Jaffna Tamils don’t want to mixed with so called “low caste Tamils”, who are living in Eastern province.
Tamils who brought by British to work in Tea plantations are called “Indian Tamils”. Neither Jaffna no Eastern Tamils does get alone with Indian Tamils. Also there are Tamils who became Catholics, because they were not allowed to go into Hindu Temples due to caste discrimination by fellow Tamils. There are Tamils mixed with Sinhala people who gave up their routes and took Sinahala names, eventually became Singhalese and even one of them became the first executive president of Sri Lanka. (J R Jeyawardene of Sri Lanka - A Political Biography, Volume 1) These multiple types of Tamils and fight within them had its roots in Sri Lanka’s national issue. Even though the highly funded LTTE propaganda machine doesn’t want to admit; the root cause for Tamil problems in Sri Lanka lays within their caste system. Instead, LTTE lobby blame Singhalese.
Tamils should blame their racist and caste minded Tamil leaders like G.G. Ponnambalam and S.J. Chelvanayagam for all of their mishaps. Ponnabalam opposed universal franchise to all Sri Lankans, because his “high caste”, “Oxford educated” Tamil elite would loose their upper hand in Sri Lanka’s politics. He converts his personal jealousy into a national dilemma making a fiery speech in Nawalapitiya in 1939 carved the first stone in Tamil separatism. According to newspapers of the day Ponnambalam threatened to burn Sinhala history book “Mahawamsa” and threatened to bring millions of Tamils from Tamilnadu to destroy homeland of Singhalese. Since that day the Singhalese feared their right to live in their homeland was threatened. As this was way before Sri Lanka became an independent state, no one can blame Singhalese for Ponnabalam’s way of thinking.
This caste-based politics of Tamils haven’t changed even today. In 1993, I interviewed Anton Balasingham the LTTE theoretician who creates the recent separate state episode. I asked him, if he managed to obtain a separate state what will happen to the Tamils in other parts of Sri Lanka. His answer was “They are the people who lived with the Sinhala people for a long time. Therefore, we do not like to interfere in their problems”(RAWAYA-October 31st 1993-page 5).
In other words Tamil people who are living in other parts of the Sri Lanka will not have the citizenship in his dream state. Therefore the so called low caste Eastern Tamils who moved out with Colonel Karuna due to caste discriminations of LTTE or the Indian Tamils in hill country who never collaborate with LTTE or the so called high caste Tamils in Jaffna who reject LTTE in every Jaffna city elections by choosing TULF (Tamil United Liberation Front) over LTTE will not have the citizenship either. Therefore those who are proposing Tamil state actually promoting a state for LTTE terrorists; it will never be a state for Tamils. If someone really wants to create statehood for Tamils as an ethnic group the best place for that is the state of “Tamilnadu” in India, but not in Sri Lanka. As India knows the hidden agenda of Tamil separatism as a fact, she will never allow Sri Lanka to be divided.
Tamil statehood claim is covered with lies created by LTTE and “fund hungry” NGOs. They hijacked Sri Lanka’s economic issues and posed them as Tamil issues. These lies were not properly confronted by Sri Lanka’s lazy diplomatic front until Hon.Lakshman Kadiragarmar became Sri Lanka’s foreign minister. Mr.Kadiragarmer who was an ethnic Tamil from Jaffna but confront LTTE lies as a Sri Lankan. In 2005 LTTE assassinated him because he delivered the real picture about Sri Lanka and the LTTE terrorism to the world
One of the main lies of LTTE is that “Sri Lankan state is blocking Tamil students to go to University by using “standardization”. Even though Sri Lanka is a poor nation she manages to give her citizens free education up to the university level. When there is free education it suppose to be delivered to all the citizens equally but before 1972 the benefits of free education was circled around major cities and among wealthy Sri Lankans. It never reached to rural provinces. Due to lack of teachers, schools and other education opportunities children in the rural provinces lagged behind. Not only Tamil majority districts like Killinochi, Mulative, Batticloa, Trincomalee, Badulla (significant Indian Tamil population), Nuwara Eliya (significant Indian Tamil Population) but also Sinahala districts like Monaragala, Polonnaruwa, Hambantota, were among them.
In 1969, 74% students who enter into Agriculture, Science and Engineering faculties were from Colombo and Jaffna (MARGA vol-12 page 4 by Dr. Swarna Jayaweera). The other 22 districts got only 26% of the total intake. In 1967, out of 218 Tamil students who entered to Medical faculty 139 of them were from Jaffna (63%) and 62 (28%) were from Colombo rest of the Tamil districts got only One (1) student. Therefore quick changes were needed in the education system. Even in other countries had similar conditions, James S. Coleman report (1966-United States) underlines due to lack of facilities students in rural areas are falling behind. Therefore in 1972 then minister of education Mr. Badudeen Mohamed (a Muslim) introduce the standerization system. This was essential because Sri Lanka’s highly competitive university entrance exam (Advance Level) neglects poor children in rural villages, despite their ethnicity. According to standardization, fixed amount of marks were add to the results of a student coming from a rural district. None of the critics failed to mention about the positive side that the less privileged low caste Eastern Tamil students from the rural districts (Killinochchi, Mulative, Batticloa, Trincomalee etc.) got a better chance to go to University because of Standardization.
In his much public speech at Toronto University, Professor Ratnajeevan Hoole (a Tamil) admits, “there is one good thing in standerszation is children in Tamil low caste and students in rural provinces were able to go to university…” (Speech made by Professor Ratnajeevan Hoole at University of Toronto on April 21st 2007-page 9). In fact that is the only thing expected from standardization system. Professor Ratnajeevan also points out in his speech how hard for him to be the Vice Chancellor of Jaffna University as a Catholic and also it is a well-known fact that the opposition Sri Lankan government got from “Tamil high caste” when the Government was planning to build University of Jaffna. Again, Tamil high caste in Jaffna was afraid that low caste Tamils get a university education. Despite the opposition so called “racist Sri Lankan government” not only built University of Jaffna but also Eastern University, for Tamils. But unfortunately still LTTE front is using this high caste slogan for their so-called separation war. Today some of these districts are in a much better place therefore standerazation has removed. But standardization was one of the most progressive actions taken by Sri Lankan government in order to establish equality in education system in Sri Lanka. Best proof for that is Sri Lanka’s high literacy rate (80%). Which is the highest in South Asia and on the top within the developing countries.
This is the inside view of one of the main Tamil separatist slogans; there is no much difference in other slogans either. Only problem is when there is no one to deny; a lie become the fact. That is what happened to Sri Lanka.
In conclusion, there are more Tamils living among Singhalese in other parts of Sri Lanka who wants one undivided Sri Lanka whom are even fighting against LTTE in the battlefront. LTTE claim for a separate state is a unrealistic dream of a selfish self- centered, feudalistic caste minded individuals with the help of fund hungry NGOs and imperialist foreign governments which carry a bigger and deeper agenda in their baggage. If the LTTE claim would be succeeded it will definitely create bloodshed in Sri Lanka for another hundred years. If that the peace western nations want? So, be it! We are here to fight to the end for a much bigger pluralistic Sri Lanka, which is open to all ethnicities. This is our freedom struggle.
- Sri Lanka Guardian
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