(May 13, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Ceylon gained Independence in 1948. At that time it had the highest living standard in Asia next only to the Philippines. Japan was devastated after the second world war. Slums then and even now are known as ‘Koreawa’, as Korea was a very backward country. Ceylon Rs. 3 was the value of a Sterling Pound.
During the second world war, Great Britain obtained Foreign Aid from Ceylon. The Education system and living standards of Ceylon had world wide praise and acceptance, while the law and order situation was the envy of other countries. Students from continents such as Africa, Europe and Asian countries, such as India, Thailand, Burma, China, Nepal, Maldives were attending Ceylon schools. Many Europeon soldiers of the second world war took up teaching appointments for short periods, to recover from the stress and strain of the war before returning to their own country. However, the short periods sometimes extended to as much as 20 years in many cases as these Europeons fell in love with this Island of Paradise also described as the Pearl of the Orient and were reluctant to leave. Even as recently as in 1970 when the Mahaweh Dam construction at Polgolla off Kandy was carried out by a Yugoslavian company, a few Yugoslavian children were studying at Trinity College, Kandy (TCK). The names of foreign students who played rugby football and cricket adorn the roll of Honour of TCK.
Today there a number of projects, especially BoI ones in Sri Lanka, employing many foreign nationals, but how many of their children are in Sri Lanka schools? The standard of former outstanding public schools are being brought down to the level of State schools. There are large numbers of Sri Lankan students finding their way to educational institutions abroad. The medical profession then was a pride to the country. Rule of law and balance of power was greatly respected. A highway robbery, a shooting or a crime was rare and therefore sensational
Our ancestors toiled and lived for the welfare of their children and future, generation. But today the younger generation is being gradually wiped out. Sri Lanka Rs 204 is the value of a Sterling Pound. ‘The process of peace was shattered the day before Armistice by the cold blooded murder of a Human Rights Activist. Abductionists, Arsonists, Assassinators, are at large and war mongers on the prowl.. Several opportunities for peaceful settlement have been lost to the nation Disaster after disaster followed because of arrogance, pride, deceit, hypocrisy, lack of sincerity and commitment. The LTTE and their political allies on one side and the Government and their allies on the other side have to share the blame for bringing Sri Lanka to shame.
- Sri Lanka Guardian
Mr. S. Thambyrajah's assessment of Sri Lanka is an eye opener, but in any issue you have to look at why, what and how things changed.
Before the Independence then Tamil leaders started the 50-50 demand and created the fear among the Sinhalese about Tamils of Sri Lanka. Due to this fear and the loss of Sinhala rights and property during British colonisation Sinhalese demanded to bring legislation to protect them loosing what little they had, and this helped Bandaranayake come into power.
While Tamil leaders were trying to stick to 50-50 and make deals with every government of Sri Lanka at this period for their benefit, these so called Tamil leaders forgot about the poor Tamils in the North or how to develop that part of the country. These Tamil leaders all lived luxury lives in Colombo and sent their kith and kid to best schools in Colombo and then to UK or USA for further studies. Then they will go to North and wind up Tamil youth and blamed of their sufferings to the Sri Lanka government of the day. These people came into power from the poor Tamil votes but when questioned what they do after coming to power they blamed the government of the day.
By 1980, when I was a student at Sussex University in UK in Economics I was taught that Sri Lanka was the fastest growing economy in the whole of Asia even passing Japan.
This is the time the mislead Tamil youth who saw the economic growth in the South became restless with good reasons and with the support of this so called Tamil leaders started the arms struggle which started this whole mess which everyone is finding difficult to get out of it.
So in my opinion first we have to eradicate the terrorism and liberate the Tamils of the North from the people terrorising the Tamils and invest and develop the area. This will help the whole country and people especially youth will be employed and happy to have a better life than what is happening now to all Tamils and Sinhalese alike.
If and when this happens I believe this so called Tamil leaders will rush to the North to get the credit and benefit from the developments.
Dear Rohana,
Let me tell you what was the situation of Sri Lanka in the 80's.
In 1960's Lee Quan Yu came to power in Singapoer promising that he will make Singapore another Ceylon. in 1977 JR came to power promising that he will make Colombo (remember: only Colombo, not the entire country) a "small" Singapore. Please tell me what went wrong.
50-50 is a good demand as far as all communities are conceerned. it makes the Majority community to have 50% state in Assembly while all other communities jointly have the power of 50%. It makes all communities to live togeather, while no community to live alone.
The Leaders of all communities have made the mistakes. Who formed the Singhala Only cabinet before independance? Who decided to make the up country workers stateless in one day? What happened to the Burger community which never raised any political slogans?
3. Tamil Leaders never came to power as such. It is true a few handful got their seat in PArliamemnt and in cabinet, but they didnt have power as such to develop.
Why the country when on the wrong direction?
1. Rulers never had a vision for the country as a whole. Wither they had a limited vision over their family, party or ethnic group.
2. The Sinhala Only act which deprived the Tamil speaking coomunity the right to contact the Government in their own language which made them to think that this is not their government and later to this is not their country.
3. The major fault in not only with the leaders. as people who casted their votes at various elections, we too should take the responsibility. We entertained the race based politics which is the biggest mistake we have done.
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