What national reconciliation by discussing to prevent national anthem in Tamil?

(December 13, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Reported attempt to prevent national anthem being sung in Tamil language is yet another ill attempt that alienates Tamil speaking people in this country. We wonder what national reconciliation the government is talking of by discussing such divisive attempts at a time when Sri Lanka needs more endeavors towards reunion. We fail to understand why the government leaders cannot accept the our national anthem also in Tamil as a symbol of unity and make use of it to bring communities together, asks DPF leader Mano Ganesan in a statement released by DPF media office.

Mr. Ganesan in his reaction to reported discussion on preventing national anthem of the country being sung in Tamil language said further,

Government is duty bound to clarify the official stand regarding this issue which has already sent shock waves amidst Tamil speaking people and all fair minded people of this country. It is being reported that this subject was discussed at the last cabinet meeting on the basis that no country in the world has it’s national anthem in more than one language. It is factually wrong basis. Canadians proudly sing their national anthem officially both in English and French. We understand that Canadian anthem was first written in French and then translated into English.

India which has over 18 national languages where Indians bigheartedly sing their national anthem in Bengali language. The high point here is that Bengali is not the language of the majority of Indians. It is the language spoken by fourth largest segment of the Indian society after Hindi, Telugu and Tamil. We in Sri Lanka need more public and private endeavors to bring ethnicities, languages and religions closer to each other. But unfortunately it seems we are heading opposite.