| by Our Special Corespondent reporting from Colombo
( September 30, 2012, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) His Lordship, Bishop of Mannar Rev. Dr. Rayappu Joseph addressed a discussion
meeting of Christian Solidarity Movement, headed by Rev. Fr. Sarath
Iddamalgoda today at the Centre For Society and Religion ,Colombo .The
main theme was to discuss the sufferings of the people faced by the
North and East provinces. The Christian Solidarity movement has been
sharing the grievances of these people since the war ended.
The discussion forum was attended by a large crowd including
Rev. Fathers, Sisters, Lawyers, laymen including Human Rights activists.
The welcome speech was done by Rev. Sr.Mary Helen Fernando.
Thereafter His Lordship, Bishop of Mannar Rev. Dr. Rayappu Joseph addressed
the gathering said that at first I must thank you the Christian
Solidarity Movement for the tireless efforts to look at
the grievances of our people in the north and east , thank you
very much in the name of the Christ. Even though we are waiting for
a political solution to the actual grievances of the people in the north
and east, still there is no political solution.
We
as followers of Christ, we should go towards the path of truth, Justice
and reconciliation. Everybody should agree with the fundamental rights
of minority groups of the country, like Tamils. They are also equal
citizens of Mother Lanka .we also have a very rich language, (Tamil)
and a culture. Everybody must respect this even though the due rights
are not given now. Some says if the Tamils need the rights, they should
go to Tamilnadu in India. We are not Indian citizens; we need to live
peacefully with the other people of Sri Lanka. Chinese and Tamil languages
are classical languages of the Indian sub continent. While respecting
the other languages of the country, we would like to gain the due place
for our language too. When you take the School system, they have classified
that into Sinhala schools and Tamil Schools thereby discrimination commenced.
In 1956, All Ceylon Buddhist Conference started telling that we in Sri
Lanka only having the Sinhala possession and the Tamils and Christians
are their enemies.
In India when they invented their National Constitution, thanks to the
efforts of Minority Group leader, Dr. Ambedkar, a constitution which
guarantees the rights of the minorities had been made, with the blessings
of all. That is why, such a big state having so many nationals co-exist
in India. In Sri Lanka all the previous governments by way of making
habitats etc. in the predominantly Tamil areas, they tried to convert
the Tamils to an absolute minority. We are against this. Our Language,
nation, destroyed, grievances privileges and rights abolished. In short
big nation destroyed the minorities. Even today it is the same.
North and East people had a national economy of their own. Tamils
needed a self governing rule under a united Sri Lanka. The south political
leadership knows this but they do not like to empower our peoples as
they fear to do that just because due to greediness of power. So even
now, this pathetic situation must end. We request this not to suppress
the Sinhala nation but to enable our people to get rid of this pathetic
situation in the name of truth and Justice.
Sri Lanka
our nation is suffering from a big cancer. If not treated at the right
time, which is now we cannot go further and everybody may have to suffer
as a result. Therefore pl. brings reforms and enables all citizens to
live peacefully in this island. Many questions were being asked from
the gathering and a healthy discussion held.
 His Lordship, Bishop of Manna...){kind=link}