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| Sunday, 17 November 2002 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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What ails us, we Sinhalese? by Ranjith C. Dissanayake, Deputy President, Eksath Sinhala Maha Sabhawa Let me at the very outset make it clear beyond an iota of doubt, lest we are branded communalists, that we are not racist or communal minded. If speaking for the rights and just cause of the Sinhala people in their own soil can be construed to be communalism, then for Godsake, how and what should we call the 'LTTE', the 'SLMC', the 'TNA' and the 'CWC' etc who always clamour for, demand and even hold Governments to ransom to gain very much more than their legitimate and fair share of equality in this land of "Helaya" or "Sinhale"? It is reminded that this country was known as "Sinhale" when the European invaded the land and since they could not correctly pronounce it, they called it "Seylan" initially which later settled down to be known as "Ceylon" until 1972 when the country was named Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka as it stands today. We, Sinhalese, though the original and rightful inhabitants of this country, are not against any other race or community living on equal rights and without discrimination in our midst. Well that is why from very ancient times, we the Sinhalese had been living in harmony and friendship with people who invaded us from time to time from South and North India, China, the Arab world, Portugal, Netherlands, Britain etc some parts under the rule of the Cholas etc and from early 1800s the whole country under British rule. Of course when you are under foreign rule and in the midst of other communities, sporadic misunderstandings and incidents do take place. This was nothing particular to this country alone, but it had been the case in all other countries which were ruled by foreigners and where people were forced to co-habit with other nationalities. Despite differences of opinion the Sinhala people had lived with, co-existed shoulder to shoulder with the Tamils and Muslims until a few years after Independence in harmony, tolerance and understanding. Certain short-sighted political decisions by our leaders of the by-gone era led to the total disruption of the goodwill and understanding that existed specially between the Sinhalese and Tamils which as time past grew to undreamt of proportions that resulted in a so-called bloody ethnic war for near two decades which ravaged this beautiful country causing untold problems, hardships and losses to both man and property alike, not to speak for the colossal harm caused to the country's economy. We are now at a very critical and crucial juncture where the territorial integrity, independence, sovereignty and unitary status of the country is concerned. Apparently all Governments since Independence except the first Government, have all taken us, the Sinhala people for a right royal ride. We have been cheated and hoodwinked to believe that our so-called national leaders are real patriots and they would protect, safeguard, honour and restore the country to normalcy. But the facts are far from real. It is the concerned and concerted opinion of the Eksath Sinhala Maha Sabhawa that enough is enough. We have tolerated these nonsensical assurances of leader after leader enough. We cannot allow ourselves to be fooled any longer. Time is ripe and time has come for the entire Sinhala community to unite together shedding all petty differences, political, caste, religious, class, sex or sector aside for once and for all. It was long enough, we the Sinhala people stayed divided. Our disunity had been taken for granted as our weakness not only by our own leaders and politicians, but also by the communal minded people now subtly and surreptitiously inching themselves through the so-called one-sided MoU and the on-going peace talks in Thailand towards achieving their goal of a separate Homeland for the Tamils and Muslims (but only for the Tamils as we could clearly see how things are taking shape at present). It is very pertinent to ask our Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe what he has to now say to his very vociferous statement made public a few months back, 'that this country is the Homeland of all Sri Lankans and not of any single community or race'. On the light of the PMs statement has the Terrorists even made an indication anywhere that they are going to drop the demand for a separate State, that they will lay down and surrender arms and that they will settle down to a broader devolution of powers for self-determination in the areas that comes under their purview? No, they go on from strength to strength firmly asserting that they will achieve their goals. The Eksath Sinhala Maha Sabhawa calls upon all Sinhala people and Sinhalese Organisations to unite together to show their force and strength to the rulers who are only bent on falling head over heels to accommodate any request or demand of the Terrorists paying two hoots to the call of the majority to ensure the territorial integrity and unitary status of the country. It is also important to remind the world, lest they have now forgotten, that American State Department Spokesman, Mr. Nicholus Burns, in 1996 July making the world known of America's stand was very categorical that "The LTTE is the most vicious terrorist outfit in the world. One should not enter into any talks with such a brutish terrorist group unless they agree to lay down arms and give up their armed struggle. If the prerogative was theirs, America will never ever talk with the LTTE". We ask President George Bush what have you got to say to this Sir? Don't we see now that there has been a complete turn around of policies and principles since of late due to strange turn of events. It is time ripe, time right and time for all patriotic Sinhala elements to get together discarding their hitherto prevalent differences. Let us hold hands together and shout to the world that we are Patriots and certainly not Racists. According to the Oxford dictionary "Patriot" means a person who strongly support his country and in contrast the "Racist" means people with antagonism and belief that one's race is superior to that of other/s. Now all right thinking, saner people will be able to determine who are the Patriots and who are the Racists. In the name of tolerance, compassion and patience, are we, the Sinhala nation going to compromise the integrity and unitary status of our dear Mother Lanka? Or are we going to stand up unitedly in a strong bond of harmony and show the world our strength and commitment for peace with honour and dignity and lay bare before the world the atrocities of a vicious terrorist outfit? We now call upon all patriotic Sinhala organisations and people to unite under a single banner, under one umbrella rather than being divided on petty issues. "United we stand, divided we perish" - we want to remind our people. |
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