Adopt conciliatory approach - Chandrahasan tells Tamils

Elevating Tamil as an official language is a positive step taken by the Government to resolve the ethnic issue, S.C.Chandrahasan, son of S.J.V. Chelvanayakam, said.

Speaking as the guest speaker at a recent panel discussion on ‘Future of Tamils’ held in Colombo recently, Chandrahasan said Tamils and the Sinhalese are learning each others’ language as a stipulated requisite for State sector employment.

Chandrahasan said that he was optimistic that the Tamil community could achieve their political aspirations through a participatory and conciliatory approach through the efforts of the government to resolve their problems. He decided to adopt such an approach for the future wellbeing of the Tamil community, he said.

A founder member of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) and currently head of an NGO operating in India and Sri Lanka, said that he had lived in India for 26 years since 1983 and achieved many things for the community through such an approach.

He was instrumental in ensuring that children of all Sri Lankan refugees in Tamil Nadu received a formal education. He also was able to extend humanitarian relief assistance to the refugees in coordination with the Indian authorities.

He appealed to the media to give wide publicity to the genuine efforts of the Government to resolve national issues and to other positive steps being taken for the wellbeing of the Tamil community. “Language rights have been ensured and much progress has been achieved with regard to devolution of powers. The Provincial Council system, as a solution, has been agreed upon,” he said.

He said when our refugees were not able to deposit their paltry savings in the banks in India, a request was made to the Sri Lanka Government which responded positively. The Bank of Ceylon opened branches in Tamil Nadu near the refugee camps.

Chandrahasan added that steps should be taken to break the barriers between communities to secure their own future.

Professor S.Sandrasegaram, Dean of the Faculty of Education at the Colombo University said that Tamils should strengthen the hands of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who has pledged to resolve national issues.

“The UPFA is certain to receive the overwhelming mandate at next month’s general elections,” he said. He noted that unemployment is a problem faced by all communities of the country.

Business magnate K.Neelakandan, Attorney-at-Law and Ariya Sriharan, an expatriate solicitor from UK also spoke. A large gathering of Tamil professionals, academics, media personnel and members of the business community were present at the discussion, convened by Shan Shanmuganathan and civil society organisations representing the Tamils.