May God bless all countries:

Tamil diaspora to play a major role

by M. Mahathevan

Hindu Kovils are found in every nook and corner of the Jaffna Peninsula. Apart from daily poojas, festivals are a frequent occurrence in these kovils. Temple worship is an important aspect in the routine life of the Northern people.

Amidst, all this, whenever someone goes for worshipping in the Hindu kovils in Jaffna, a notable aspect seen is the Slogan "Praise Siva of the South" ("Thennaadudaya Sivaney Poteri") mentioned as the end of the worship being echoed as "Praise the God for any country" by the worshippers.

Recently a friend of mine was jokingly saying that the reason for such echoing of the slogan "Praise the God for any country" by everybody in a loud voice was that their relatives were living in many foreign countries.

Although the Thamil community has its own individual aspects, the importance of living amicably with others has been mentioned by a poet in the Thamil literature named Kaniyan Poongkunnranaar of the Sangha period, who says "Listen everyone, from every village".

The meaning of this is that the whole world is our village, every community of people are our relations.

It was after the 1983 ethnic violence unleashed during the UNP Government that the number of people migrating from the North, started increasing today this number has increased many fold and runs into millions. Europe, Canada, Australia have many people who have left the Northern Sri Lanka. India too has a large segment of such migrants.

The people from the North and East had to undergo a dark period during the war environment for the past three decades.

Every citizen in North and East was affected by its war and all areas were devastated, and it could be mentioned that there was no area that had not undergone bomb attacks.

Agriculture, fishing, education and trade, were affected badly and the economy of the North and East was shattered.However the people of the North and East were able to carry on even though facing severe hardships and difficulties was due to the monetary support from their kith and kin who were living abroad.

Although the effects of the war were grave, people of the North and East were not thrown to the stage of death due to starvation or sufferings of hunger.

Price of the essential commodities in the war areas had escalated alarmingly due to transport difficulties and security tightened up. Until the war ending last year the subject of price increase was not in control, only the assistance provided by the Thamil Diaspora helped them to overcome the situation.However the broad and pitiable approach of the Diaspora was under the watchful eye of the forces which lead to the path of destruction from abroad.

Therefore the heap which came from the Diaspora which turned out to be a panacea for the people of the North and East also turned out to be tonic for the armed groupes. But the Thamil Diaspora has turned out to be a force that had performed an historical duty of creating a new world that travels towards peaceful and amicable living.The Thamil Diaspora lives in the most developed countries in the world.

However, they have to earn their income by working round the clock and in siting cold environs.

Apart from this, the Sri Lnakan Thamil migrants are found to be hard workers. Having shown remarkable talent they have become successful businessmen and also specialists in the field of medicine, law, engineering amongst other fields.

Now they have multiface duties towards their kith and kin from their place of birth, who have now being released from the bonds of war.

Three decade of war has made thousands of orphans, widows, disables, insanes and displaced amongst those affected.

Therefore the Thamil Diaspora is in a position to go through a thorough survey and take a decision on creating a new healthier peaceful environment.

High standards in lifestyle, political procedure, economic growth, scientific and technological growth could be seen in Europe and other countries of the world where the migrant Sri Lankan Thamils live.

Basic human rights, democratic values, modern thinking philosophy in the countries where the Thamil Diaspora lives are excellent. Therefore, the Thamil Diaspora can draw up good, rehabilitation programs for their kith and kin with the help of the countries they live in. They can apart from offering humanitarian help, can also invest in modern business ventures.

Thereby, with helping their people, the Thamil Diaspora can also participate in the socio-economic activities of their area as well.

The Thamil Diaspora has to serve those affected by the war like applying medication to their wounds and should not act like pouring fuel to the fire by keeping more load on them.

The Thamil Diaspora should come forward to visit their own villages during the peaceful environment now prevailing in Sri Lanka and see the natural conditions for themselves.

Apart from the external forces some local miscreants too do not wish to see Sri Lanka turning out to be a peaceful country.

Many have made themselves merry for themselves during the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka.

Therefore, the Thamil Diaspora has to keep an eye on such dreadful forces.

The forces which do not like calm prevailing in Sri Lanka and peace and harmony among the communities have started the new concept of Makkal Peravai, Makkal Puligal Kachchi (Transnational Government) in the foreign countries.

Those who until now fed for themselves through the utterances of Tiger activities, have now come up with this new concept.

The desire of these miscreants who continue with such efforts, is to serve the purposes of the foreign powers who pressurize Sri Lanka.

As such, any Thamil person from the Diaspora and one who can think good, will not come forward to upset the prevailing peaceful and communal harmonious environment in Sri Lanka.

As such, the Thamil Diaspora should live for themselves and also think of providing a better peaceful life for their kith and kin and should draw up future progress for that purpose.

Meanwhile they should also understand the situation and not fall for and get caught in the magical nets of the miscreant forces as happened before.