Bilingual national anthem violates Constitution – JHU

By Umesh Moramudali

Government constituent party, the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), yesterday claimed that singing the national anthem, in both Sinhala and Tamil, during national ceremonies will be a gross violation of Sri Lanka's Constitution.

JHU Deputy General Secretary, Udaya Gammanpila, told Ceylon Today that the Constitution highlighted the national anthem should be sung during national ceremonies only in the Sinhala language as it is the native and exclusive language in Sri Lanka.
"Sinhala is the language that emerged in Sri Lanka. Tamil and other languages did not.

herefore during national ceremonies including the Independence Day celebration on 4 February, the national anthem should be sung in Sinhala. However, the national anthem can be sung in Tamil during Tamil regional ceremonies and in the areas in which the majority is Tamil, as it will help the Tamil people to understand the meaning of the national anthem," he said.

Gammanpila went on to say that this is only a proposal by a minister, and being a part of the government, the JHU will express its views in this regard at the cabinet meeting as well.

On 23 January, Minister of National Languages and Social Integration, Vasudeva Nanayakkara suggested to President Mahinda Rajapaksa that the national anthem should be sung with lyrics in both Sinhala and Tamil.

New version of national anthem proposed

Vasu, A Man Of Your Caliber Needs Not Fear The Thunder

Minister of National Language and Social Integration, leader of the Democratic Left Front, Vasudeva Nanayakkara who is an Attorney at Law himself who had dedicated his life since 1970 to active left wing revolutionary politics delivered a speech at the debate on the 11th January 2013 which gave the impression that he is suffering from fatty degeneration of conscience.

I am sorry that I have to say this, I just cannot imagine that you of all at this stage of one’s life taking into consideration the long years you had dedicated to the left movement and the trade union movement with stalwarts like Dr.N.M. Perera, Dr Colvin R. de Silva, Leslie Goonawardena, Dr.S.A. Wickramasinghe, Pieter Keuneman, M.G. Mendis and Robert Gunawardena for merely to survive few more years of a luscious life could betray the general masses.

By Shamindra Ferdinando-January 23, 2013

A parliamentary committee has proposed a new version of the national anthem to be sung in both Sinhala and Tamil at the 65th Independence Day celebrations in Trincomalee on Feb 4.

National Languages and Social Integration Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara yesterday told The Island that the committee, which met under his leadership, decided to make the proposal to President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Asked whether the committee would push for the immediate implementation of the proposal, Minister Nanayakkara said that it would be the prerogative of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The Minister said that their move would greatly boost ongoing post-war national reconciliation effort, particularly in view of this year’s Independence Day celebrations being held in the East.

Responding to a query, the minister admitted that at the time the decision was taken all members of the National Languages and Social Integration parliamentary committee hadn’t been present. He said in spite of the possibility of some members of the committee opposing the move, those present at the time the decision was taken had endorsed it.

In Praise Of Sumanthiran

Vasu, A Man Of Your Caliber Needs Not Fear The Thunder

By Barbara Seneviratne -January 20, 2013

Barbara Seneviratne

You were looked upon as one who does not indulge in politicking or compromising his principles and earned a nick name as “Firebrand”. All because you were a fearless champion of the rights of the minorities and had been beaten, jailed and forced underground due to your political activism. But with what you have done the proud good old nick name you were once known bestowed with for standing up for the down trodden masses will never be known.

I can remember you once attempted to run-away with the Mace which was the symbol of Parliamentary Authority during the UNP regime in 1989 when the House was debating an amendment moved by the government to the Agrarian Research Ordinance. All because then UNP government wanted to hurry its passage through parliament unfairly.
In November 1976, you also played a similar drama in the old Parliament by bringing a floral wreath after the killing Weerasuriya a student leader of the Peradeniya University.

Where are your conscience and convictions you stood for? Or did you ever have any at all?
What you have done since of late is to make it easy to the likes of Mervyn Silva to be the future rulers and to bring this country to a state of moral decay.

In fact I felt sorry that a staunched politician, a militant could fall a prey to words such as “You go down alone or go down with me ” could decide that betrayal is far better than upholding ones principles. Please remember that you have already gone down deep below and your resurrection as a true son of this soil is far fetched.

We all are aware that the impeachment of the CJ was brought about by politicians who pursue money, positions, black money and corruption. This country has given immense intelligence and skills but no sense of public duty, discipline or dedication. We lack sense of fairness.

The impeachment has robbed our Constitutional rights. One should not forget that the Constitution is not to enable politicians to play their unending game of power but to hold the country and her people together.

My sincere wish is that you will have the courage to rectify this damage. A man of your caliber needs not fear the thunder.

Posted by Thavam