HSBC apologises for Lion flag display, hunger striker welcomes community action in UK

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 14 August 2012, 10:02 GMT]

Eezham Tamil activist Sivanthan who waged a hunger strike in London for 22 days during the Olympics, has welcomed the action by the local Tamil community of New Malden, Surrey, after reading the news report, which appeared in the local news paper Your Local Guardian on Sunday with the title “New Malden bank sorry for displaying ‘genocide’ flag.” The Bank had removed the offending flag on 03 August, a few hours after the local community reacted against the display and the wider attention it acquired through a headline story. After removing the Sri Lankan flag, the HSBC branch had also extended apologies to the members of the community. In the meantime, the recovering hunger striker has appealed the London based Tamil electronic media to refrain from running commercials displaying ‘Sri Lanka’ flag and businesses to stop using the same. 
same. 
Gobi Sivanthan on 13 08 2012 by TamilNet
On the concluding day of the Olympics, the apology by the HSBC bank was brought up in the news story by Clare Buchanan of Your Local Guardian. 

“The flags were meant with the very best intentions and the bank unreservedly apologises to any members of the Tamil community who were offended,” the paper said citing a spokesman of HSBC.

The local community action was led even by non-Tamil South Asians in New Malden.

In the meantime, Mr. Sivanthan, who is currently hospitalized after the fast, urged Tamil media houses operating from London like the ILC Radio and GTV, to refrain from giving advertisement space to the business establishments, which were using the offending ‘Sri Lankan’ flag in their commercials. 

Referring positively to the recent decision taken by the HSBC branch in New Malden, London to remove Sri Lankan flags and apologize for displaying the same after protests from Eezham Tamils in the locality, youth activist Gobi Sivanthan urged Eezham Tamils world over to reject the ‘Sri Lankan’ identity and all symbols associated with it, in a voice interview for TamilNet. He further appealed to Eezham Tamil businesses not to promote any symbols associated with the genocidal Sri Lankan state. 

Speaking from his hospital bed, Mr. Sivanthan said “Sri Lanka colluding with world establishments is taking its process of genocide further by imposing the ‘Sri Lankan’ identity on us,” opining that the Sri Lankan flag is associated with genocide of the Eezham Tamils.

He appealed to Tamil businesses, shops, restaurants and media houses to refrain from using the Sri Lankan flag symbols and other symbols associated with the ‘Sri Lankan’ identity which only legitimizes the ongoing genocide of the Eezham Tamil nation. 

Sivanthan also criticized some establishments’ organizations for criminalizing the national flag of the Eezham Tamils, emphasizing that Tamils have a responsibility to defend and uphold the national flag and national symbols of Tamil Eelam.

The Tamil Eelam national flag was on prominent display at the spot of Sivanthan’s protest for all the 22 days.

SEPERATE EELAM NOT AN IMMEDIATE OPTION - VICKRAMABAHU

August 14, 2012 

‘Sinhalisation’ of Tamil areas is a ruse used by the Sri Lankan government to take over land, seashore and other resources of Tamils and hand them over to multinational companies, Vickramabahu Karunaratne, president of the Nava Sama Samaj Party, told reporters in India.

Mr. Vickramabahu, as he prefers to be referred to, was here to attend the Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation (TESO) conference. He told reporters that ‘Sinhalisation’ process was a “farce” and Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa was using it to gamble with poor Sinhalese masses for retaining their support. He said there was no denying the fact there were incidents of Sinhalese being settled in Tamil areas. However, it was only a populist pretext for grabbing the resources of the Tamil people and selling these to alien powers, especially MNCs, without consulting the Tamil people.

“The President has made use of Sinhalese chauvinism to strengthen the military and amended the Constitution. But, his economic policies have failed. The development of harbours and airports has little relevance to the ordinary citizen and they have benefited only the corrupt bourgeois.”

Mr. Vickramabahu said India also helped Sri Lanka in the war and the resolutions asking the United Nations to probe and punish those who were responsible for the war crimes would not serve the purpose beyond a point, since the U.N. was run by global powers and Mr. Rajapaska had their support. “You must keep in mind that his brothers are citizens of the U.S.”

Asked if he was in favour of a separate Eelam, Mr. Vickramabahu said that he would not advise it as an immediate option since efforts to foster unity had not been exhausted. “Seeing separate Eelam as the only solution is not the right idea. The idea of self-determination is there and we can go for a referendum on these issues,” the Hindu reports.

Govt. launches two-pronged battle here and abroad
Saturday, August 11, 2012

By Our Political Editor

= President personally handles polls campaign to ensure bigger victory while divided UNP fails to exploit major issues
= CEB and CPC face major crisis and consumers may have to pay for it
= South Africa takes initiative to revive Govt.-TNA talks on reconciliation

There is no one who is busier than President Mahinda Rajapaksa over the upcoming North Central, Sabaragamuwa and Eastern Provincial Council elections.

Without the glare of publicity, in the past days he has been chairing meetings with MPs of different districts in the three provinces. Co-opted to help them and given specific areas to campaign are cabinet ministers. All of them have been told that they should work towards ensuring a higher percentage of votes than the previous 2008 elections for the UPFA.
It has become priority number one for Rajapaksa for many reasons. More than three years after the military defeat of Tiger guerrillas, he wants to demonstrate that the voters have endorsed his government’s achievements including the ongoing development programmes. The message to be delivered, both domestically and internationally, is that the Rajapaksa administration is having the full backing of the people. To achieve its goal, the government has intensified welfare measures. Farmers hard hit by the prevailing drought are receiving water pumps. Housing assistance is being provided to those wanting to improve their abodes. Ahead of the nominations, where it is legally permissible, hundreds received jobs. This week, Rs. 1.5 billion was set apart for development work in the North Central Province alone.

In the 2008 elections to the North Central Province, the UPFA polled 56.37 per cent of the 573,522 votes polled. The United National Party (UNP), its closest rival, came second with 37.64 per cent. This is despite the UNP contesting together with the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC). The SLMC, though a constituent partner in the ruling coalition, is going it alone this time. In Sabaragamuwa, the UPFA polled 55.34 per cent as against the UNP’s 40.53 per cent from a total of 901,673 votes polled. In the Eastern Province where 646,456 votes were polled, the UPFA won 52.21 per cent whilst the UNP obtained 42.38 per cent. Despite the increase in voter strength in all three provinces, the UPFA’s chances are very much brighter in both the North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provinces. However, the multi-ethnic composition of the voter strength in the Eastern Province coupled with the widespread unpopularity of former Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Piliyan’s administration had dipped the popularity of the UPFA. This time, the SLMC has fielded candidates in the east on its own. The demographic composition of the three districts, according to 2007 statistics of the Department of Census, in the eastern province is as follows: Ampara — Muslims 44 per cent, Sinhalese 37.5 per cent and Tamils 18.3 per cent. Batticaloa — Tamils 74 per cent, Muslims 25 per cent and Sinhalese 0.5 per cent. Trincomalee — Muslims 45.4 per cent, Tamils 28.6 per cent and Sinhalese 25.4 per cent. There has of course been a proportionate growth since then.

The murky politics in the east was muddied further by remarks made by the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader Rauff Hakeem. He told an election meeting in Sainthamaruthu in the Ampara District that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had successfully eradicated terrorism. In similar fashion, he said, Rajapaksa should eradicate what he called “yellow robed terrorism”. Hakeem was alluding to complaints of reported attacks on at least two mosques during the holy month of Ramadan. The remarks touched a raw nerve among members of the Buddhist clergy. There were strong protests by them over the leader of a constituent party of the UPFA making such remarks. Equally hurt or even embarrassed were a vast number of Muslims themselves. In the light of racial tension, the result of extremists in various communities fanning the flames of communalism, some had arranged for members of the Buddhist clergy and leading Buddhist citizens to attend Ifthar ceremonies which mark the end of the day’s fasting. Muslims partake in a pre-dawn meal and remain without food or water until sunset.

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A Letter To The COPE Leadership

August 14, 2012

By Chandra Jayaratne -August 14, 2012 

Chandra Jayaratne

Chandra Jayaratne, who was a past Chairman of Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, writes to COPE Chairman, D.E.W. Gunasekera. Chandra Jayaratne is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka and a Fellow of the Charted Institute of Management UK. He is the “Sri Lankan of the year 2011.” – Colombo Telegraph. 

14^th August 2012.

Hon. D.E.W. Gunasekera M.P.

Chairman,

COPE,

Parliamentary Complex,

Sri Jayawardhanapura,

Kotte.

Dear Sir,

The Priority Need for the “Voice of and Effective Response Actions by the COPE”

Following the Review of the Securities Exchange Commission and its Regulatory Operations

I address this note to you with much respect for and high expectations from your leadership of COPE, in the context of mixed feelings of happiness and sadness in reading the news reports published since the recent COPE review of the Securities Exchange Commission and its regulatory operations.

I am happy that living up to public expectations of COPE, you have initialed a review of the Securities Exchange Commission and its regulatory operations. I fully support your directing the said review and expanding its scope to go beyond the narrow confines of an oversight of the financial performance of independent regulators in order to ensure their observance of financial discipline in their operations. I believe that so long as such reviews do not impinge on the operational independence and not directive in nature and are conducted within a framework of serving a role similar to that assigned to an audit committee; it will serve the interests of all stakeholders, including the state as well as the regulatory body concerned.

I am however deeply saddened by the continuing pressure and external interference on the Chairman and Board of Directors of the Securities Exchange Commission, as reported in the news media, especially at a time there are initiatives led by the Chairman to have in place effective and best practice regulations which will ensure a stable, sustainable and professional securities market and will assure long term growth and rewards to all stakeholders.

I believe that the role of the COPE must extend to ensuring that operational freedom, independence, international best practice embedded operating rules and regulations and unrestricted enforcement capability are in place for the Chairman, the Board and the professional management team to effectively discharge their accountability and meet the agreed long term vision and mission, within agreed framework of Core Values and Ethics.

It is only in such an operating environment as described above, that necessary reforms, effective regulations, operating rules with effective governance and enforcement will be possible, meeting long term goals and satisfying stakeholder expectations.

I wish to draw your kind attention to my attached letter of 22^nd July 2012, supporting the decision of the Securities Exchange Commission to institute a regulatory framework which requires IPO Grading and Independent Equity Research. I wish in addition to draw your particular attention to the reforms involving specific amendments to the eligibility requirements for listing of equities on the CSE as suggested therein.

Only a Chairman and Board, with the full support and endorsement of all stakeholders, duly empowered by the State and effectively supported by those in leadership positions in the Executive, and allowed to exercise with due accountability independence and professionalism in the development of regulation embedded with international best practices duly tailored to our particular circumstances and the enforcement of such regulations, will ensure stable, sustainable and growing securities market.

I therefore appeal to you, through COPE with the due endorsement of the Legislature to publicly air the “Voice of the Legislators” unreservedly, supporting the urgent and priority need for the securities market regulators to be empowered by all stakeholders, and duly empowered by the State and those in leadership positions in the Executive, and enabled to exercise their independence and professionalism in the development of regulation and enforcement thereof.

I trust that this appeal and request for priority response action will receive your due attention and that your initiatives will be duly endorsed and further supported by those persons copied on this letter

	Yours Sincerely,

          Read More

Tamil Eelam Supporters’ Organisation demands UN probe on Lanka war crimes, steers clear of Eelam

TNN Aug 13, 2012

CHENNAI: Three years after the ethnic war in Sri Lanka ended with the fall of the LTTE, political leaders and human rights activists from across the globe gathered in Chennai on Sunday under the banner of Tamil Eelam Supporters' Organisation (Teso) and DMK president M Karunanidhi's leadership to demand that India move a United Nations resolution to empower Tamils with political rights. The event represented the first such overseas gathering aimed at forging a political consensus on the future of Tamils in post-war Lanka.

The conclave had remained doubtful till Saturday, but got a eleventh hour reprieve on Sunday with the Madras high court giving a conditional nod for holding the meet at the YMCA grounds.

While projecting himself as a champion of the war-ravaged Tamils in Sri Lanka, the DMK patriarch used the occasion to berate the UPA government at the Centre for failing to take proactive steps to help Tamils achieve civilian and political rehabilitation. One of the resolutions adopted at the meeting called upon the UN to probe war crimes in Sri Lanka and ensure that the army was withdrawn from Tamil areas. In all, 14 resolutions were adopted, touching upon a range of issues including livelihood, language, political autonomy, and refugees. Speakers at the meet clearly steered away from mention of a militant or armed response to further the cause of Eelam.

The meet, referring to a report of a three-member UN team which exposed mass killings of Tamils by the Lankan forces through bombing of notified safety zones and hospitals in the northern and eastern parts of the island nation in May 2009, demanded that an international committee be constituted by the Human Rights Council of the UN to examine war crimes committed by the Lankan government.

The Teso conference was also critical of the stand taken by the government of India on the Lankan issue. They called upon the Central government to move a resolution in the UN that would provide a rightful political space for the Lankan Tamils.

The delegates pointed out that despite the Human Rights Council of the UN passing a resolution against Sri Lanka, nothing much had changed on the ground. The meet called upon the UN body to appoint a supervisory committee to ensure that the Lankan government acted upon the UN resolution.

Abdul Razak Momoh, a member of Nigerian parliament, noted that the responsibility of protecting the rights of Lankan Tamils did not rest with Teso or India alone. The whole world had the responsibility to protect the rights of innocent Tamils, he said.

"If UN sanctions can be imposed on Iran for taking a nuclear route, why can't they be imposed on Sri Lanka for indulging in human rights violations," asked Momoh.

Despite being a DMK-sponsored conference, the party sought to give it an apolitical colour by not allowing anybody to carry party flags.

Ram Vilas Paswan, president of Lok Janshakti Party, called upon Karunanidhi to hold such conferences in other parts of India and abroad to make people aware of the sufferings of Lankan Tamils as well as to mobilise mass support for their cause. He said people in north India mistake Lankan Tamils' issue as an LTTE problem.

Tanya Ekanayaka

Dr. Tanya Ekanayaka is one of Sri Lanka's most distinguished classically trained pianists. She is also a composer and musicologist in addition to being a highly qualified linguist. She began studying the piano when she was just five years old, made her debut public recital appearance at the age of 12, and has since performed widely as soloist, accompanist, and in ensembles both internationally and in Sri Lanka. Consistent with her interdisciplinary background, Tanya holds a Bachelor of Arts Honors degree in English literature and linguistics from the University of Peradeniya, a Master of Science degree in linguistics and English language from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, and a doctorate for interdisciplinary research involving the disciplines of linguistics and musicology also from Edinburgh University.

The classically trained Sri Lankan pianist, composer, and improviser performs a recital of her own work, along with works by Bach, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, and others.
Read Full Biography

Economic Policy Strategies That Suit Sri Lanka: Have A Wider Consultation When Making Policies Affecting People

By W.A. Wijewardena -August 14, 2012

Dr. W.A. Wijewardena

A book in Sinhala, Apata Gelepena Aarthika Kramaveda or Economic Policy Strategies that suit we Sri Lankans, by Rohan Samarajiva and C.J Amarathunga was released in Colombo last week.

Why should one consider this book-launch an important event? That is because it has been written by a pragmatic economic policy thinker and a versatile Sinhala writer for the benefit of the laymen wishing to know of the ‘less-known other side of economic policy making’ in Sri Lanka.

Economic literacy of many not adequate

All species – plants, animals and humans – are economic entities seeking to make the best for themselves out of the resources scarcely available to them. But, many among us in the contemporary society do not appear to have adequate economic literacy to look at every possible consequence of a change in economic conditions facing them. From what they say or write or how they behave, one can conveniently make the judgment that their thinking on even basic economic issues does not go beyond the limit of their eye sight. Thus, when an economic proposition offers them a small benefit immediately but imposes an enormous burden later in life, it is embraced by many without thinking of the overall loss arising from such proposition. Economists call this ‘myopic behaviour’ or short-sightedness of people and that behaviour by some provides an opportunity for other crafty people to come up with schemes to profit from their weakness. Hence, it would be useful if learned people help them understand the complex intricacies involved in every economic decision making by sharing their thoughts on economic policies. This role is usually played by mainstream economists by making regular contributions to learned economic journals. But those papers are written in such technical language – often filled with mathematical equations – that they are beyond the comprehension of ordinary laymen. Hence, at the very first sight, such papers scare the ordinary laymen away.

Laymen need economic wisdom in simple language         Read More

Govt. perturbed over UN review team

TUESDAY, 14 AUGUST 2012 
India, Spain and Benin have been assigned by United Nations Human Rights Chief Navaneetham Pillay to assess the human rights situation in Sri Lanka at the November Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

The government is reportedly perturbed over Ms. Pillay’s decision because these countries were among those which voted in favour of the US-sponsored resolution on Sri Lanka in March this year.

The resolution called for the implementation of the recommendations by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation   Commission (LLRC) and urged the Sri Lankan government to address accountability issues during the last stages of the war.  

 The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is expected to submit its report to Ms. Pillay during its sessions in March next year with regard to the progress made by Sri Lanka in addressing matters mentioned in the resolution.

Sri Lanka’s HR situation will be assessed at the 14th UPR to be held between October 22 and November 25.   The UPR is a mechanism set up by the United Nations to review human rights practices in member countries once every four years. It is a voluntary process, and therefore, decisions taken are not referred for action by any UN body.

The External Affairs Minister, the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka and NGOs have submitted three separate reports to be considered at the UPR.
Sri Lanka’s Human Rights Commission Chief Pratiba Mahanama said Sri Lanka had made headway in promoting human rights and addressing humanitarian issues.  He said 52 aspects were highlighted at the previous UPR on Sri Lanka and 25 of them were accepted by Sri Lanka’s Human Rights Commission.

“The presidential secretary said most of the LLRC recommendations had been addressed. There is time till March, next year to look into other areas where there is concern,” he told Daily Mirror and added that the appointment of these three countries including India to assess the country’s human rights record during the UPR was a matter of concern since they voted against Sri Lanka.  

When asked for a comment on the UPR, External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris said no decision had been made on the composition of the government’s delegation to participate in the UPR. (Kelum Bandara)

Navigating Asia Away From Chaos: Sri Lanka’s Post-War Ramifications On Region – Analysis

By: Eurasia Review-August 14, 2012

Sri Lanka’s recent military defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) spelled wide and deep ramifications for the whole of South Asia. Ripples of these consequences can now be felt in as distant destinations as China, thus widening the scope of relevance to include Asia in its entirety. The recent Tamil Nadu antipathy towards training Sri Lankan military personnel there spawned a fresh wave of discussion about the regional security dimension of the end of war in Sri Lanka, a hitherto under-analyzed aspect.

The Tamil Nadu Crisis

Jayalalitha Jeyaram, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, has consistently been a strong and outspoken supporter of the LTTE. One of the most celebrated features of her election manifesto in the 2009 parliamentary elections was the pledge to dispatch Indian troops to establish an Eelam in Sri Lanka by force. Her allegiance to the LTTE was recently re-expressed in her opposition to training Sri Lankan military personnel in Tamil Nadu, where she accused the central government of having a “callous and adamant attitude” that demonstrated “utter disrespect to the sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu.”

Location of Tamil Nadu in India

LTTE’s defeat still appears to be conditioning the collective mindset of Tamil Nadu, the result of which is the intolerance of even the presence of Sri Lankan military personnel there. Seeking to avoid domestic friction at all costs, Delhi promptly announced that the officers in question will be transferred to Karnataka, on the rather dull excuse that the training session hosted by Chennai was over and the next phase of the said training would be hosted by Karnataka.

Hints Of Regional Fractionalization

    

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South Sudanese marathoner without a country makes Olympic debut

By Faith Karimi-August 12, 2012

(CNN) — Guor Marial made his debut in the London Games on Sunday, a major accomplishment for the South Sudanese marathoner who ran as an independent in the Olympics.

Marial, 28, pounded his way around the 26.2-mile course in 2:19:32. He finished 47th in the race dominated by fellow Africans Steven Kiprotich of Uganda, who won gold, and Abel Kirui and Wilson Kiprotich, both of Kenya, who won silver and bronze, respectively.

But for Marial, completing the race was as good as winning.

The marathoner was born in what is now South Sudan, which split from Sudan last year after years of conflict between the two that left millions dead.

Though he is a permanent resident of the United States, where he fled 11 years ago to escape the bloody conflict, he is not an American citizen and thus cannot compete under its flag.

He does not have a passport for South Sudan, either, and cannot compete for his homeland. And even if he had one, the world’s newest nation was not eligible for the Olympics this year because it does not have a Games committee.

Since he qualified for the marathon but could not run for both nations, the International Olympic Committee granted him permission to run as an independent.

He donned a gray and black uniform with IOA — Independent Olympic Athlete — printed on it.

“Even if I am not going to carry or wear the flag, I will be the flag of my nation. South Sudan will be in my heart,” he said before the race.

Marial left home in 1993. His story of survival from the war has taken him across different countries, including Egypt, where he sought refuge before the United States granted him asylum in 2001.

He attended high school in New Hampshire, where he gave competitive running a try after years of “running away from conflict,” he said.

He later went to Iowa State University, where he had an athletic scholarship and was an All-American cross-country runner.

The Olympian has not seen his parents since 1993, when he first fled what is now South Sudan. But on Sunday, they planned to catch a glimpse of their son on television after nearly two decades.

“I’m hoping they will at least see me run in the Olympics,” Marial said last month. “They live in a village with no electricity and no televisions. But they planned to walk to the nearest big town about 40 miles away so that they can watch me on television.”

Sri Lanka SEC head says under "immense pressure to resign"

COLOMBO | Mon Aug 13, 2012

Aug 13 (Reuters) - The head of Sri Lanka's Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday said he was coming under immense pressure to resign on false accusations by some investors under investigation for "pump-and-dump" deals.

"I am under immense pressure to resign for the reason those concerned know best," Tilak Karunaratne, the head of SEC told Reuters.

Karunaratne did not elaborate who was pressuring him to step down, but said it might be the result of false information about his activities as the head of the SEC.

"This might be mainly due to false information fed by a mafia of high net worth investors and their crony stockbrokers who have been involved in pump-and-dump deals."

Karunaratne has called for investigations into market manipulation and malpractice, including so-called pump-and-dump deals in which naive investors are lured into apparently cut-priced equities.

His comments come barely two weeks after the Treasury Secretary P.B. Jayasundera said Sri Lanka was ready to make significant policy changes in an effort to revive its faltering stock market which has fallen 20.2 percent since the start of the year.

Karunaratne was appointed to the post after his predecessor Indrani Sugathadasa resigned in December "to uphold her principles," amid broker complaints that tougher regulations were hurting stock market prices. (Reporting by Shihar Aneez and Ranga Sirilal; Editing by Jeremy Laurence)

Indian protest to Eezham provocative: Peter Schalk

[TamilNet, Monday, 13 August 2012, 06:45 GMT]
The demand of Indian MEA to drop Eelam from the TESO conference title is provocative, gives food for thought and does not make sense, says Professor Peter Schalk in a note sent to TamilNet on Sunday. The decision comes from confusing Eelam, a Tamil toponym standing for the entire island, with Tamileelam. In usage Eelam predates Lanka. On Eelam and Cinkalam, Prof Schalk said they are of a parallel allocation and parallels never meet, but walk side by side. Meanwhile, BBC Tamil Service on Saturday cited Professor MA Nuhman saying that the connotations of the word became a problem only with the ‘secessionist movement’. He agreed with the word’s old Tamil usage meaning the entire island, but questioned its Dravidian origins. The TESO response was naïve or sly by equating Eezham/ Ilangkai with the politically invented and Tamil -rejected term Sri Lanka. 

The full text of the note on Ilam sent by Professor Peter Schalk [His transliteration of Tamil words following Madras Tamil Lexicon system, but without diacritical marks, is retained as it was in the text sent by him]

Professor Peter Schalk

The demand by the Indian External Affairs Ministry that Ilam/Eelam should be dropped from the title of the Conference named Eelam Tamil Rights Protection Conference (TamilNet 9.8. 2012) is provocative and gives food for thought. The Ministry probably thought that Ilam stands for Tamililam. If so, the Ministry should have stopped the whole conference making a political evaluation in accordance with India’s evaluation of the Tamil resistance movement being still a threat to the integrity of India. If the Ministry thought that Ilam is an alternative name for Lanka as a whole there was no reason to demand that Ilam should be dropped. The decision by the Ministry does not make sense.

I have observed for many years that in talk and writing by Tamil and Sinhala speakers, but also by Western scholars and journalists, Ilam stands often for Tamililam. The confusion started already in the 1970s with the famous slogan by EROS: nam ilavar, namatu moli tamil, nam natu ilam ‘we are Ilavar, our language is Tamil, our country is Ilam’. The country that EROS wanted was of course Tamililam, not the whole island. Tamililam’s citizens should be called Ilavar and their language be Tamil. Kumar Ponnampalam tried to re-introduce the word ilavar as self-designation, but he was killed in 2000. There was a journal called ilavar kural, a network called eelavar alumni, an eelavar web ring, and a Club Sportive Eelavar. They all had in mind Tamililam, not Ilam.

Historically, Ilam is a Tamil toponym for the whole of the island. It can be documented from the 1st century CE, before “Lanka” was introduced in Dīpavamsa 9:1. “Lanka” was Tamilised to “Ilankai” and alternated with Ilam in use by Tamil speakers. Tamil speakers also used the toponym Cinkalam, which is a Tamilisation of the toponym Sinhala. All three, Ilam, Ilankai and Cinkalam were used by alternation in the wordbooks (nikantu, akarati) throughout the centuries up to the modern period.

There is a tradition by Sinhala speakers on the ethnonationalist front to insist that Ilam is derived from Sinhala, that Ilam is nothing but Sinhala. This derivation was introduced by the Christian missionary Robert Caldwell in the 1850s. It is a typical orientalism. It is therefore ironical that it should be exploited by Sinhala ethnonationalists. It has no support in the Tamil and Sinhala history of linguistics and is from a modern linguistic point of view wrong. Unfortunately, some Tamil scholars went into Caldwell’s trap giving the derivation their blessing. The relation between Ilam and Cinkalam is that of a parallel allocation. Parallels never meet. They walk along side by side.

* * * Full story >>

Barely alive, yet his legs chained together - Father Sakthivel

Photograph Uthayan- 13 August 2012

Speaking to mourners of the Tamil political prisoner, Dilrukshan, Father Sakthivel described seeing him in hospital in the days before his death - in a coma, but still with his feet chained together.

See here for report on Uthayan.

Drawing comparisons to the persecution of Jesus for his perceived dissent at the time, Father Sakthivel said, that Dilrukshan's defiance had led to his death at the hands of the ruling regime.

Father Sakthivel said,

"We went to see Dilrukshan in hospital. He was unconscious and barely breathing. Yet even then his legs were chained. Why would someone fo this to a person in a such a critical condition? Were they scared of him? Did they think he might escape when he regained consciousness? This is against humanity."
"Now, the question is why did they do this to him? This [attack] happened to him just after he said 'we are ready to face a hundred Mullivaikkaals."
"Killings like this are not acceptable. Killings like this should not continue. Our journey towards freedom isn't over, we need to get out struggle for it, it is only then that when we can stop all the atrocities against us."

Dilrukshan died last week after being in a coma for several weeks following the Vavuniya prison riots in June where Tamil political prisoners were attacked by prison guards

டெல்றொக்சனின் கொலை மனித நாகரிகத்திற்கு ஒவ்வாத செயல்; அருட்தந்தை சக்திவேல் அடிகளார் டெல்றொக்சனின் கொலை மனித நாகரிகத்திற்கு ஒவ்வாத செயல். இந்தச் சம்பவம் ஏற்றுக்கொள்ள முடியாத ஒன்று. அத்துடன் தொடரக் கூடாத ஒன்றும். என அருட்தந்தை சக்திவேல் அடிகளார் தெரிவித்துள்ளார். வவுனியா சிறைச்சாலைக் கலவரத்தில் தாக்கப்பட்டு கோமா நிலையில் உயிரிழந்த தமிழ் அரசியல் கைதியான டெல்றொக்சனின் இறுதி வணக்க நிகழ்வில் கலந்துகொண்டு உரையாற்றுகையிலேயே அவர் இவ்வாறு தெரிவித்தார். அவர் அங்கு தொடர்ந்து உரையாற்றுகையில் டெல்றொக்சனின் மரணம் எமது நாட்டின் ஆட்சியாளர்களால் ஏற்படுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது. இந்தச் சம்பவம் ஏற்றுக்கொள்ள முடியாத ஒன்று. அத்துடன் தொடரக் கூடாத ஒன்றும். சர்வதேசம் கூட இந்தக் கொலையை ஏற்றுக் கொள்ளாது. யேசுநாதரும் தனது 33 வயதிலேயே கொல்லப்பட்டார். அப்போது அவரின் கருத்துக்களை அப்போதைய ஆட்சியாளர்கள் ஏற்கவில்லை. அதுபோலவே இன்று டெல்றொக்சனுடைய கருத்தும் இந்நாட்டின் தற்போதைய ஆட்சியாளர்களினால் ஏற்றுக் கொள்ள முடியாது கொல்லப்பட்டுள்ளான். நாம் டெல்றொக்சனைப் பார்க்க மருத்துவமனை சென்றபோது, அங்கு அவன் சுயநினைவு அற்று உயிர் மூச்சை மட்டும் விட்டபடி இருந்தான். அந்நிலையிலும் கூட அவனுக்கு காலில் விலங்கு மாட்டப்பட்டு இருந்தது. ஏன் அவ்வாறு அவர்கள் மாட்டினர். அவன் எழுந்து ஓடி விடுவான் என்றா? அல்லது எழுந்து வந்து ஏதாவது செய்து விடுவான் என்ற பயமா? அவ்வாறு ஒன்றும் இல்லாத நிலையில் உயிர்மூச்சை மட்டும் இழுத்துக் கொண்டிருந்த நிலையில் காலில் விலங்கு மாட்டப்பட்டிருந்தது எனில் மனித நாகரீகத்திற்கே ஒவ்வாத செயல். ஏன் இவ்வாறு ஆட்சியாளர்கள் செய்தார்கள் என்பது இப்போது எம் முன் நிற்கும் கேள்வி. முள்ளிவாய்க்கால் போன்று நூறு சம்பவங்களைப் பார்க்கத் தயார் என்று சொன்ன நேரத்தில் இது நடந்திருக்கிறது. இது போன்ற கொலைகள் இனியும் நடக்கக் கூடாது. இது தொடருவும் கூடாது. எமது பயணம் முடியவில்லை. நாம் தளரவும் இல்லை. நாம் இறங்கிப் போராட வேண்டும். அப்பொழுதுதான் இவற்றை தடுக்க முடியும். என்றார்.

Envoy in Malaysia recalled despite his plea and protest 

If the troops fought Tiger guerrillas during the final stages of the separatist war with modernised weapons, he waged his own battle in the media. Hosannas were sung for many in the UPFA government in his commentaries.

The most prominent among those who received plaudits every week was External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris. He heaped paeans of praise on Peiris on his assumption of office and shared in the glory of “the dawn of a new era in the conduct of Sri Lanka’s foreign policy”. His battle in the media paid off with a diplomatic posting in Malaysia.

Whilst waiting for that dawn to come, Kalyananda Godage has become a casualty thanks to his erstwhile hero, Peiris himself. His undoing came when he raised some questions. This was when 59 Sri Lankan envoys, ambassadors, high commissioners and consuls gathered at a conference hall in the Army cantonment in Diyatalawa for a residential workshop last month.

This is how the Sunday Times political commentary of July 15 exclusively reported the matter. “Kalyananda Godage, Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner in Malaysia was bold enough to point out what most envoys say was an inherent weakness in the External Affairs Ministry (EAM). He noted that there were some questions from the Tamil Diaspora over Northern Provincial Council elections, lack of progress at all party meetings and similar matters. He found it difficult to provide answers sometimes since the EAM had not provided clear guidelines. Godage’s dilemma is understandable. He did not wish to say anything that would run counter to the thinking of the Government. An embarrassed External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris was quick to parry the issue. “This is not what I expect an envoy to say” he interjected and added “you should be able to defend the Government. You should know what to say��”

Peiris was so infuriated by the Godage remarks that he made reference to it on three different occasions at the Diyatalawa workshop. Despite that, the issue appears not to have ended there. Government sources said Peiris raised issue with President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The President was told that Godage would go to the media with his story. That infuriated Rajapaksa then. The result was the immediate recall of Godage. The Sri Lankan envoy also confirmed this in his somewhat apologetic letter to Peiris. He said:

“Dear Minister,
“I cannot quite believe it that you of all people had me ‘Recalled’. Trust you would recall what I wrote about you when you took over from Rohitha Bogollagama, yes I was delighted because I expected you to bring a professional approach to Diplomacy and to the management of our foreign relations. I came out of retirement to serve as I felt that I could yet be of service to our country.

“I agreed to come to Malaysia as I was aware of the problem here and as I speak some Tamil I felt that I could be productive. There are three Tamil groups here who are hostile towards us but I engage in a dialogue with them with the hope of informing them of the present situation and winning them over or at least softening their stance towards us. At Diyatalawa I asked that question from you as to how I should respond to them — as these people are educated professionals, some are lawyers some are university teachers, they are quite knowledgeable on the history of our conflict; perhaps I did not frame my question as I should have and you pounced upon it and said ‘you should have the answers’ -this perhaps was my crime that resulted in the decision to recall me; this, to my mind is both unjust and unfair and certainly not what I ever expected.

I have defended our country through the years of this conflict and I have my published articles to prove it.
“I have, in the past eight months that I have served here done much to develop and strengthen relations between Malaysia and our motherland. As you are aware I was able to also arrange that conversation between HE the President and the Malaysian Prime Minister to seal the agreement for them to abstain on the recent vote in the UNHCR, for which I myself worked hard. A group of hard-line Tamils even threatened the PM Najib that they would vote against him at the forthcoming elections if he did not support the resolution. I have been in contact with all groups of Tamils here, there are two groups who are friendly towards us and are working in the North, I am presently working with them and two other groups’ one with Australian connections, to build a hospital and a nurses training school in Batticaloa.

“I have revived the Sri Lanka-Malaysia Joint Commission which had gone into abeyance after 2006, I have revived the relationship with the Malaysian Agricultural Research & Development Institute (MARDI) which has agreed to help us to develop our fruit cultivation on a commercial scale; the Malaysian National Institute of Public Administration (INTAN) has formally agreed to train our personnel.

“I am also pursuing the matter of entering into formal agreements with other government agencies here including MITI (Ministry of International Trade and Industry) and the Malaysian Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR). I have been associated in promoting three investments from Malaysia and we sent a delegation of 90 businessmen for the trade exhibition organized by the Export Development Board and in July of this year I was associated in sending a high powered delegation from the Malaysian Chamber of Commerce to Sri Lanka. To another matter which I have no doubt would be of interest to you, we are presently paying Malaysian Ringgit twenty thousand (RM 20, 000) a month as rent for the chancery building; I am presently in negotiations with two banks here to obtain a loan to purchase a suitable building for the chancery and pay back in instalments what we are presently paying as rent, so then we would own the building. The total rent paid for the chancery from the time we rented the building in 2003 to date has been Malaysian Ringgits 2.072 Million or approximately SLRS 68.376 Million.

“In consideration of the work I have done in the past eight months I shall be thankful if you would have this decision withdrawn and permit me to continue to serve you and our government as I have done these past eight months.
“With kind regards,
Yours Sincerely
K. Godage”

Godage’s recall comes amidst reports that the Malaysian government has donated one million US dollars to the Malaysian Tamil Forum; an affiliate of the London based Global Tamil Forum. The money is for helping war affected Tamil families including refugees both in Malaysia and in Sri Lanka. In the case of the latter, special emphasis has been laid on war widows and children.

A Government source says the decision to recall will stand despite Godage’s appeal. A state run media outlet said Godage had failed to counter LTTE activity and described him, without naming, as one who has passed his prime age. However, the fact remains that he was nevertheless given a posting. The moral of the story – praise can win places but queries can only lead to worries and the loss of a job. Though past his retirement, Godage has learnt it the hard way.

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