According to the UN resolution on citizenship anyone born in any country or any soil is a citizen of that country. The US has gone one step further and accordingly anyone born in an aircraft while flying within the air space of the US is a citizen of the US. In that country, any child born is granted citizenship immediately. So, irrespective of colour of skin, origin of parents, the newborn is a US citizen and has the right to obtain the US passport from the time of birth.
Here in our motherland Sri Lanka the situation is quite different to what's stated in the UN resolution. Until recently our Tamil-speaking Sri Lankans were not even considered Sri Lankans. Fortunately, after 1977, all Tamil-speaking estate workers of Indian origin who were born here for generations were given citizenship. But the irony is that there are thousands yet without a birth certificate and the National Identity Card (NIC).
Most Sri Lankans identify themselves as either Sri Lankan Sinhalese, Tamils or Muslims. The other day Parliamentarian and former Cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga at a discussion on TV openly said that whenever he went abroad many Sri Lankans told him that they are Sri Lankan Sinhalese and that annoyed him. He is correct and I must congratulate him for having such a vision which other politicians in Sri Lanka don't have. All of us born in this island are Sri Lankans.
Therefore, there cannot be differences among us and all should be able to even become the President of Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, that is just a myth. No Tamil speaking Sri Lankan or a Muslim will ever be our President and not even the Prime Minister, or even the commanders of the armed forces. In the US, African-American Barrack Obama became the President of that country in 2008. Can politicians such as
R. Sampanthan, Ananda Sangari or Thondaman or Rauf Hakeem ever aspire to be our President? The answer is a big NO, which means that we don't consider Tamils, Muslims or even Burghers Sri Lankans.
Recently many Tamil-speaking Sri Lankans staged a peaceful "sathyagraha" (demonstration) against the detention of Tamil-speaking Sri Lankans, alleged to be Tamil Tigers. These suspected Tamil-speaking Sri Lankans have not been charge sheeted since 2009. If the Government has no valid reason to charge sheet them, then they must be released. Unfortunately, this does not happen, which means they are second class citizens.
It is also learnt that schoolchildren who perform term end concerts have to produce the script of their plays to the army. This law is applicable to the north and the east of Sri Lanka, where the majority are Sri Lankan Tamils. Similarly, even at a birthday party or a wedding ceremony I have heard it's apparently mandatory that an army officer to be present. Does this happen in the South where a majority are Sinhalese?
Until we get rid of the phobia about Tamil-speaking Sri Lankans, all citizens of this island are not Sri Lankans.
Professor J.Jinadasa,
Massachusetts, USA
Kalmunai: Check the actions of local politician before things get out of hand
As a senior citizen I am ashamed of what I witnessed last Friday, May 25, at the Ashraff Memorial Hospital just after congregational Jumma prayers.
It has been a tradition here that people living in Kalmunai distribute leaflets on various matters including advertisements, religious views and opinions on political issues after the Friday congregational prayer. This has been a mode of communication and a way for people to express their views freely.
But on that fateful day when some people were distributing pamphlets, a group of political hooligans with the support of the local Muslim Congress political leader started attacking a hospital staffer while he was reading a leaflet distributed to him. No one at the scene intervened to help him and later the victim was dragged into a jeep and taken away in broad daylight while the people stood around astounded at what was happening.
No one knew why the person was attacked but everyone at the scene muttered that this was the fate of being born as a citizen in this nation. Politicians appear to have immunity against punishment by law.
For many hours no one knew what fate had befallen the man who was attacked. All attempts taken by staff members in the hospital to locate the victim proved futile. Then people began to disperse with many muttering that this was the harvest we had sown in the last general election.
Kalmunai has been the place that gave birth to many decent and eminent politicians who were statesmen. They brought name and fame to their hometown by contributing to their constituencies and the nation at large. The late leader Ashraff would never have dreamed that the people of Kalmunai would suffer such a fate. Most of the past political leaders of Kalmunai had the hallmark of acting in an equitable and professional manner. But nowadays very rarely would one see a politician of such a calibre.
The Muslim Congress Leader is duty bound to check the high handed activities of local politicians to achieve their goals. If this is left unchecked it will lead to disastrous consequences and lawlessness in this area. It is alleged that the law enforcement authority has turned a blind eye in fear of political reprisal.
While the government is taking measures to establish justice and fairness to all citizens of Sri Lanka irrespective of race, religion and creed, it is sad to witness the local politician of Kalmunai acting in such an unlawful manner.
I believe that this letter would enlighten the authorities concerned to initiate action immediately to contain this situation in Kalmunai region in the interests of innocent people here.
M.C. Kalantharshahib,
Sainthamaruthu
Equality for all is something that
must be promoted
This refers to the fair editorial on the 13th Amendment that appeared in the Sunday Times.
As a Sri Lankan, raised in Colombo by Jaffna-born parents, I still agree with your points on devolution.
I am 46 years old now but yet to visit the Eastern Province.
Even my father, who is 78, has not seen the East. However, some issues need to be addressed. They are:
1) Special protection given to Buddhism in the Constitution.
2) Parity of status to Tamil with Sinhala... at the the moment the statute says 'Tamil shall also be an official language' The Sunday Times should kindly promote equality while opposing devolution based on ethnic divisions.
Vipul
Jeddah, KSA
ST, my teacher, my friend over the years
Although I have enjoyed my pepper and salt beard for the past ten or twelve years, it told me something very serious last Sunday when I looked at the mirror after reading the front page of the Sunday Times which carried news of its Jubilee Souvenir scheduled to reach me today.
I have become 62, while ST reaches 25. I recalled the way I grew up with the ST, and the relationship I have developed during these fascinating two and a half decades.
Iqbal Athas, Kumudini Hettiarachchi, and Feizal Samath were my favourites. So what did ST mean to you? my subconscious asked.
Yes, ST was a great teacher, a sincere friend and a real associate. It is a pleasure, and privilege to send my warm greetings as my beloved ST becomes 25
Long Live ST.
Hope Almighty Allah will permit me to share my joy when you attain 50! I salute the chairman, the editor, and all who helped to bring ST to this international standard.
All the best. And, a very big thank you.
Abdul Kareem Nandasena,
Yakkala
The real war heroes
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| Disabled soldiers take part in the victory parade on May 19 |
Who are the real heroes
When a war ends?
The injured, the crippled
And the maimed.
Or those confined to
A hospital ward,
Strapped with oxygen masks
Over faces and enduring life giving drips
Until the day death released them.
Once strong, courageous men
Now weak and dependent on fate.
Yet not regretting the service
They gave to their motherland
Or is the real hero who lies dead
Beneath the earth for whom he
Surrendered his life?
********************
Or could they possible be
Children of the north
Robbed of school and homes
Robbed of love and understanding
To be trained for warfare
Trained to hate and not love
Deprived of their own dreams
Of a future without fear.
Trained to kill and die
If not by the enemy
By the capsule strung round
Their tender necks
Death before life has a chance to begin
Punyakante Wijenaike,
Colombo
A beloved man's
last hour
On the day before Purim
When folks wear masks and frolic
Like a full moon that glows
Among glittering stars
Amidst wife and children
Lying on his bed
With half-closed eyes
Amidst thoughts of the expectations
Of a life now ending
Every moment I see
This beloved man
My mind hurts…
All his children
Pray to God for him
His loved wife Susan
By him, close as a shadow
Constantly murmuring
Of the fragrance of his goodness
Clasps and kisses his face
Tells her sorrows to God…
As midnight nears
The pair of blue eyes
Takes a hue of darkness
Amidst the fires of sorrow
Rising in each heart
That beloved scholar
With his ninety-first year
With his memories
Takes leave of life
Like an emperor
- Ranjith Herat.
Haifa, Israel and Sri Lanka.
(translated by Dr. Lakshmi de Silva)
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