Letters to the Editor

Tamil homeland grounded in historical error
I came across an article written by Partha Ghosh, a reputed Indian journalist to the Economic and Political Weekly of India before the peace process initiated by the then Kumaratunga Government was abandoned, to explain how the Indian government was duped by the Tamil leaders at a very critical juncture in the history of the ethnic conflict.

The article provides a masterly account of certain relevant hard facts which all Sri Lankans should remember of the Tamil homeland myth which Thamilselvan has put forward as an innocuous and indisputable justification for the new proposals to bring peace.

I give below some relevant extracts from the article written by Partha Ghosh to remind our political leaders and all others who conveniently forget how the Tamil leaders started touting a myth to support their traditional homeland theory which is a diabolical lie.

I also remember how Prof. K.M de Silva challenged Mr. Sivasithambaram, the then MP for Vavuniya, for a public debate on the Tamil homeland theory, for which there was not even a reply. Even now it is not too late for all the scholars here and abroad to assemble and thrash out this matter once and for all and bring out the truth.

"The theory of traditional Tamil homeland corresponding to the present north-eastern province is largely a hoax. Modern research has proved that the claim is grossly exaggerated. Kingsley de Silva of Peradeniya University who has extensively researched the background of the demand as well as its veracity has found that it all started with an innocuous minute prepared in June 1799 by one Hugh Cleghorn, a British academic, who had been in the island for a short while in the early years of the British rule. A political troubleshooter, who later became the first colonial secretary for Sri Lanka, Cleghorn knew nothing about the island, least of all about its inhabitants.

“The relevant portion of his minute reads as follows: ‘Two different nations, from very ancient times have divided between them the possession of the island.. First the Cingalese (sic) inhabiting the interior of the country, in its southern and western parts, from the river Wallouve (Walawe) to that of Chilow (sic), and secondly the Malabars (Tamils) who possess the northern and eastern districts. These two nations differ entirely in their religion, language and manners. The former who are allowed to be the earlier settlers, derive their origin from Siam professing the ancient religion of the country.’

"One can easily understand the intellectual bankruptcy of Cleghorn about the ethnic structure of Sri Lanka from the profound wisdom that he displayed about the origin of the Sinhalas. But in spite of this, his minute has been used as bible by the Tamil political forces ranging from the extremist LTTE to the moderate TULF. Actually it was this portion of the minute, which the TULF leader Amirthalingam had quoted in his letter of December 1, 1985 addressed to Rajiv Gandhi without, of course, incorporating the last sentence mentioned above. Ostensibly it was with a motive, for it could have exposed Cleghorn's intellectual authority and weakened the Tamil case.

"Probably it was this letter which considerably influenced our insistence on the merger of the northern and eastern provinces in deference to the Tamil demand for a 'homeland'. If so the question arises as to what was the historic division of our ministry of external affairs doing? Was it all that difficult to go into the original text of Cleghorn's minute and analyse it in its historical context, a job which could be done by a Sri Lankan historian?

"There is little evidence in Sri Lanka's history to stake the claim, as the Tamil separatists do, that the Tamils had complete sway over a vast area which now comprises the north-eastern province. At the most the Tamils had established themselves in the Jaffna peninsula in the north and in some adjacent area to the south of Jaffna in the present day Vanni district. But that too was for three centuries only, between the 13th and the 16th. The question then naturally arises what was the basis on which the Tamil homeland theory is justified? It was nothing but the Cleghorn minute referred to above…

"The so-called unity between the Tamil speaking Hindus and the Tamil speaking Muslims also must be accepted with a pinch of salt. De Silva's research tends to establish that such a concept has been the brain-child of the Tamil (Hindu) ideologues to buttress their bargaining position vis-à-vis the Sinhalese. On the contrary, Muslims have constantly feared that their material interests and identity would be endangered in a Tamil state which would be naturally dominated by the Jaffna Tamils. Incidentally, the Eastern province Hindu Tamils also often suffer from the same insecurity."

Thus, it is time to give serious thought to who should work in this hospital and how they should be selected? Through decades of experience we are aware that the current recruitment and management policies of government hospitals may not be the best way to do so. Furthermore, this is an opportunity to establish a training institution that would even attract foreigners.

The appointment of staff and subsequent continuation of their jobs (especially doctors, nurses and managers) should be based strictly on performance (merit which includes not only performance at examinations but also service capabilities, national and international achievements in research, innovations, contributions made to institutional development, clinical experience and good character).

Such recruitment policies are in force in the best children's hospitals such as Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital in London where even the consultants' contracts are renewed every fifth year and juniors’ every six months or one year. As a majority of applicants would be from the Health Ministry, universities and expatriate community, an environment of healthy competition should be available. A prerequisite should also be the unconditional release of government employees from current positions if selected to the SBCH.

In the event of expertise not being available, foreigners should either be invited in the short term or allowed to compete in response to an advertisement. All jobs should be subject to regular appraisal. Passive seniority alone should not be the basis for recruitment, as it is in our health service.

Dedicated and competent staff recruited this way, are unlikely to become the pawns of trade unionists. Thus, we would have a government children's hospital dedicated to providing quality health care. The appointment of an independent authority to see to these issues is now a priority.

Where have all the flowers gone?
In those days, the Gampola Railway Station had a prize-winning flower garden. Now it is neglected and looks like a jungle overgrown with weeds and plants.
Hope the authorities will take action to restore the station garden to its former beauty.

Regaining Lanka at the cost of Colombo!
Having been a former employee of the Colombo Municipal Council, I was shocked to see its state, when I visited the Town Hall a few days ago.

The officials and staff seem to be still concerned at the way the place is being run. Politicization is the order of the day. There seems to be a breakdown in discipline.
The Provincial Council, which is the supervisory body should hold an immediate inquiry.

The government which is trying to implement new programmes to regain Sri Lanka may soon lose Colombo, if remedial measures are not taken with regard to the municipality.

There is no modesty in the women who are taking part in fashion shows. They will go to any level, the lowest in fact, in the name of fashion. They are not ashamed to display their naked bodies. Won't this further corrupt already corrupt minds in a world where there is rampant sexual harassment and rape?

Morals have reached a low ebb. Human beings were created differently to animals, with the power of thinking and reasoning, so that they could distinguish right from wrong. While advancing in science and technology, man has veered away from the laws of nature.

Obscenity and promiscuity have contributed to the spread of AIDS. So it is time human beings gave deep thought to the need to be more circumspect.

'Letters to the Editor' should be brief and to the point.
Address them to:
'Letters to the Editor,
The Sunday Times,
P.O.Box 1136, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Or e-mail to
editor@sundaytimes.wnl.lk or
features@sundaytimes.wnl.lk
Please note that letters cannot be acknowledged or returned.