Mayura Botejue
The views of Ms. Waduge and her chauvinist Sinhala nationalist backers do not help to serve the interests of Sri Lanka. They sow discord and division at a time when the South Asian geopolitical brews concocted are exceedingly complex and potentially toxic. The small island of SL is under watch and influence of powerful competing nations while it is parked well up the strategic defense crotch of a giant nation – India.
While the claim that the Northern and Eastern Provinces are generously funded by the Sinhala majority provinces that carry the economic weight of the entire nation may be true, This only reflects the pathetic state of the nation that is seriously under-performing on the economic development front. The Northern and Eastern provinces have significant development potential in the fields of energy, tourism, agriculture, process industries, etc. that can be fuelled by the following elements:
- Diaspora expertise and financing.
- Interest from businesses locate in the prospering southern Indian states that have linguistic, cultural and religious linkage with the N&E provinces of SL.
- Private sector (foreign and local) interest in the development of tourist hubs and airports.
Sinhala chauvinists fear the economic development of the N&E provinces and their close linkages with the Tamil Diaspora overseas and the states in South India. Their xenophobia drives them to view prosperity in these provinces as a threat to a unitary state.
With the aspiration of younger demographic groups driven high through education and social media influences, the lack of economic opportunities leads to a potential powder keg scenario. Nothing new to SL that has already faced youth driven insurrections/civil wars three times since gaining independence in 1948.
The Govt of SL face major challenges appeasing the giant brutes that hover over the island. As the joke goes, “Miss SL has two big brutes in bed with her – India on one side and China on the other. Meanwhile Uncle Sam is under the bed while Pakistan is outside and wants to come in”.
It will take high-level diplomatic skills, the maintenance of citizen harmony and a receptive investment climate to ensure that the SL ship of state can navigate through such turbulent waters.
The racist views of Ms. Waduge and her ilk are barnacles on the ship’s hull.
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I totally endorse Mayura Botheju’s response to an utterly racist argument of Waduge. These kinds of “Waduwo” are the instigators of hatred that bestowed a failed state.
Humanity cannot be assessed in dollars and rupees
Mayura’s challenge to Shenali’s twisted thoughts is a welcome fresh breeze.
I liked the joke mentioned at the end. It would make a funny cartoon, with Miss SL in the middle of the bed, with the two brutes by her side, and Uncle Sam peeping from underneath the bed, with Pakistan entering the room.
Joke aside, one needs to think wisely, who pushed Miss SL down this path?
Who pushed Miss SL down? I would say Tamil nationalism based on Tamil mythical past.
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While I am not a fan of Shenali’s writing, I think Botheju has to done some reading about the conflict.
It is not the views expressed by Shenali or their like that created this mayhem. The root cause lies elsewhere. Therefore, the concerns about South India and Tamil majority North are certainly reasonable.
The root cause of the conflict (I know Mr. Roberts would not agree with me, but hope he would publish my comment) is Tamil nationalism based on a Tamil mythical past. It developed from the last part of the 19th century. It is supremacist, imperialist and colonizing in character. It is built on the firm belief that Sri Lanka was an ancient Tamil territory that was usurped by the Sinhalese. So in Tamils’ mind, their movement is about retrieving what they believe as theirs.
And I can state with 100% certainly, that Tamil nationalist movement which are separatist in character, would spread into other parts of the region where there is a Tamil majority population, particularly in Kandyan territory. If anyone doubts me, just read Tamil nationalist material. Their main grievance is the very existence of Sinhala speaking people in Sri Lanka, which, they believe should have been Tamil. This situation a result of Dutch and British era historiography. 19th century orientalism was especially responsible for this. Unless the disputes about history are settled, and Sinhalese are comfortable with the situation, there will always be (should be) limitations in our connections with South India.