Charith Senanayake in FACEBOOK, October 2026
Regardless of what is happening in our country right now and what I am fighting for….there is one important part of our history and our lives that we rarely talk about or give enough attention to….our “Burgher” community.
Let me explain why this is so personal to me and now,
I had a misunderstanding with a Muslim brother I had grown up with few days back, Another person, who knew both of us well, intervened and simply said, “Calm down, boys.” That person, a “Burgher”….and we both listened to her…..!!!Sometimes, it takes someone who understands us both to remind us of what truly matters….🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
We often argue about the differences between Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims. But how often do we talk about the Burghers who were once such an integral part of our lives and communities???🤔🤔
I cannot speak for everyone, but for me, the Burghers were never outsiders. They were friends, neighbours and family in every sense that mattered. I grew up very close to them, and even today, many of those relationships remain very special to me.
Yet, somewhere along the way, we allowed that important part of our lives to disappear. The political changes that began under the F’i..ng Bandaranaike era, contributed to many Burghers leaving Sri Lanka.
Communities that once flourished in places stretching from Dematagoda and Nugegoda through Bambalapitiya to Dehiwala and beyond gradually became smaller as families sought a future elsewhere….
They did not leave us fighting in the streets…..Many simply packed their bags and left quietly, taking with them a part of the Sri Lanka we once knew. And perhaps that is what hurts the most, we lost so many of them without even realising what we were losing.
There were no great public debates about their departure. No one seemed to ask what we had done wrong or what we could have done to make them feel that this country still belonged to them. Perhaps we were too busy arguing among ourselves to notice…..:
I remember those days as if they were yesterday, and I miss them dearly.
Over the years, I have apologised many times to my Tamil friends for the horrors of July 1983 and the suffering they endured. I will never stop acknowledging that pain either….But when I reflect on our past, I also wonder whether we should have paid much more attention to the Burgher community and the quiet loss we experienced as they gradually left our shores.
I am saying this from the bottom of my heart, not to compare anyone’s suffering or to diminish the struggles of any other community. Every community has its own history, its own wounds and its own place in our national story sadly….!!!
But the Burghers deserve to be remembered, acknowledged and appreciated for who they are and what they have contributed to this country.
To my Burgher friends, wherever you may be in the world, I hope you know that some of us have never forgotten you. I hope you still remember the streets we walked, grounds we played, the friendships we shared, the laughter, the music and the lives we built together.
And if there is ever a day when you consider returning, please know that you are welcome. This is your home, just as much as it is mine. You do not have to prove your Sri Lankan identity to anyone. Your roots, your memories and your contribution to this country are part of our shared heritage.
Yes, I know many of you have built wonderful lives overseas, and I respect that. I also understand that returning may not be a realistic choice for everyone. But I hope you will always feel that you belong here.
You were never strangers to us. You were part of us.
Personally, thank you for friendship, kindness and care you have shown me throughout my life. Some of you may be far away, but the bonds we shared have never disappeared.
I will never forget my Burgher friends. I will never forget what they meant to me, and I will never stop missing them.
Our Burghers are an inseparable part of Sri Lanka’s story. They deserve to know that they have not been forgotten, and that there will always be a place for them in the country they helped make what it is today.
Thanks and love you guys. You know who you are I am talking about 🙏🏾🙏🏾👍🏽🥃 See less
