Indegenous Sri Lankan Tamils 12.6% . Tamils of Indian Origin (Mainly lIving in the Central Highlands and Colimbo and broung in by the British in the mid 19th Century ) 5.7 &. Tamil Muslims 7.4% ( These Tamil speaking Muslims do not idetify themselve as Tamils but by their religion. 70% live in the Traditional Sinhala areas and 30 % in the Tamil districts mainly in the East. They have somoe Arab/Persian blood but aorund 90% of thier blood is Tamil/Dravidian. Arab trders setteld in the coastal areas and amrreid local women at that time the coastal districts of Sri Lanka spoke Tamil. later many Tamil Muslims migratd from the state of Kerala and Tamil Nadu especially after the fall of Tippu Sultan, and these merged into one community.) Genrally there is quite a lot mutual distrust and suspicion between the Hindu/Christian Tamils and between the these Tamil Muslims. At eh Time of independence and until around the arely 1960 . the Tamil population in Sri lanka was 25% ( this excludes the Tamil Muslims). This has been stradliy dscling because of large scale migration due ot discrimination. I am a Jaffan Tamil Christian who lived in Colombo and in 1983 our house was burn by sinhalse mobs and even some of our so called friendly Neihbours were enciragingthis mobs( despits living there for 30 years) A senior and famous government minister was supervising these mobs. An our house was almost opposite the Police station. I have close relatives who are Singhalese. Tamils only liv ein Colomb
RE:regs 3 Tamil speaking people in Sri Lanka
by The Lion on Jun 05, 2007 04:24 PM Permalink
Theres some correction. During independence Tamils were around 40% of total population and not only Jaffna kingdom but the kindom of kandy and eastern tamils region was ruled by tamil kings. It was sinhala blood suckers whom did all alwanted things then. Even the sinhala themselves are mix of tamils, tamil speaking keralites and telugus whom moved to the island time to time.
RE:regs 3 Tamil speaking people in Sri Lanka
by Edwin Navaratnam on Jun 04, 2007 05:01 PM Permalink
through necessacity. That does not mean they ar eliving in harmony. The Tamil aras are neglected and if the government opens a factory in tamil area it is used as an excuse to bring Sinhala colonists and thier families.I was born and raised up in Colombo and can speak Singhala. Even Tamils like us livng in Colombo have been angry at teh discrimination taht we have faced but are unable to speak up due to fear of reprisals/ So it iis incoorect to say that hte Tamils in Colombo are very happy may be a few but more than 95% are not as I was aTamil living in Colombo.w6
The Tamils in general have challanges belonging to a county and are loyal to only their language and ethnicity. The Tamil social system has ensured that they don't see the world as it is but has made them suspicious of everyone else. They feel threathned by everything non-Tamil and are narrow minded. I have found Tamilians living in India outside Tamil Nadu much more open than Tamils brought up within their own state. I am curious what it is in the Tamil culture that makes them so fanatic and racist towards everyone else.
RE:I sympathize with the Sri Lankans
by Edwin Navaratnam on Jun 04, 2007 04:53 PM Permalink
Really. Only a prejudiced person makes blank statements about other people and cultures> So you dont like your language and cuture. Just because you have prjudiced and reacist views against tamils in general. Does not justify genocide ethcin cleansing and racial discrimantion against Sri Lankan Tamils. They have lived there for thiusands of years and ruled their own lands.The Singhalses were always eyenig these lands but were unable to do anything about it, The British are at fault they handed the Srilankan Tamils to the Singhala Majority on platter wihtout against the wishes of the Sri lankan Tamils and without adequate protection and this is the end result. So according to you Sri llankan tamils deserve what they get as you dont liek Tamil people in general. So hitler didnt like the jews so it was ok to commit genocide on themn ( according to you. ) And if I dont liek you I could ill treat you. Get real laern to trat other people and cutures with respect. It is you who are narrow minded
The so called discrimination against tamils that so many commentators talk about is actually as a result of British Colonization. Brits couldn't get the sinhalese to do their dirty work. Sinhalese openly resented and resisted British rulers. Brits found it difficult to get the majority sinhalese workers in the govt. They turned to tamils and did everything possible to marginalize the majority sinhalese. Provided special privileges to the local minority community and made them their faithful collonial allies in the govt. Also, sinhalese didn't want to do any estate labor work for the brits. Brits had an answer, they imported hundreds of thousands of south indian tamils to do the slavery.
After the exit of the brits the sinhalese majority started getting the administrative power back. A correction to the system was needed to give back the majority rights. Some measures were probably over-corrections and there were enough tamil politicians to exploit the situation and level charges of discriminations.
RE:Discrimination
by The Lion on Jun 05, 2007 04:36 PM Permalink
oh! ohhh! Hold on! So this sinhalese revolted against british and tamils were not. Its plain british divide and rule tactic and that time india was hit by major famine and drought. So people struggling for living were ok when they were carried far to SA, Malaysia, South America and Carribian islands which were colonies of british. Moreover tamils were hardworkers. So when they were carried to the lanka they suffered and had to face difficult situation when they were made to travel by walk from coastal ports to the hill region. Thousands died during this 'move' infected by malaeria like disease.
Is this hypocracy or what. Most of the commentators here talk about discrimination to tamils in sri lanka. But isn't discrimination part parcel and an accepted norm in the indian society today? Lower castes are treated like dust and selected castes enjoy the maximum benefits. Any attemept to gove some rights to so called lower caste people will create havoc. These issues actually is a time bomb and the greatest threat to indian national security. Also, the caste aside, the benefits of the booming economy are only enjoyed by a small minority of the society. This social bomb is going to explode if not addressed right now and become a security threat not just to India but also to the whole regional economy. So, youindians, pls focus on these issues and let sri lankans handle their own problems.
RE:Discrimination in India
by sameer meher on Jun 03, 2007 07:58 PM Permalink
yes this is Srilankas problem. We should not have any interests in speaking about that right . BUt dear friend it is just an international Politics .There are lots of problems in our country that are to be addressed , but we also have to keep our eyes open on an international politics . We are going through lots of international Politics . What you said is our home problems , that is completely differnt topic.
Hello guys i think its high time now we should stop considering Tamilians from Sri Lanka a part of India anymore. We should treat them as citizens of Sri Lanka who are suffering from civil war in Sri Lanka. Well these people choose to live their in Srilanka so I think they should slove their own problem and I hope Indian govt wouldn't interfer in other countries political issues and i also hope no indian do that. How you and I don't appreciate Pakistan to poking its nose in to Punjab and Kashmir similarly India shouldn' involve with both the parties.
those weapons will be used to kill another Indian PM. Btw, don't we follow non-violence. why can't India step in and settle this dispute between the two regions or may be make them separate countries?
RE:Seperate countries.
by sameer meher on Jun 03, 2007 07:17 PM Permalink
this is international Politics . If India cant help Srilanka in wepons then srilanka may go to the Indias enemy to ask for Wepons .
RE:Seperate countries.
by sameer meher on Jun 03, 2007 07:22 PM Permalink
This is international Politics . If India cant help Srilanka in wepons then srilanka may go to the Indias enemy to ask for Wepons .
And if Indians Help Srilankans with Wapon then it will be said the our own mens are killing Tamils .
So india is in between condition.
ANd if INdia cant help Srilanka , and if pakistan helps srilanka with weapons then in Pakistans bad time with India , srilanka may help pakistan with there ships in INDIAN oceans against INDIA .
That is the reason it is always said that make good relations with Neighbours . India dont have any good relation with any of its neighbour since last 50 years, that is the biggest threat to india ..
How can India say that we want to sell our arms to SL? Our Tamil Brothers from both countries will oppose that tooth and nail. Knowing that these weapons will be used against SL Tamilians how will India sell the weapons? Something has to be done about SL problem. There is no need to support separatism - we are the victim of that and we have seen the excruciating pain it creates. At the same time we need to provide moral support to Tamil Brothers to get the respect and rights they are deprived of.
RE:Conflict of interest
by sameer meher on Jun 03, 2007 07:29 PM Permalink
IF indians cant sell the arms to SL , then Pakistan will do that help to SL in there bad times. And if in future pakistan Requests the Entry from Indian ocean for the SHips then that will be the Biggest Help for the Pakistan. Both INDIA & Pakistan want to help SL on terms of Weapons for making there Positions in this International Politics . Our only problem is we are only tied with the Tamils :) .
RE:Conflict of interest
by sameer meher on Jun 03, 2007 07:47 PM Permalink
IF indians cant sell the arms to SL , then Pakistan will do that help to SL in there bad times. And if in future pakistan Requests the Entry from Indian ocean for the SHips then that will be the Biggest Help for the Pakistan. Both INDIA & Pakistan want to help SL on terms of Weapons for making there Positions in this International Politics . Our only problem is we are only tied with the Tamils :) .The Question is why we are tied with Tamils in Srilanka . It seems to be the similar situation what india is facing about Kashmir . Pakistan is helping terrorist in Kashmir. So if that is the case do you think that India should help Tamils in srilanka for terror in srilanka . If India is expecting no terror help from paskistan in kashmir , then we should also not help tamils in srilanka against srilanka. Other wise this problem of srilanka is noway different from the Kashmir issue , and we wont be different from pakistan .
Lanka was originally one with India, Tamils and anybody from Indian continent were free to move to or fro Lanka. Why should this freedom be stopped now? People have equal rights and this should be protected. It is clear SriLankan gov't is a failed authority, heavy burden on India and used by anti-india forces like pak, bdesh and china. Lanka should treat it's Tamils with respect and show unity. Otherwise India might as well start supplying Tamils with weapons, something Rajiv ought to have done in the first place actually.
RE:Our terrible mistake in 80's
by sameer meher on Jun 03, 2007 07:34 PM Permalink
INDIA didnot saved the seperation of Pakistan . How can we try to think on others Unity or Division ? About Tamils in Srilanka it is the another Country itself . There is no relation between Tamils in srilanka and tamils in INDIA . These are two different country ppls itself.
