I read with interest the Point of View of G.G.Ponnambalam Jnr. on the principles of Timpu, in The Sunday Times of June 29.
The much reverberated Conference at Timpu between the government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Political Parties of this country took place in July 1989 with the patronage of India.
Mr. Ponnambalam has enumerated four cardinal principles as agreed on at the Timpu Conference. The crux of the four principles is that the Tamils of Sri Lanka are of a distinct nationality, with a homeland in a definite territory having inalienable rights of their own. While standing firm on the above identifying elements his fourth principle speaks of rights to full citizenship with other fundamental rights of all Tamils who look upon the island as their country.
To my mind there is a contradiction in the four principles. While it is said that the Tamils form a separate nation with definite national identity, he also says that Tamils should have citizenship rights in the whole island. This raises a number of questions
Firstly, if there be any community or a group of people living in a definite territory with a conscious nationality, then surely is it not a nation state? Is it not a country judging by any standard of definition? If it is so, why should the designers of the Timpu principles make Provisions for the fourth principle, integrating full citizenship rights for the Tamils in the island as a whole and treat the island as their country as well? One cannot eat the cake and keep it at the same time. Therein lay the germ of treachery that Mr. Ponnambalam speaks about. If the authors of the Timpu Pact were sincere they would not have driven the Tamils from pillar to post throughout their communal history.
Mr .Ponnambalam goes on to say that from 1956 to 1989 and even beyond to the package day that Tamil parties have been shifting ground and betraying the Tamils. There are seven or eight political parties such as T.U.L.F., PLOTE, LTTE, EPRLF., EROS, TELO and EPDP and also ACTC representing the so called Tamil nation and other Tamils outside them. The fourth question is are they shifting ground as the majority of the Tamils demand it or on their wishful thinking? So the next that follows is who betrays whom? the fault is not with the Tamil people but with their political parties themselves.
A news item in The Sunday Times of June 22, headlined "Sweep winner alleges super swindle, is a matter for concern. A prospective winner of Ambalangoda, A. Jayatilleke, has blown the lid off in exposing this racket which cost his prize money of millions in the 635th draw, by the National Lotteries Board.
The winner further alleges, none had cracked the Jackpot in 75 previous draws and was baffled to note why the unwon prize money was not added on to his winning numbers, to award him the super prize but instead, to give him only 10 per cent by illegally amending the rules.
Is there provision in the Financial Act authorising responsible officials of the NLB to amend lottery rules to suit them? In my opinion, this is an act of mala fide. How can the public have confidence in such a scheme?
It is understood the petitioner in this regard, is praying for justice before the Supreme Court through his counsel and special leave is being granted to Mr. Jayatilleke (the sweep winner) to appeal.
If the Chairman and the Directors of the NLB are found guilty of this swindle, deterrent punishment should be meted out to them, because it is public money. Preventive measures, may also be taken against such ruses, in the future.
I am a regular reader of the "Your Health" column in The Sunday Times and this short note is just to thank Dr. Sanjiva Wijesingha for enlightening the people on the way to live a long and healthy life.
Also I wish, if you could make arrangements to publish these articles in Sinhala in a sister Sinhalese paper with a view to enhancing the knowledge of the majority of the Sri Lankans.
You made a good effort during the past decade but it was only limited to a percentage of the people. It would be prudent to extend this column in the Sinhala publication for greater benefit of the people.
To the strange land I trespassed, So bewildered I was, To see so many in different gestures. Barbarians I saw, mouths watering for their fresh preps. Lusty eyes glowing with thirst, to see Sweat, blood and tears of their own kind.
Along the corridors I walked on, To see mimicking figures and their great Performances as musicians. Neither with instruments nor music. Suddenly I stopped, to notice, The word "cafeteria" on a wall. Slowly I trod in to see groups of fresh youths, Eating and drinking, Where there were no food or drink on the tables. But yet eating and drinking for the satisfaction Of their spectators.
In another corner of the building saw I, Youths wiggling on rough cement, Their veins burning with red hot blood, Just sweat running down their skin Keeping them cold.
Then a loud voice I heard beyond A big burly youth "it’s the eve of the Grand social" said he. No more fun" others said. Yet the unfulfilled tradition, to be, Handed over to their emulators.
Return to the Letters to the Editor contents page
Write a letter to the editor : editor@suntimes.is.lk