What do Tamils need: Secularism or nationalism?

S K Thangavadivel

Presently the people in Sri Lanka are free from fear. The Tamil population has to live with Sinhalese and Muslims. Whether we support our own party or a National Party we have to live friendly with other communities. Who are our friends? Who are our Enemies? Now we are in a position to decide.

Do we continue to face another war or co-operate with good Sinhalese and Muslims to live in peace? We can't say all the Sinhalese are bad or all the Muslims are bad. At the same time we have to think about our policies.

When we analyse the political parties, the Lanka Samasamaja Party, the Ceylon Communist Party and the Democratic Left front are always speaking about political solutions.

During the Pre-Independence Period LSSP brought a proposal in the state council that the public should be allowed to record their statement at police stations in their own language. In 1935, LSSP organized powerful trade unions in the public and private sectors. During that period, Plantation workers were ignored by Employers and the LSSP organized strike actions. Because of their actions the colonial government arrested the LSSP leaders Dr. N M Perera and Dr. Colvin.

After Independence, the UNP formed the government under the Premiership of Late D S Senanayaka. Late D S Senanayaka passed Legislation in parliament to deprive the plantation worker of their citizenship rights.

He got it passed with the support of some Tamil politicians. But the LSSP vehemently opposed it and voted against the legislation. State sponsored colonisation in Tamil speaking areas under taken by the UNP government was opposed by the LSSP.

When the late SWRD Bandaranaike and the SLFP passed in Sinhala only Act in 1955 with the help of UNP the LSSP vehemently opposed it Dr N M Perera brought a resolution to make both Sinhala and Tamil as official languages. They organised meetings against Sinhala only bill through out the Country.

In a meeting at Colombo Town Hall, while Dr N M Perera was addressing a large gathering, a fanatic hurled a bomb at him, another LSSP member Reginald Mendis in an attempt to prevent hurting N M Perera, lost a hand.

During the communal Riots of 1958, the LSSP protected the Tamils. Some of my relations who were victims of the communal riots in 1958 told me that they were protected by the late Viviene Gunawardana and her LSSP supporters. Likewise so many Tamils were helped by Samasamajists. IN Badulla, protection was given to the Tamils by late JCT Kotalawa, a prominent LSSP Parliamentarian.

The federal party accepted the Sinhala Only Act at first. Then only the LSSP accepted it. Late SJV Chelvanayagam accepted it when he had discussions with SWRD by supporting the Banda - Chelva Pact, the LSSP had to support the Sinhala Only Act. The pact was abrogated not only by JR Jayawardena but also by the Federal Party. While the Talks were going on between SWRD and SJV Chelvanayagam, the Federal Party organized Sathiyagraha to disturb the talks. The LSSP always stood for the rights of the minorities.

Dr N M Perera on May 03, 1961 spoke in the parliament as follows. "It is of no use speaking about Sinhala only and so on, you cannot kill all the Tamil people. Can you drown them or push them out? We have to live in this country. We must find a solution and a political solution is the only solution. We must discuss.

Whatever said and done late SWRD Bandaranaike and Late Sirimavo Bandaranayaka were responsible for the implementation of many progressive policies in the country. At the beginning of his political career, SWRD was in favour of Federalism. He supported both Sinhala and Tamil languages. To defeat J.R in the parliamentary election. SWRD used communal slogans. Later he wanted to solve the Ethnic problem to satisfy the minorities. But he could not achieve his aim.

The progressive policies implemented by the Bandaranaikes were many. Both tried to bring social equality and to some extent economic equality among the masses. Declaration of May Day as a public holiday, promoting education for Muslims, Establishment of Muslim Ladies College, Nationalisation process Restriction of Imports for commodities produced by Sri Lankans and to some extent some commodities Imports were stopped, Introducing the EPF system to estate employees, promoting Siddha Ayurveda, Introducing the New system of appointing Vidhans through competitive exam. (Formally these posts were meant only for certain groups).

Encouragement given to low income groups to come up in life, to some extent reduce the gap between rich and poor are some of the policies implemented and introduced by SWRD. These policies were continued by Sirimavo Bandaranaike as well.

Assisted schools were taken over by Sirimavo's government. It was a National policy and not against the Tamils. But some of the Tamil politician opposed it. Catholics organized processions against take over. Prior to take over some schools admitted students on the basis of caste. In missionary schools even though the majority of students were Hindus, the post of principal was not offered to Hindus. But these schools got aid from the government. Religious conversion took place in some training colleges for admissions. But they got aid from the government. After the take over of schools there was no discrimination of any form. Those training colleges took part in Religious conversion were closed and the admissions to government training colleges were increased. After the take over of schools teachers got their due rights like other government servants.

There was a powerful opposition among Sinhalese and Tamils to Sirimavo after the take over of schools. Sirimavo took necessary steps to develop National Religions. Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims got so many benefits after the take over of Schools. Christian and Catholic students got chances to study in Hindu colleges.

Felix Dias was a powerful minister in Sirimavo's government. He was a Christian. He was adamant on implementing Sinhala only in Jaffna Kachcheri, Sirimavo appointed Hindus for Higher posts in her Government. Srikantha was appointed as GA and Somasekaram was appointed as Education Officer. Both were Hindus. Implementation of Sinhala only gave trouble to GA in carrying out his duties. In Jaffna powerful politicians at that time was Chelvanayagam and Dr EMV Naganathan. Jaffna District Students Union President was Makintier.

Watson was powerful in security forces. They were all Christians. Felix Dias concentrated to implement Sinhala only in Jaffna Kachcheri and Chelvanayagam and others organised Sathiyagraha. An incident took place during Sathiyagraha. Dr. EMV Naganathan was attacked with baton by Watson until the baton broke. Inspite of all the LSSP supported Sathiyagraha and spoke about it in the parliament.

With all its difficulties, LSSP supported the Tamils but on the other hand Tamils did not elect any LSSP member to the Parliament. The LSSP Joined the SLFP as a partner in their government on June 11, 1964. The LSSP had a chance to do so many things for the minorities, because it was strong in 1964 coalition. On July 13, 1964 late M. Sivasithamparam, a Prominent Tamil leader on his speech in the Parliament stated that regarding the Tamil language issue the SLFP-LSSP coalition had taken important progressive steps in their first throne speech rather than in the previous Governments. Even late Amirthalingam praised the coalition. At last the Federal party under the guidance of SJV Chelvanayagam joined with the UNP and other Sinhala communalist to bring down the coalition Government. Actually the coalition needed the support of the Federal Party to continue the Government.

In 1965 too, the LSSP Wanted the support of the Federal party to form the SLFP-LSSP-FP Coalition. But the Federal party rejected the request made by the LSSP and joined the UNP. The Federal Party could not achieve any thing from the UNP government, no graduate employment to educated youths. Federal party asked for a University for Jaffna, nothing happened. During the UNP-FP period, May Day and Vesak fell on May first and Dudley's Government wanted to have the Vesak on May first and May Day on May second. Only the leftist specially the communist party led by N Shanmugathasan opposed to have the May Day on May second. Shanmugathasan even had an illegal procession on May first for May Day in Jaffna.

When workers problem came the Federal party was prepared to support Buddhism. That is why they supported UNP Government to have the Vesak on May first. The SLFP was predominant in the coalition in 1970. Inspite of all, the LSSP wanted to solve the ethinic problem with the help of the Federal party.

The Federal Party did not want to join the Government and solve the problem of the minorities. But they created an ugly situation by requesting the Government to divide the country into five regions. So the LSSP (A minority partner in the Government) included maximum policies to safeguard the rights of the Tamils in the New Constitution.

On December 11, late C X Martyn, in his speech in Parliament, accepted what is included in the language of Administration in the Court. Dr Colvin tried his best to accommodate the rights of the Tamils despite Opposition from some leading SLFP members in the Government. He incorporated most of the points outlined in the Banda-chelva pact in the New constitution.

To be continued