NYT,  Sun Feb  7 22:36:50 EST 2010

    JAFFNA, Sri Lanka — Jaffna is a city of ruins. Some are physical, like the overgrown jumbles of mold-streaked concrete where graceful buildings used to stand. But perhaps the biggest ruin of the Tamil Tiger insurgency against the Sri Lankan government is the very thing the Tigers wanted most: any hope of self-rule. After 26 years of war that ended with a decisive government assault last May, Sri Lanka’s Tamil minority seems no closer to winning a measure of autonomy in a Sinhalese-dominated nation, and Tamil nationalism, the cri de coeur of the Tamil Tiger insurgency, seems all but dead.
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- The Academic

Excellent, must read article.  Take a look at Ahilan Kadirgamar's comments at the end:

“People have been so battered by the war that the basic issues, like resettlement and jobs, that is what is foremost in their minds,” Mr. Kadirgamar said. “It is not that the desire for a political solution is gone; it just needs to take account for the ground realities of today.”


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If the only tool you have is a hammer, you will see every problem as a nail.- Abraham Maslow

The stranglehold Jaffna Tamil politicians have had on Tamil politics is, in my opinion, one of the main reasons for acrimony since independence.

The government of Sri Lanka should engage more with non-Jaffna Tamil politicians, especially with those who represent constituencies that are worse off than Jaffna (I understand Jaffna is not that well off). Tamil politicians from the rest of the island must be given a central role. Jaffna Tamils must not be allowed to dominate the Tamil political discourse.

When standardisation was introduced it helped Tamils who weren't from the peninsula, but because Jaffna Tamils dominated Tamil politics they cried blue murder and claimed it was anti-Tamil when it was actually pro non-Jaffna Tamil and pro non-Colombo Sinhalese.

Quote:

Member saying, When standardisation was introduced it helped Tamils who weren't from the peninsula, but because Jaffna Tamils dominated Tamil politics they cried blue murder and claimed it was anti-Tamil when it was actually pro non-Jaffna Tamil and pro non-Colombo Sinhalese.

Tell me MEMBER how many Tamils lived outside peninsula and Colombo?  What about Muslims? They benefited a lot in that time.  There was a provision for Muslims to enter University automatically if they get just 3 passes and get more than 25% for the failed subject (just because they were a minority).  I remember a Sinhala Student in Colombo didn't get a place in any university with 2 Credits and Two Passers!  While a Sinhala Student in Walasmulla entered Vidyaodaya University with three passes and failing in Chemistry! This was in 1974.  At the same time a Muslim Student in Colombo got a place in Med faculty with just 4 Passes!  And, I also know the Walasmulla guy was in Colombo for 4 years attending famous Tuition classes and availing same facilities as Colombo Students!  Standardization (popularly known as Area basis) is the worst university entrance system introduced and shame upon  to Sirimao Bandaranaike Govt.



Last edited by Amarakoon on Mon Feb 08, 2010 5:41 pm; edited 1 time in total

Whatever the case the Jaffna politicians made it into a huge ethnic issue when it had little to do with ethnicity.

No whining or screaming today by Jaffna politicians about students from Jaffna have lower Z score cutoffs that other areas of the country populated largely by Sinhalese. Wonder why?

Member wrote:

Wonder why?

Preferential treatment is not the solution, though it could be a short term stop gap, but sadly our politicians take this as a solution, without solving the problem. Easy way out.Why tax your brains ( wonder they have?)


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MAC1

As I am a Jaffna Tamil , I can tell you my Sinhala bros  If you want our motherland to bet Singapore (with in 10 years),
decentralised power in colombo to provicial council, give more power to these chief ministers.

USSL wrote:

As I am a Jaffna Tamil , I can tell you my Sinhala bros  If you want our motherland to bet Singapore (with in 10 years), decentralised power in colombo to provicial council, give more power to these chief ministers.

Which Chief Minister- Douglas, Karuna, or Pillayan?


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If the only tool you have is a hammer, you will see every problem as a nail.- Abraham Maslow