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| A recently constructed Buddhist stupa at Kanagarayankulam |
Travelling through the Tamil areas in North Sri Lanka, one is shocked
to see the changing demography of the land. A land that was once
inhabited by Tamils and a land that had a distinct flavor of Tamil
culture and heritage is now in the grip of Sinhalese hegemony, seen in
the form of Buddhist statues, viharas and stupas dotting the landscape
that is also lined by broken Tamil homes and newly built shanties of
Tamil refugees.
Sinhala and Sinhalisation are now the watch words in the predominantly
Tamil areas of North Sri Lanka. Starting from Vavuniya, the change is
perceptible as one enters the Tamil heartland.
All those entering into the north have to pass through Omanthai - which
has been given a Sinhalese sounding name, ‘Omantha’ - check point on A9
national highway. At this place where more than 90 per cent of the
travelers are Tamil speakers, one needs to go with a person knowing
Sinhala to answer the queries from the Sinhalese soldiers.
Throughout our travel into the Tamil hinterland, we could sense an air of Sinhalese triumphalism.
Military camps and Sinhala soldiers are a common sight in Tamil areas.
Out of a total land mass of 65,619 sq km, the Tamils inhabited 18,880 sq
km of land in the north and east, but after May 2009, the defence
forces have occupied more than 7,000 sq km of Tamil land.
It is estimated that 2500 temples and 400 churches have been destroyed.
The Sinhala forces do not permit the people to reconstruct these
worship places and many are in a dilapidated state.
On the other hand, even though the only Buddhists who are to be found
here are the Sinhalese soldiers, nearly 2500 Buddhist stupas and statues
have come up in Tamil areas in the last couple of years, according to
the locals.
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A huge Buddha statue at Kilinochchi, the erstwhile capital of Tamil rebels
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A Buddhist Vihara named Mahatota Raja Maha Vihara has come up within 50
meters of the famous Thirukethiswaram temple in Mannar district. The
ancient name for Thirukethiswaram area was Mahathottam.
The government has been making a big hype about a so-called development
programme in Tamil areas called Vadakin Vasantham (Uthuru Wasanthaya or
Northern Springs).
Infrastructure development, electricity, water supply and sanitation,
agriculture, irrigation, livestock development, inland fisheries,
health, solid waste disposal, education, sports, cultural affairs and
transportation are some of the areas that they claim will be covered
under this program.
However, the real beneficiaries of this scheme are not going to be
Tamils but Sinhala jobless youth, who would be employed in the projects
that have been handed to Sinhala contractors.
The defence forces will be the ones who will be utilizing the newly
developed infrastructure as a major chunk of the funds will be allocated
towards road development to facilitate easy troop movement.
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A Sinhala-only signboard at an important junction in Puthukudyiruppu
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In Cheddikulam a housing scheme for Sinhala returnees is underway. One
would have welcomed it if it was the same 13 displaced families that
were to return. Instead, some 75 new Sinhala families are being
relocated in the area.
Already 165 Sinhala families have been resettled in Kokkachchaankulam, which is to be renamed Kalabowasewa.
A grand new Sinhala medium school for new returnees has come up on
Madhu road, whereas hundreds of schools for Tamil kids in the vicinity
are in a state of disarray.
According to locals, forest wealth in the Tamil areas is looted by the
Sinhalese from the south who enter the forest with permission of the
armed forces for timber logging.
People also complain that Sinhala Buddhist archaeologists are engaged
in nefarious activities of Sinhalization. They are said to be visiting
Tamil areas and 'excavating' Buddha statues that they themselves plant
earlier. The purpose of this exercise is allegedly to claim that the
territory in question had been a Sinhala Buddhist area.
Where there were only a few old Sinhala sign boards pointing directions
and mentioning names of places, today one is dumbstruck at the sheer
number of new Sinhala name/direction boards in the Tamil areas.
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A Sri Lankan defence outpost in Puthukudyiruppu with name board in Sinhalese and English
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In Mullaithivu and many other places in the north, Tamils are not
allowed to enter the sea, while their Sinhala counterparts from the
south are allowed to fish in their areas.
Locals say that all petitions to government services and establishments have to be given in Sinhala only since 2009.
In the heart of Kilinochchi town, the erstwhile administrative capital
of Tamil rebels, streets sport Sinhalese names such as Mahinda Rajapaksa
Mawatha, and Aluth mawatte (The new road).
Three roads close to the A9 highway in Kanakarayankulam have been given
Sinhala names - Kosala Perera road, Anura Perera road, and Rev
Yatiravana Vimala Thero Street. The first two names are those of
soldiers who took part in the war and the last one is the name of a
Buddhist monk.
Where will this all lead to? Only time will tell.
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By
A Correspondent
Colombo / WL |
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