Page 1
TZülÜ3. (U5055
WOL II NO.4
18 WPS RESGN
A MINI-GENERAL ELECTION IN SRI LANKA2
Eighteen members of Concerned had no choice Parliament belonging to in the matter,
the ruling United National Party, including two Cabimet Ministers, two District Ministers and six Deputy Ministers resigned their seats in the Sri Lankar Parliament, giving rise to the prospects of a minigeneral election sometime in the middle of this year.
At the recently held ref. eren dum for the extensior of the life of Parlia Tet, the UNP lost in 48 of the constituencies. Prior to the referenduT, President J. R. Ja ya Warderne announced that he intended to reTowe Cetail MPS Who had not performed Well Or beCOrne unpopular. The facilitate the task of their removal, Mr. Jayawardene had already Cobtained undated letters of resignation from all the MPs, including Cabinet Ministers. NOW he has dated 18 of those | Etters ärld SubTitted them to the Secretary to the Parliament. The MPs
However, the Finance Minister, Mr. Ronnie De Mel, who also resigned at the same time as other MPs, was immediately reOThinated as MP for Bulaths inhala (where another MP had signed) and took his oaths as Finance MiniSter withi a matter of 24 hours. The rather tortuous, but ingenious exercise Was made possible - under the Sri Lankan constitution according to which there is no requirement to ha we a by-election When a seat fell wacart by reason of death or resignation of an MP, or his dis-, missal by his party. The vacancy can be filled by the Secretary of the party to which the MP belonged by nominating another person of his choice.
It is reliably learnt that in the case of the 17 MPs who have resigned, such homination will not be made within the stipulated
INSIE
* Newš Fila: * Biridicted undeiřTërroišm åt
Sri tinka Ngs. Přističt Judas Hařasgsd * Protestas bě Üniversity Stifstift:
AboutPage Lotter to the Editor
Bharati Day in New York "Gues Sury: Arrestad "MissEglinī
A nation Divided * Christlặng.ịrị thặặüặg tẩt.Jằsắiệề
* Harw do ou play: this hind. Bärkritiro:
Britishi Polica irrileague with L-Erukari Palici
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS
There are many who wish to receive the Tamil Times but do not. Some Write to us, having been shown the paper by our subscribers, ask for back numbers, and enquire as to why they have had no information about the paper.
Please send us the names and addresses of your friends and relations so that We may send them introductory free copies.
4O PENCE
FEBRUARY 1983
one month, and thereby, creating a situation in which elections in those Constituencies would beConTe ire witä ble to fill the Vасапcies.
However, constitutional experts ha 'We expressed the wiew that there is no provision for holding byelections, and therefore, a further amendment to the Constitution would be required to make it possible to hold Elections. This Carlot be described as an insurmountable problem for Mr. Jayawardene, Who has tinkered and tampered with the Constitution title
and time again to suit his political convenience, With a five-sixth Steartroller majority in Parliament, enacting the required arTendent must be a easy task for Mr. Ja ya Wardene Who has almost total subservience from his MPs whose undated resignation letters are in his pocket. Any MP who da res not to toe the line will do so at his ow perill-his undated letter of resigratio Would be dated and submitted to the Secretary to the Parliament upon which he Would automatically cease t är MP,
DEWALUATION ?
Reports from Sri Lanka confirm that a substantial devaluation of the Rupee is imminent. The governThe it has been under Severe pressure from the international Monetary Fund to devalue the Rupee by thirty to forty per cent. The Centra Bank Ind the officials of the Planning and Finance Ministries hawe been directed to assess the impact and Consequences of Such a massive de valuation exerCise.
The annual budget which WaS due in NOWernber 1982 was postponed until March this year. Now that the Presidential election and the referenduT for the extension of the life of Parliament are ower and Mr. J. R., Jaya Wardene and his party are secure in the seats of government for the next six years, political observers predict that the government will take certail fiscal and
'the
есопогпіс measшres which are likely to impose severe hardships upon the poorer Sections of the population.
With foreign reserwes
sufficient to last only nine
Weeks, assistance from IMF is absolutely essential to meet the Country's enormous balance of payments problems and the anticipated huge budget deficit. The
government has no choice but
ID subsThit to thite stringent conditions that the IMF would no doubt іпmpose.
The cost of living, which is already high, is likely to rise further, Although the price of oil in World markets have drastically fallen due to the oil-glut, the Ceylon Petrole Lurn Corporation has not reduced its price in the dotestic market. With devaluation, further increases are inevitable in the price of flour, Sugar, bread and
CONTD ON P.

Page 2
2 TAMIL TIMES
LSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
THE SRI LANKAN MEDIA
The reports published in the Sri Lankan press about the "involvement of priests' in bank robberies by 'terrorists', and the killing of the Vavuniya UNP organiser, Pulendran, demonstrates clearly the disgusting state of the media in Sri Lanka.
Besides becoming a servile instrument in the hands of the government, the Lankan press has degenerated over the years into being the purveyors of false information, distorters of fact and captains of calumny. Instead of being the bastion of peoples' rights against arbitrary actions of government and abuse of power by security forces, the press has struck a united front with these two agencies in an effort to suppress the rights of the people. They have become the masters of manipulation and misinformation.
In a country where the people had exercised the right to turn in or out a government once in every five years for the last 35 years, if people in large numbers have blithely conceded to the constitutional skulduggery of a referendum to disfranchise themselves by the extension of the life of parliament, the Sri Lankan press must bear full responsibility.
in this lamentable context, we are happy to note that the 'SATURDAY REVIEW", the one and only independent English regional weekly newspaper, has completed one year of its extremely useful existence. Constant threats to its continued publication and close surveillance of its contributors have not deflected the determination of the Saturday Review to be bold and brave in exposing the abritrary acts of the government and the gross abuse of power by the security forces. In a recent editorial, expressing concern that the 'axe might fall on us any time', under the title 'WE SMELL DANGER'', the Editor, with commendable bravery declared, 'We shall continue to raise our voice against oppression of any sort, against State terrorism, against inroads into individual rights and liberties, against high-handedness, thuggery, pistol-waving, torture and mass media manipulation of news, news distortions, and any affront to human dignity anywhere'. These sentiments are foreign to the hired harlots of the Lankan newspaper groups who masquerade under the guise of 'journalists'.
We congratulate the Saturday Review and its editorial team on their successful completion of one year's useful service. We re-echo the sentiments expressed by the much respected and reputable Librarian, Mr. H.A.l. Goonetilleke: "Eyes getting used to darkness at noon have come to value your journal as a small candle in the enshrouding gloom.' We entertain the hope that Saturday Review will expand and develop into a daily newspaper.
 

FEBRUARY 1983
AFTER 35 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE
A NATION DIVIDED
February 4th this year marked the 35th Anniversary of Independence of Sri Lanka from colonial rule. The manner in which this event was remembered highlights what has happened during the last 35 years in independent Sri Lanka. The two major ethnic communities — Sinhalese and Tamils — have gone further and further apart. Sri Lanka today is a nation-state divided within itself.
Celebrations were held at Galle Face Green in Colombo by the government to mark the 35th Anniversary of Independence. There was no shortage of pomp. and pageantry. The government and its supporters had every reason to celebrate. Mr. J. R. Jayawardene had won the Presidential election. Referendum had been won and the life of the government had been extended for a further period of six years.
Mr. J. R. Jayawardene used the occasion to take his oath of office as President in front of a large audience which had gathered for the Independence Day celebrations.
The Prime Minister, Mr. R. Premadasa, in a special message said, 'Today. with festivities throughout the land, we not only commemorate the 35th Anniversary of Independence, but also rejoice at the inauguration of President J.R. Jayawardene as he takes office as the first Executive
President of Sri Lanka, elec
ted directly by the people.'
However, in the areas inhabited predominantly by the Tamil speaking people, there was a different spectacle in marked contrast to what was taking place in the South of the country.
In response to a call by political parties and student organisations, the Tamil people of the Northern province observed a hartal on
February 3rd and a day of mourning on the 4th. Almost all shops and business establishments were closed, schools deserted and Theatres shut down.
The hartal was generally peaceful but effective in that all activity had ground
to a halt. There were some
incidents too. Four armed youths had stopped a bus going towards Jaffna, forced the crew and passengers off the vehicle and Set it on fire.
The Sri Lankan security forces conducted themselves true to their past record. There were attacks on members of the public at several places. Security men in Mufti assaulted a lone cyclist only a few hundred yards away from the infamous Gurunagar Army Camp in Jaffna. Service personnel also stopped mini-buses at several points andharassed and assaulted the Crews and passengers. Twenty-five years ago, on June 3, 1958, addressing the Government Parliamentary Group following the first ever racial pogrom directed against the Tamil speaking people, the then Prime Minister of Independ
ՅՈt Sri Lanka, Mr. S.W. R. D. Bandaramaike, said:
'My military forces are now in the east and the north. There is military rule in these two provinces, each with a military governor, yes, say they are military governors. With my army, I will see that there is no repeated attempt to set up a different administration in those provinces.'
Twenty-five years later, the military governors have been replaced by Brigadiers. There is a virtual army of occupation. The people are compelled to be at their mercy. This is the sad and grim spectacle after 35 years of independence as far as the Tamil speaking people are conCerned.

Page 3
FEBRUARY 1983
CHRISTIAWS NLW THE
Traditionally, thę Sri Lankan left and the trade unions had functioned as a bulwalk against oppression by the state, They had spearheaded the defence of democratic and fundamental human rights. The catastrophic collapse of the traditional left, both in the parliamentary arena and outside and the complete disorientation and disorganistion of the working class movement had left the Sri Lankan masses de
The objectives of this Consultation were: 1. Mutual solidarity, coordination and deepening of Spirituality among Christians and Church related groups active in the struggle for justice
and liberation in Sri Lanka. 2. To clarify principles,
objectives and roles of Christians in their participation with people of other religions and ideologies in the movement of development, justice and liberation. . To carry forward the work of development education and, in general the deepening of consciousness among the people in Society and in the Church on the problems of social change and the building of a just and humane society. The consultation began by analysing the major areas of injustice, oppression and alienation Sri Lanka today and identified the following issues: 1. The erosion of our national sovereignity, through the operation of neo-colonialism through Trans National Corportions, lending agencies such as the World Bank and the IMF and militarisation on a vast scale. . The attack on civil rights. In view of the increasing human rights violations, the necessity to get rid of the Prevention of Terrorism Act and all other repressive legis
fenceless against increasing oppression and denial of fundamental rights. In this context, the liberal sections of the Christian Church have been pushed into playing a crucial role in defence of fundamental rights of the people. In this rather uncharacteristic role, the Church had come into direct conflict with those in authority.
As in other countries, where dictatorships and authoritarian fascist regimes
CHRISTIANS
lation. 3 The oppression of work ers including Free Trad Zone workers and th repression of trad unions and July 198 strikers. The abuses sur fered by migrant wo kers seeking employ ment abroad, especiall in the Middle East. Oppression of th peasants - evictions, exploitation by traders land given to foreign an local companies an effect on hitherto inde pendent farmers, fallin prices, failure of NADS, Scheme, no insurance i times of natural calam ties, the lack of ade quate peasant leade ship and organisation. Cultural bondage, th lack of self determir ation and freedom unde the impact of nec colonialism and cor sumerism. The repres sive control of Creativ artists engaged in th cultural sphere. The il effects of tourism an its impact on our cu tural life. Education — Attempt ti re-introduce privilege system of education The future of our yout at Stake. The Whit. Paper proposals ar. reactionary and not real istic. The National Ouestior A clear and open discus sion needed of th various issues. Ther should be solidarity wit
 

TAMIL TIMES 3
TRUGGLE FORJUSTICE
rule supreme, the Christian Church has, over the last few years, become more and more vocal and been compelled at times to openly question and challenge the actions of the government and its security forces. The recent arrests of some Christian priests in the northern Tamil city of Jaffna in Sri Lanka illustrates concretely the involvement of the members of the Church in crucial areas of political action.
FOR JUSTICE
the Tamils in the struggle for their rights, as well as understanding of the complexity of the problems and the needs of the Sinhala people tOO. The lack of citizenship and the problem of statelessness, fear and insecurity and poor housing among plantation workers. The exploitation and general oppression of women. Not deeply analysed and understood. 1 OThe problems of slumdwellers in our cities. 11 The oppression of the
caste system.
While grappling with these issues, we pledged ourselves to share more fully in the lives and problems of the oppressed and alienated peoples of Sri Lanka. We also reaffirmed Our Commitment towards a fundamental change of our present social system and consequently to a political struggle towards that ultimate goal. We further accepted the obligation in the meantime to make the short-term options which could effectively tackle their problems and oppose the present de-humanising trends. The Consultation broke up into six groups for more intense discussion and planning and formulated guidelines for action under the following headings:-
In August 1982, forty organisations, including the Catholic Bishops Conference, the National Christian Council, trade unions, peasant organisations, student groups, various fellowships etc. formed a movement Called 'CHRISTIANS IN THE STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE'. This organisation holds ‘’consultations "" as and when the situation demands, and the document that appears on this page is the result of one such “consultation.
. Workers Problems
... Plantation Workers
. Peasant Problems
. National Ouestion
. Political Action
. Action within
Church
At our Consultation, we welcomed participants of different faiths and ideologies and we affirmed the necessity for close cooperation and Solidarity with such persons and organisations in a common struggle for justice. This is an obvious necessity within a pluralist religious and ideological Context Such as obtains in Sri Lanka.
We also took note of the resources of the Christian Churches and the need to utilise these resources in the service of the struggle for justice in accordance both with the teachings, life and example of Jesus the man, in whom God was incarnate, and also the prophetic calling of Church throughout the ages.
Our theological basis is the self-effacing loving compassion of God in Jesus as a historical figure fully immersed in the aspirations and struggles of his time towards a new humanity. Flowing from that life, death and resurrection we claim our right along with all oppressed people to be fully human, and are inspired to practice. His universal love which is concretised through mass solidarity, Social struggle,
the
CONTD ON P.14

Page 4
4 TAMIL TIMES
News File
NUMBER TO REMEMBER
An Iranian failed to obtain a
job because he could not
remember or guess Ayotollah Khomeini's identity Card number. The Iranian President, Ali Khameini, mentioned this case in a newspaper interview in which he attacked abuses by government officials.
SOUTH AFRICAN SECRET FUND The South African government has admitted giving money to a Right-wing pub
lishing house and lobby
group in London. The Foreign Ministry said in Cape Town that South Africa had made financial contributions to the Foreign Affairs Research Institute (FAR), whose advisory
Council is headed by Sir
Frederick Bennet, Conservative MP for Torbay.
HITLER, THATCHER HEAD HATE LIST Adolf Hitler is top of the
hate and fear list voted by
visitors to Madame Tussaud's WaxWorks in London-followed by Mrs. Margaret Thatcher.
Mrs. Thatcher was followed by President Ronald Reagan, Dracula and the Yorkshire Ripper, but she was top in politics, beating Churchill and Michael Foot
CHINESE BIRTH CONTROL
China, with a population of more than one billion, is among countries currently experimenting with plant derived agent capable of producing infertility in men, an International Scientific Conference held in Stockholm was recently told.
CLERICAL MARRIED REFUGEES Roman Catholicism, the only Christian communion which insists on priestly celibacy, has begun to admit married priests in the United States. Three have been ordained already; within 18 months there Could well be 60. These
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FEBRUARY 1983
men are clerical refugees from Anglicanism; and by special dispensation from the Pope, their being married already is not held a bar to their being ordained again as Romans.
5OO DEAD SOULS' EMBEZZLED BY SOVIET GANG LEADER It also happens in the Soviet Union. A Soviet gang leader drew salaries of more than 5 OO 'dead souls' who were registered as working in a non-existing factory, according to a
report appearing in "Sotsial
isticheskaya Industrya'. Stanislov Ivanov was able to pull-off the swindle because many state officials were in his pay. He had two bodyguards, four
cars, three houses and a wife decorated like a Christmas Tree' with
gems. Ivanov registered his fictitious textile machinery plant in Podolsky, near Moscow, and for three years claimed for 515 fictitious workers. He and 14 others were put on trial for embezzling millions of roubles from the state.
BANDIT OUEEN SURRENDERS
India's most wanted and notorious outlaw, the Bandit Oueen, Phoolan Devi, has been put behind bars, after laying down her gun at a highly publicised but controversial surrender ceremony. The 27 year old gangstress wanted for a St. Valentine's Day massacre of 21 villagers two years ago gave herself up in the
Indian Centra State of Madhiya Pradesh with 23 other wanted outlaws.
CHARTER OF MUSLIM DEMANDS Muslim MPs from India's ruling Congress (l) and Opposition parties recently joined forces in presenting a Charter of Muslim Demands to the Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi. She has ignored the demands and threatened disciplinary action against Congress (I) Muslim MPs for joining hands with the opposition.
ONE MAN EOUALS TWO WOMEN
Anti-government demonstrations were recently held in Lahore and Karachi in defiance of martial law regulations by several hundred women against the Pakistani Military government's proposal for changes in the law of evidence as part of a so-called ““İslamisation'' which would make evidence of two women equivalent to that of one man.
BRAIN DRAM OF
THEOLOGIANS According to Asia Theological News'', the
number of Chinese theologians in North America is greater than their total in Asia, 9O per cent of Indian Theological Students who go to study in the West do not return to India. In the U.S., there is a Filipino Church in Chicago, which has seven Filipino pastors 'in its pews' while more than 50 Filipino pastors are 'selling life insurance in Los Angeles'.
OPPRESSION
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Page 5
FEBRUARY 1983
SSSSLLLL
6 INDICTED UNDER TERROR INCLUDING 3 PRIEST
Rev. Fr. A. Singarayer, Rev. Fr. P.A. Sinnarasa, Rev. S.T. Jeyatillakarajah, Dr. Jayakularajah, Mr. P. Nithianandan, a University Lecturer, and Mrs. Nirmala Nithianandan have been indicted under the Prevention of Terrorism Act before the High Court of Colombo on charges of withholding information regarding movements of 'terrorists'.
Although previous press reports duoting army sources made wild allegations that Fr. Singarayer and Fr. Sinnarasa had received and deposited over a million rupees from the proceeds of the Neerveli Bank robbery carried out in 1981, and that part of the loot was recovered from the residence of Fr. Singarayer, the charges filed in Court did not support such allegations.
When the six defendants were produced before the High Court Judge, Mr. Robert Silva, following an application made by Mr. P. Bala Tampoe, Attorney-at
Law, who appeared on behalf of some of the defendants, the Judge fixed trial for June 6.
Mr. Tampoe pleaded for an early trial on the ground that under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, the Court was required to keep the defendants on remand until the conclusion of the trail. The court could use its disCretion in granting bail even in cases of offences against the state and murder under the normal law, but under the Terrorism Act it could only remand the accused.
Replaying to the Deputy Solicitor-General, Mr. Tilak Marapone's statement that
the State too was interested in an early trial to punish the
offenders, Mr. Tampoe said, "My learned friend is talking of punishment. The accused are already being punished being in army custody. All six defendants hold respectable positions in Society. If you examine the charges brought against them, they allege that the
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Fr. P.A. Sinnarasa,
defendants had not given information about some other people; that they had not acted as police informers. When did the police appoint the six defendants as their informers?'"
慧
Rev. S.T.
Following an application by defence counsel, the Judge made order that the six defendants, who were detained by an order by the Ministry of Defence, be remanded to fiscal custody. He further ruled that they be afforded the privileges given to remand prisoners under the normal law.
རྒྱུ་མཚན་ స్టీ
Dr. Jayakularajah
Mr. Tampoe informed the Judge that there was a possibility of the Court's order being thwarted by a fresh detention order issued by the Ministry of Defence and the defendants being spirited away to the Panagoda Army camp.
Jeyatillakarajah
TAMIL TIMES 5
Kev. Fr. A. Singarayer,
The Judge ruled that in the event of such an order from the Defence Ministry, Counsel for the defendants be informed by the office of the High Court.
Mr. P. Nithianandan
All accused, except Fr. Sinnarasa are indicted with harbouring Suspects who attacked the Chavakach
cheri police station on October 27, 1981 and with-holding information
regarding suspects who attacked Chavakachcheri police station and failing to report the attack to a police
Mrs. Nirmala Nithianandan Officer.
Fr. Singarayar and Fr. Sinnarasa were indicted separetely with withholding information regarding suspects including terrorist leader Prabhakaran, who are involved in the Neervely bank robbery which took place on march 25, 1981 and falling to report information to the police.
Mr. G. Kumaralingham and M. Sivasithamparam, Attorneys-at-Law, appearled for some of the defen
dants.
నళకళsళసుస్వభ

Page 6
6 TAM TIMES
SRI LANKA NEWS
DISTINGUISHED CLZENS
The Sri Lankan government is considering proposals to grant permanent residence to foreign investors bringing their money into the country.
A system of granting distinguished citizenship, depending on the volume of investment, is also under consideration.
LAND GRANTS The Lankan Ministryof Lands and Land
Development has directed the resumption of the issue of ”Swarnabhoomi’ land grants which confer permanent freehold title to allottees of crown land, who had hitherto held their allotments on lease issued by Government Agents.
COST OF REPATRATION DEMANDED Sri Lankans who were repatriated by the Foreign Ministry at the height of the Israeli invasion of Lebanon
iate last year are now being called upon to pay the cost ibf repatriation.
They have also been told that their passports will not be returnedtothern nor new passports issued until they reimburse the cost of
When the repatriated Lankans arrived in Sri Lanka, quite a number of them had very little money with them for in the prevailing confusion iח strife-ton Lebanon, they had not even been paid their monthly Wages.
TELECOM MEN FOR SAUD ARABA
Thirty-seven Sri Lankans, aged between 25 and 35, have left for Riyad, Saudi Arabia to assist the Saudi Arabian Telecommunications Company Ltd. in installing, operating and main
taining of the intra Kingdom
elecommunications network awarded by the Saudi Arabian Telecommunication Ministry. They will initially
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FEBRUARY 1983
be employed for a period of three years.
UNDERGRADS SURROUND WICECHANCE LOR Undergraduates of the University of Colombo who began a boycott of lectures against the introduction of a study course in law at the university recenty Surrounded the College House wheretine Vice-Chancelor's office is located.
A section of the students later forced themselves into the room where the Master of Philosophy Board of Examiners' meeting was on and virtually disrupted the
proceedings.
The students left after the Vice-Chancellor, POf
Stanley Wijesundera had given them an undertaking that their demand would be taken up for consideration later.
RS. 56 MILLON JOINT VENTURE An agreement between the West German North Sails Windsurfing and the Greater Colombo Economic Commission was recently signed which will involve an investment of Rs. 56.4 million in a project to manufacture surf sails, Cruising sails and special Surf accessories. Surf sails are used in windSurfing which has become a popular recreation in many parts of the world. This is the first time that products of this type will be manufactured in Sri Lanka.
This is a joint venture between the West German Sails Windsurfing and the Lankan Collaborator, Lanka Consult Ltd. At capacity, the 17,6OO so. ft. factory is expected to employ 546 persons and generate export earnings of Rs. 436 million over a period of five years.
DEVELOPMENT IN 14 ELECTORATES
Rs. 250 million will be spent for the development of 14 electorates in the Kurunegala District under the District integrated Rural Development Programme in
the next six years, according to the Ministry of Plan implementation.
The money will be appoistioned to each electorate according to the projects that are to be commissioned during each year, preference being givento the construction of roads, provision of irrigation facilities, rural
exploration, health and educational facilities and livestock development and industrial and agricultural projects.
LOWEST TEACROP SINCE 1965 Tea crop in Sri Lanka for 1982 is the lowest since 1965. In 1965, the yield hit an all time high of 238.7 million kilograms while last year the total yield was 187.8 million kilograms.
Except for the months of July and November last year, during all other months, the Crop figures as compared with the corresponding months in the previous year recorded deficits.
PROFTABLE SMALL
NDUSTRES The Department of Small industries has recorded unprecedented profits for last year. From two sales alone in November and December last year, the Department made a total of Rs. 5.1 million.
Apart from these two, sales were also conducted throughout the year in 20 other districts. Of these Kandy recorded the highest revenue with most of the transactions being On a Credit basis. The total sales recorded in these districts before November 1982 was Rs. 5,317,O63.O.O.
Textiles accounted for 90 per cent of sales with handicrafts and coir goods following.
OUARTERS FOR
DOCTORS The Cabinet has agreed to a proposal by the Minister of Health to increase the estimate for building house officers' quarters for the
CoNTD ON P.7

Page 7
FEBRUARY 1983
LSSSSSSLSSSSSSSSS
CONTD FROM P.6 Colombo General Hospital.
The scheme proposed involves the building of 5 sixfloor blocks of flats served by lifts. Each floor will provide quarters for ten house officers. The 1976 estimate of Rs. 2.5 million per block has to be now increased to RS. 22 million.
STATE LAND TO BE SOLD
Lands which have become the property of the State under the land reforms introduced by the previous government are to be sold at reasonable prices, according to Ministry of Agriculture SOUrC6.S.
The proposal is the result of the difficulties that Confront the Land Reform Commision in managing the lands. The Commission finds it uneconomical to manage the small extents of land in various parts of the country. Where such lands are contuguous with plantations owned by the state sector, it is possible to incorporate them with the plantations and manage
them economically. Bu* where such parcels of land are isolated, very little can be done. often the produce of such land has become fair game for villagers in the neighbourhood.
Ministry sources indicated that in the disposal of these lands preference will be given to those persons who had their land acquired for the Mahaveli scheme.
RICE DEAL WITH CHINA
Sri Lanka is expected to buy around a hundred thousand metric tons of rice from the Peoples' Republic of China to build up a buffer stock for this year.
On the basis of a per capita consumption of 110.5 kilos of rice, about 1.7 million metric tons of rice are required to feed a population estimated at 15.3 million.
PRICE RISE FOLLOWING IMPORT CURB
The recent announcement of a ban on the import of textiles into Sri Lanka has resulted in the hoarding of
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-TAMIL TIMES 7
certain lines of textiles and exorbitant increase in prices of textiles generally.
Salu Sala" vhich has been the sole importer of textiles has been directed to, in Consultation with the Ministry of Textiles, survey the market and report on the lines of textiles in Short supply and any Consequential import requirements.
SEBARATNAM IN WINNING FORM
Twenty-eight year old Frank Sebaratnam pushed Sri Lanka past the first round of the Davis Cup Eastern Zone Tennis championships when he beat Mark Bailey 7-5, 3-6, 2–6, 6–4, 6-4, in the second singles to give Sri Lanka the crucial winning lead in the first round tie against Hong Kong. The final tally read 3-2 when Bailey's younger brother, Paul Bailey met Agit Perera in the second reverse singles.
SLFP (M) CLAIMS
OFFICIAL RECOGNITION
Mr. Maitripala Senanayake, leader of the breakaway faction of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party has resurrected his claim for official recognition as the authentic SLFP. His chances are said to be good following the determination by a parliamentary Committee headed by the Minister of Trade, Mr. Lalith Athulathmudali, that the application made by the Secretary of the SLFP (Srima faction) seeking the dismissal of MPs belonging to the SLFP (M) would not be granted and that they
vvould be entitled to Con
tinue as MPs.
NOAUTOMATIC REGISTRATION FOR DOCTORS
The right of automatic registration hitherto enjoyed by UK dualified doctors is likely to be withdrawn shortly by the Sri Lanka Medical Counicil. They will be required to isit the Medical Council examination like any other
foreign qualified doctors if they are to be registered for practice in Sri Lanka.
SANCHl RENAMED MAHENDRAPURA
The government of India has proclaimed the historic Sanchi Vihara as an International Buddhist shrine. The Indian government also has agreed to rename the city of Sanchi after Arahant Maha Mahinda (Mahendra, son of Emperor Aska), as Mahendrapura.
DONATION TO 'RELIEVE STUDENT
CONGESTION
The Asian Development Bank is to give the Lankah government a loan of 16 million US dollars (Rs. 320 million) to relieve student congestion at the Universities and Technical colleges, built better libraries and laboratories and expand other facilities. A National Technical Teacher Training College will also be set up at 'Kattunaike where teachers
will be trained.
ENGLISH TEACHERS TO CONTINUE AFTER RETIREMENT AGE
Teachers qualified to teach English will be allowed to continue in service even after reaching the age of retirement, 60 years, because of the acute shortage of English teachers in government schools. They will be given annual Contracts which will be renewable.
KUTTIMANI-DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED TO LIFE
Selvarajah Yogachandran alias Kuttimani, who is under sentence of death following his conviction under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, has had his sentence commuted to life imprison"ment under the general amnesty proclaimed by President Jayawardene on February 4. In al 62 condemned prisoners will benefit from the amnesty.

Page 8
8 TAM L TIMES
DISTRICT JUDGE SUFFERS
ARMY HARASSMENT
The District Judge of Point Pedro, Mr. T. K. Thilakan was the victim of an Army intimidation and hold-up on the public highway in the North on the 17th January. The incident occurred at Nelliady Junction between 11.30 pm. and 12.15 a.m.
Mr. Thilakan along with
his wife was returning from Jaffna to his official residen Ce in Point PedrO in his private car. His elderly driver was at the wheel and the acting arachchi of the District court was seated in front. Mr. Thilakan and wife were returning from a party in Jaffna in honour of some judicial officers from the south who had come to Jaffna on a private visit.
Around 11.30 p.m. When the car reached Nelliady Junction, it was Stopped by some armed personnel and the driver
promptly halted. On being challenged, the driver and
ed in Tamil that it was the District Judge and his wife who were in the car. But since they continued to adopt an intimidatory posture, the D.J. himself got off the car, spoke first in English and then in Sinhala and told the man who looked like an officer that they were welcome to search the car if they so wished irrespective of whether he was D.J. or
THE MISSING MILL
Upali Wijevardene (43), Chairman of Sri Lanka's multi-national Upali Group, with four others on board, left Kuala Lumpur on a return flight in his private 12-seater Lear Executive jet to Sri Lanka on February 13. It is reported that within 15 minutes of take-off, the plane lost radio contact, and ever since the plane and those on board have not been traced.
An extensive seven-nation sea-search have so far pro
the arachchi both explain-duced no results. It is be
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FEBRUARY 1983
anyone else. An officer who was not in uniform told the D.J. in the same rude tone: ''How do know you are District Judge? Show your identity Card.'"
Curious onlookers who were returning from the late show at the nearby Mahatma Cinema were witnesses to the altercation that ensued. The District Judge and wife were held up for more than half an hour, but the car
was not examined at all.
The District Judge had given a statement subsequently to the O.I.C. Point Pedro Police, Mr. Wijewardene, in open court setting out the incidents of the night. Although certain Army officers had tried to persuade the officer involved in the incident to offer an apology to the D.J., but the officer had refused. It is now believed that a formal complaint might be made to the Judicial Service Commission.
IONAIRE TYCOON
lieved that the plane crashed in the Straits of Malacca separating Malaysia and Indonesia.
The others on board with Upali Wijevardene were, Mr. S. M. Ratnam, a Director of Upali Malaysia, Mr. A. S. Pelemuhandiram, Commercial Director of Upali Group, Capt. Noel Anandappa, the pilot, Mr. Sydney Soysa, the co-pilot, and Mr. S. Senanayake, the stewart. Sri Lanka's Air Commodore, Mr. A. W. Fernando said that Capt. Anandappa was the best pilot the Air Force has had, and flying a 12-seater jet was "child's play for him'.
Upali Wijevardene was Once described as the One and only authentic multinational capitalist of Sri Lanka. His business empire extends beyond the boarders of Sri Lanka into Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and even the United Kingdom where he is said to own several racehorses and stables in addition to his other business interests.
Upali, a cousin of President Jayawardene, and a relative of the former Prime Minister, Mrs. Bandaranaike, by marriage, became a successful businessman
PROTEST MEETING IN MADRAS.
A mammoth public meeting was held on the eighteenth of December in Madras, protesting against the arrest and incarceration of Catholic Clergy, a Doctor and Teachers, for alleged sup
within a relatively short time. Having amassed wealth, Upali did not conceal his political ambitions when he publicly announced his intention to become Sri Lanka's Finance Minister and then as President. Instantly Upali became a controversial figure in the Lankan political firmament. To give practical effect to his professed ambitions, he set up, a newspaper group which published two dailies, the English Island' and the Sinhala Divina', both of which he used with a vengeance to attack the present Prime Minister, Mr. R. Premadasa and Finance MiniSter, Ronnie de Mel, who he thought were standing in his way to the top. In turn, Upali became the target of these two top politicos who attempted to cut him down to size by releasing to the public secret information about his alleged tax evasion and other financial skulduggery.
in Sri Lanka, where the pith of politics is rumourmongering generated by those in influentially high places, there are already stories floating around that Upali is the victim of a plot hatched in Sri Lanka by his opponents and executed abroad.
port for Tamil Eelam Liberation struggle. This meeting organised by the 'Manavalagar Manram" is to be addressed by the Secretary S.
Ganeshan, Lawyer D.P. Radhakrishnan, Poet Muthuramalingam, Poet.
V.M. Sethuraman and P. Nedumaran.

Page 9
FEBRUARY 1983
PROTEST FAST BY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
Undergraduates of the University of Jaffna launched a four-day protest fast and boycott of lectures on Tuesday (1 Feb) demanding the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act and trial under thenormal laws of the land for the six detenus, including clergymen, who have already been indicted under this Act.
The first batch of fasters (including 35 girls) began the fast at 1 O a.m. on Tuesday in a specially constructed tent in the Campus premises opposite Ramanathan Hall. Placards put up by the students proclaimed 'We'll Suffer till those suffering in prisons are released', 'Repeal the inhuman Prevention of Terrorism Act immediately', and ''Withdraw the brutal Armed Forces from Jaffna'. Hundreds of students who boycotted lectures gathered round to show their solidarity. The fast ended at 4 p.m.,
4.2.83. Some of the fasting Students fainted on the third day and had to be given medical attention. The Second batch of students began their fast at 4 p.m. on 4.2.83.
Israeli invasion costs Sri Lanka Rs 7 Million
The government has spent Rs. 7 million in taking home Lankans caught up in the recent sraeli invasion of Lebanon. The amount included medical expenditure of over Rs. 1 OO,OOO.
Five Sri Lankans were reported to have died during the period of the lsraeli invasion. Several other Sri Lankans were reported to have sustained serious injuries.
Twenty-one Lankans who were detained by Israeli forces in Lebanon have been released. They have returned home at the Sir Lanka government's expense.
As many as 5OOO Sri Lankans were resident in Lebanon at the time of the war and their whereabouts were a matter of great anxi
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TAMIL TIMES 9
ety for their relatives in Sri Lanka. Except a few, the whereabouts of all have now been traced.
TAMIL FILM IMPORTS CUT
The National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka which derives most of its income by screening Tamil Films decided to import only 24 new Tamil FilmS in 1983 as against its original proposal of importing 36 new films.
It is reported that the cut became inevitable in view of the prohibitive costs involved.
Under the new arrangement each of the 24 new Tamil films Would be purchased at a cost of Sri Lankan Rs. 4,800, OOO/- (5 prints of each film). In addition, 4O re-issues of old Tamil films (3 prints of each) will be bought at a cost of Sri Lankan RS. 4,OOO, OOO/-.
KUTTIMAN RESIGNS
Mr. Selvarajah Yogachandran (Kuttimani) has resigned his Vaddukkoddai Seat in Parliament to which he was nominated by the Tamil United Liberation Front after the death of the former M.P. Mr. T. Thirunavukkarasu. Mr. Yogachandran was nominated to this seat and his appointment was gazetted while he was under sentence of death. However he was not permitted to take Oaths or sit in Parliament.
UNDERGRADS BATON-CHARGED
Undergraduates of the Colombo University were baton-charged by the police at Thurstan Road On January 25th following student protests. Tear gas also was used to disperse the protesters. Earlier a Police car was damaged allegedly by the undergraduates.
EMERGENCY LAPSES Sri Lanka's state of emergency lapsed at midnight on January 19th, 1983, three months after President Jayawardene imposed it following the election which
returned him to power. Several Opposition politicians in the South.who were detained under the Emergency Laws were released and two newspapers Aththa' and 'Suthanthiran' which were sealed also under the Emergency Laws are to resume publication.
OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS ATTACKED
About ten families who are supporters of the SLFP have been forced to flee their village between Kekirawa and Maruthankadawela following attacks on their homes by armed thugs. Some of them have fled into the jungle and two persons have been seriously injured. It is reported that the supporters of the Opposition Parties who went to make complaints at Kekirawa Police Station were themselves attacked by hoodlums at the Police Station, while the police looked on heedless.
TAMIL WRITERS TO REJECT SAHITAYA AWARDS
Nine organisations in Jaffna have called upon Tamil Writers who are to receive the Government's Sahitiya Academy awards to reject them as a mark of protest against is unprecedented policies of national oppres
Sion.
The organisations are:
Thesiya kalai llakk ya Pervai, Yal Nadaga Arangak Kolloori, Alaveddy Jayiru Padaipaligal Vattam, Alai lakkiya Vattam, Puthusu Sanjikai Kulu, Mekam Sanjikai Kulu, llavalai Nadaga Manram, Pungudutivu lakiya Vattam and Yalpana Samuka Vijana Kalvi Vattam.
FIRST WOMAN DEAN
In the 112 year old history of the Medical Faculty in Colombo, Prof. Daphne Attygalle has the distinction of being the first woman to be elected Dean of the Medical Faculty.

Page 10
1 O TAMIL IMES
THE TAMIL PROBLE A PERSON
HOW DO YOU PLAY TI
The late Nye Bevan, after his long quest for the leadership of the Labour Party had ended in failure, reconciled himself to his defeat with the words, 'One must accept the cards as they fall' and proceeded to co-operate with his successful rival Hugh Gaitskell as the shadow Foreign Secretary. Real life is often like a game of contract bridge; part luck, in the draw of the cards; and part skill, in how well you play your hand. When Sri Lanka became independent in 1948, fate dealt the Sinhalese a strong hand, the Tamils a weak hand, the Muslims a weaker hand and the Burghers a very weak hand indeed.
35 years have passed since independence and we can assess how the players have fared. The Burghers have withdrawn from the game and have gone Down Under, the Muslims have played their hand brilliantly, the Tamils disastrously and the Sinhalese strongly and ruthlessly but perhaps not wisely to win in the long run. There can be only 'Comparison of Comparables', at other multiracial Countries and examine how majorities treat minorities. The variables are many and this comparison is not attempted here. But one can, with ease, compare how the two minorities, the Tamils and the Muslims, have played their hand within the Sri Lanka Context.
A WEAK HAND FOR TAMILS
Before proceeding further, it must be stated that these notes are being written in a desert land far away from home, without a single work of reference-except for 13 past issues of the Tamil Times-and readers are therefore requested to consider only the broad Sweep of the arguments and to forgive errors in the
Common bond.
remained
nitty gritty details such as figures, dates etc. for which the only source is memory. It was said, advisedly, that the Tamils received a weak hand and the Muslims a weaker hand. Because, when Independence came, the Tamils formed 20% of the population, the religion of the majority of Tamils, Hinduism, has many precepts in common with Budhism, the religion of the majority of the Sinhalese and Christianity was a In 1948, the only memory of racial
by T. Som
conflict was that of the Sinhala-Muslim riots of 1915 and the part played by Ponnambalam Ramanathan in it. D.S. Senanayake expressed gratitude to Ramanathan in the Jaffna Town Hall during his official visit as Prime Minister in 1950; from the Tamil Times we see that Anandatissa de Alwis has expressed similar sentiments when the new Parliament Building was opened in 1982. On the other hand, in 1948, Muslims formed only 5% of the population, Islam and Buddhism have not much in common and the memory of 1915 lingered. Is it incorrect to say that the Muslims had a weaker hand than the Tamils?
35 years later, what do we find? The Muslim population has increased to 7 or 8%, their religious and cultural identity is very much intact and economically they are better off than the others. Because, there is less unemployment among the Muslims, they control or dominate many important avenues of economic activity e.g. the gem trade and export-import, and as a result they are buying up the best Colombo properties. Politically, their representation in Parliament has intact or im

FEBRUARY 1983
EM IN SIR LANKA A VIEW
HIS HAND, PARTNER2
proved and they have sat in every Cabinet since Independence beginning with such humble portfolios as Labour or Posts but now holding Foreign Affairs and Transport, apart from the post of Speaker, several Deputy Ministers, District Ministers etc. They have played their hand brilliantly. The Muslim leaders have looked after the welfare of their people and have done so with dignity and without any fuss and bother.
"PARTICIPATION”
Their successful strategy
asekaram
can be summed up in one word, participation'. This is illustrated beautifully by two examples, one true and the other probably apocrypha. The first relates to the conflict that developed between Dudley Senanayake and J.R. Jayewardene, after the
defeat of the UNP in 197O.
Dudley wanted to expel JR from the UNP and JR went to Courts to prevent it.
Dudley's lawyer was Izzadeen Mohammed O.C. and J.R. had A.C.S.
Hameed in his camp. Heads win; Tails also I win. No
wonder Hameed is JR's much travelled Foreign Minister. The other
example is said to have OCCurred as the 1977 elections approached. The UNP was considering nominating two Sinhala candidates to the 3 member Colombo Central constituency, which had generally returned one Sinhala and two Muslim MPs in earlier elections. Badiuddin Mahmud called M.H. Mohammed on the telephone and Said, 'Colombo Central has always had two Muslim MPs, one from your party and one from mine. Keep it that way' and put the 'phone down. Probably an apocryphal story but a
beautiful illustration of my point. And in due course, Premadasa and Abdul Cader from the UNP and Halim Ishak from the SLFP were elected.
One can think of many other examples. When S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike Swept to power on the crest of the 'Sinhala Only' wave, there was 'Sinhala' Marikkar to become his Minister of Posts. During the exciting days of Dahanayake's Caretaker Premiership, when the turnaround of Ministers was about one per week, Mustapha remained the Minister of Finance and Razik Fareed also held a portfolio. These words are not written in envy but in admiration. The Muslim leaders did not shout from the rooftops, but in whatever form the political equation changed, they positioned themselves so that they were near the levers of power and able to influence events to their people's benefit.
What of the Tamils? These words are not written lightly. My wife and three Children Were members and active users of the
Jaffna Public Library till it
was burnt down. I have sat on Selection Boards and Seen at first hand Tamil candidates who had fared well in the written papers marked down deliberately at the interview by fellow Sinhala members of the Selection Board, who then tried to mask their fell design by giving high marks to those who had fared very badly in the written papers and had therefore no chance of selection. So, if passion sometimes clouds reason in what follows, may be forgiven. Before proceeding further, must also state that I have also seen Sinhala Buddhist gentlemen of the highest calibre award marks fairly and justly, irrespective of
CONTD ON P.11

Page 11
FEBRUARY 1983
whether the candidates in front of them were Sinhalese Or Tamils, even recently, after the gulf between the two Communities had widened. To repeat, what of the Tamils? How did they play their hand?
TAMILS OUTPLAYED To play well the hand that one has received, one must have a correct appreciation of its playing strength. This was the first mistake the Tamils made. They Overvalued their hand. They did not realize until much later that they were a comparatively Small minority. It was commonly thought those days that the Tamils are a Ore intelligent race than the Sinhalese and Could outwit them easily. In the event, at least in the political sphere, it is the Sinhalese who have outplayed the Tamils at every turn. Another mistake was the feeling of Satisfaction with the British legacy. The British left the Tamils a good educational infrastructure and a slightly higher percentage of posts in the then completely parasitic public Service than their numbers warranted. The Tamils were satisfied with this State of affairs and tried to preserve the status quo. A good pass in the S.S.C., entry into the General Clerical Service, marriage into a good family with a good dowry, a slow and steady rise to the position of Chief Clerk - these Were the dreams and horizons of the average Tamil.
GG'S FIFTY-FIFTY
From this overValuation and the desire to preserve the status quo, arose the demand for "Fifty-Fifty' when the Soulbury Commision came to consider the granting of independence. A bid for game, without even the points for a good defence. By no known process of arithmetic did all the minorities add up to more than 30%. But Mr. G. G. Ponnambalam K.C., a product of the Universities of Ceylon
hear
and Cambridge, and of the Inner Temple, brilliant criminal lawyer and Member for Point Pedro, appeared before the Soulbury Commission to demand "FiftyFifty'. The rich and sonorous voice rose to a Crescendo and fell to a whisper, the diction was perfect and the accent faultless, the striking phraseology came with apparently effortless ease, the somewhat protruberent eyes which could confuse a witness and mesmerise a jury, were used to good effect. Crowds flocked to Mr. Ponna mbalam speak. His call for FiftyFifty reverberated throughout the length and breadth Of the land. The Tamils heard his with awe and admiration. What the Sinhalese thought of it was perhaps echoed in 1956. But brilliant oratory notwithstanding, the scholar with the monocle (Lord Soulbury) who sat in front of him heard him not at all. On the other hand, the scholar heard distinctly what was duietly muttered in his ear by a rugged farmer With a Walrus muStache, (D.S. Senanayake), who had studied only up to the 7th standard and began every other sentence with ''Actually, as a matter of fact, . . .'', but who had plenty of horse sense. The verdict went against Mr. Ponnanbalam. The Soulbury Commission decided in favour of a unitary constitution, representation to reflect one man-one vote and an 'entrenched Clause 29, which proved later to have been not worth the paper it was written on. Perhaps if Mr. Ponnambalam had used his talents to make a reasonable bid of 7.O-3O with a federal constitution-perhaps he might have succeeded and the nation and the Tamils would not be in the plight they are today. But it was not to be. GG, THE BRUTUS With the new Constitution came the elections of 1947. Mr. Ponnambalam

TAMIL TIMES 11
and his All Ceylon Tamil Congress campaigned on a strongly Tamil nationalistic platform. I remember distinctly the phrase "to the last drop of blood'. As a boy of 13, with electricity in my veins-put there by Mr. Ponnambalam's Oratory - voice hoarse from shouting the catchy slogans, and thousands like me marched in the many processions, waving the Colourful Tamil Congress flag and with smaller flags pinned to our shirt pockets. Mr. Ponnambalam trounced the UNP
Candidate Mr. A. Mahadeva, Minister of Home Affairs, in the Jaffna electorate.
But within a year, Mr. Ponnanbalam went to D.S. Senanayake's residence, bowed low in deep obeisance, and became the Minister of Industries and Fisheries. And in 1949, the man who had demanded Fifty-Fifty and so strongly espoused Tamil nationalism in the 1947 elections, voted "AYE" to disen franchise half the Tamil population, the Indian Tamils. If you are a Tamil, hang down your head in shame. One branch of the ancient Tamil family voted to remove the vote from another branch of the Tamil family. Thondaman has never forgotten it and he is perfectly right not to forget. One can understand one's opponent landing a blow below the belt and knocking one out and can even come to an accommodation with the opponent after some years, but can one forget one's brother aiding and abetting the opponent? Caeser said, ‘‘Et tu, Brutus’’, not ‘‘Et tu, Cassius". Thus it came to pass that the acknowledged leader of the Tamils and Some Other Tamil Congress MPs actually voted to remove the vote from the people of more recent Indian origin and to reduce the Tamil representation by seven MPs (To see what human misery this
produced, read David Selbourne in the Tamil Times of Sept. 1982). Though one does not agree with them, one can understand the Sinhalese being disturbed by the prospect of several Tamil MPs from the Central Province and trying to do something about it, look how it disturbs us when a previously Tamil electorate in the Eastern Province becomes a Sinhala electorate. But perhaps if Mr. Ponnambalam had thrown his entire weight against the move to disen franchise the Tamils in the hi|| country, a solution similar to what has been evolved now i.e. multi member constituencies or proportional representation may have been thought of those days. But Mr. Ponnambalam preferred his portfolio. With apologies to Churchill, we may say, 'Never in history was so much paid by So many for one portfolio, for one man, for six years'. By the devious way by which he arrived at participation' and the treachery he displayed towards the hill contry Tamils, Mr. Ponnambalam destroyed participation a la the Muslims as a respectable alternative for the Tamils. The price is being paid even now. If Amirthalingam and Sivasithanparam have discussions with the Government, with no thought except that of ameliorating the present plight of the Tamils in a small way, suspicions are aroused and they come under fire from their own supporters. Because the ghost of Ponnambalam looms behind him.
SUV AND
FEDERALISM
But all was not lost. Even as when Vichy France caved in to Hitler's Panzer Divisions, Charles de Gaulle flew in a light plane to England, carrying the Honour of France' with him, so did Chelwanayakam and a few Sup
porters break away from CONTD ON P.17

Page 12
1 2 TAM | TIMES
ABOUTPEOPLE
KAILASAPATHY
- An Appreciation
Professor KailasapathyKailas to his wide circle of colleagues, associates, friends and relatives - was well-known throughout the Tamil-speaking world for his writings. He was also a friend to his students and a stimulus to his seniors. it is not my
intention to repeat his achievements in Tamil literature, drama,
research, journalism and sholarship, for he has left his mark in all these areas which Students and scholars of future generations can never forget.
Kailas as a student, undergraduate and postgraduate, teacher, professor and president of the University, was also a simple, humble product of his environment, that is the environment of a Tamil rooted to the soil of his people, even though he was acclaimed and feted
in universities all over the world for his scholastic achievements.
However, as a true Son of the soil, he was also a non-sectarian, with a very committed philosophy of social and economic justice. It is hoped that a large part of his unpublished work will see the light of day so that Sri Lankans in general and Tamils in particular will benefit from his thinking and philosophy in other fields.
Those of us who grew up together in our earlier years and after a gap of time rejoined him, know of his acceptance not only by Tamil scholars but also by social scientists and academics among the Sinhalese. Several of them because of their affection and respect for him are determined to see that his unpublished work sees the light of day.
Born on 5th April 1933 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where his oarents lived for a time, he moved to Sri Lanka, then
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known as Ceylon, and came under the influence of his uncle, Mr. N. Manika ldaikkadar who was later to become his father-inlaw. Though leading what one might consider a protected life-the simple religious life style-the trials and tribulations of those less fortunate around him made a lasting impression on young Kailas. As he grew up he stayed true to his beliefs and strove in every way to alleviate the suffering of the less fortunate, giving his profession and scholarship, rooted in his culture and religion, a new direction and a wider interpretation.
We his friends, colleagues, and associates send our deepest sympathy to his sorrowing wife Sarvam, his two daughters and other members of his family.
Kailas deserves an annual Memorial Lecture in his name at the University of Jaffna.
R. Sri Pathmanathan
MR. S.R. PARAMSOTHY
Mr. Silva Ramalingam
Paramsothy passed away
on February 8 at the Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Road, London S.W.6, after a brief illness at the age of 74.
He was a natural extrovert and led a very active life right up to the time of his illness. On completion of this school career in 1930, he was actively engaged in the politics of those early years of the State Council era, closely associating himself with the late Sir Aruna
chalam Mahadeva. From 1942 to 1955, he served as the Resident Representative of the Jaffna Malayalam Tobacco Sales Society in the former Princely State of Travancore, first in Ouilon and later in Trivandrum.
in this role, he not only made many friends in South West India but also pioneered the promotion of the Jaffna tobacco trade in that corner of India, thereby contributing to the pros
perity of the farming community Of the Peninsula.
He came to the U.K. in 1972 to live with his daughter and son-in-law Vaithialingam Paramanathan. Most people of his age would have opted for the duiet and peace of retirement, but Mr. Paramsothy's irrepressible nature led him to very active participation in the social, religious and Cultural affairs of our community. He took a particularly keen interest inreligious matters and was One time trustee of the Brittania Hindu Temple Trust. Later, he played an active role in the establishment of the Ganapathy Temple in Wimbledon. He encouraged the launching of the Tamil Times' and popularised it among his wide circle of friends in the U.K. and abroad.
He drew people to him in a way that very few could have done. He knew people in all walks of life and felt great empathy with young and old, the articulate and the untutored. People turned to him for advice and guidance in times of crisis not only because of his humanity but also his down-toearth nature. In short, he projected the image of the ideal "elder' in the Tamil tradition. Every one whose life he touched was richer for his encounter with a man who derived real pleasure in giving of himself with no expectation of reward or even gratitude.
His wife predeceased him two years ago. He leaves behind his son Shivaji (Credit Manager of Singer
CONTD ON P.13

Page 13
FEBRUARY 1983
CONTD FROM P.12
Sewing Ltd., Colombo) and daughter Vathsala (Senior Registrar, Haemotology, Charing Cross Hospital) to whom it must be a Consolation to know that their grief is shared by all who knew him.
EYE DONATION
P. Karthigesu (55) of "Nayanmar veethi", Nalur was the first one to leave behind the wish that his eyes should be donated to the Jaffna Eye Donation Society inaugurated recently by the Jaffna Lions Club.
On the death of Mr. P. Karthigesu on 15.12.82, nis eyes were given to the Society which sent them to Colombo as there was no immediate need for the eyes in Jaffna.
S. RATNAM
Mr. S. Ratnam passed away after a brief illness on February 1, at the General Hospital, Jaffna at the age of 75. The funeral took
place the following day at Sithankerney, Jaffna, Sri Lanka.
Mr. Ratnam taught at Ganesha Vidyasalai, Sithankerney for over 35 years. He loved the Children and dediCated his life to their wellfare. True to the Tamil tradition of love of learning, he made many personal sacrifices to send his three children to University and was rewarded by their achievements, his eldest son Dr. Nithyananthan obtaining a leading position in the field of science, his second son Sarvananther, a Mechanical Engineer and his daughter a graduate in arts. A gifted amateur Composer, Mr. Ratnam Wrote beautiful Tamil songs on themes of nature and the changing seasons and some delightful children's songs as well. During his stay in England in 1979-80, when he taught at the West London Tamil School, he Composed the school song which has been sung at every assembly since then.
Mr. Ratnam leaves behind his wife, his three children
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TAMIL TIMES 13
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and several grand children. His death will be mourned by many in the Tamil community of Sri Lanka.
THAPOMANY MANOHARAN
The death occurred at the London Whitechapel Hospital on 30 January, 1983 of Thapomany Manoharan, aged 32, after a long illness bravely borne. She was the wife of Cheliah Manoharan Of 346 Strone Road, ManOr Park, London E12, and a daughter of the late Peter Somasundaram of St. John's College, Jaffna and of the Education Department, Brunei, and of the Mrs. Samathanam SomaSundaram. She leaves behind her husband, two sons Dhilip aged sevena dn Ravi aged five, a brother Shanta Somasundaram (Singapore) and three sisters malathi Nesiah, Soundari Watson and Menaka.
S. SUNTHARASIVAM
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of the late Mr. & Mrs. Kanthar Sanmugam of Valanthali, Karainagar, Sri Lanka died on January 28 of a heart attack. He was 60
years old. He leaves a widow, a son Mr. B. Suntharasivam, Accoun
tant, and a daughter, Miss Yasoda Suntharasivam, both of 213 Basingstoke Road, Reading, Berkshire. He first made his mark at the University of Ceylon where he not only shone as a sportsman, playing Cricket, Rugger, Soccer and Hockey but also as a debater and student leader.
As a teacher of English, first at Karainagar Hindu College, then at Kokuvil Hindu College and finally at Skantha Varodaya College, Chunnakam, he was held in high estem both by his pupils and his colleagues.
In 1962 he contested the parliamentary seat for Vaddukoddai on the LSSP ticket and lost by a very small margin indeed. Soon afterwards he came over to England where he taught at the Wellingborough School. CONTD ON P. 1 7

Page 14
14 TAMIL TIMES
ZAMBIA TAMIL ARTS AND CULTURAL ASSOCATION
The following were elected to the Executive Committee of the above Association at the A.G.M. held last month: Chairman Mr. S. Srinivasan, Vice-Chairman Mr. V. Shashti Varathan, Secretary Mr. V. Sugumar, Joint Secretary Mr. S. Chandramouli, Treasurer Mr. S. Ravichelvan, Committee Members Mrs. Malika Ramanan, Mrs, Janaki Ramanthan, Mr. S. Rajalingam and Mr. S. Ramarajan.
An Appeal to Old Students of Hartley College, Point Pedro Hartley College Past Pupils' Association (Colombo Branch) is setting up a Scholarship Fund in order (i) to help needy students of the school to pursue a course of higher studies at University level, (ii) to give recognition to brilliant students who Secure admission to University or a similar seat of higher learning. The P.P.A. appeals to past pupils
LOND
who are employed abroad to donate US S 1 OOO or f5OO. The money will be kept in fixed deposit and only the interest earned annually, which will be in the region of Rs. 5000, be awarded as a scholarship. Further particulars may be obtained from either the President of the Hartley College P. P.A. (Colombo Branch), Mr. Siva C. Manicavasagar, 1 O New Airport Road, Ratmalana (Tel: 71-2481) or its Secretary, Mr. Chella Padmanathan, 68 37th Lane, Colombo 6 (Tel: 589346/86425).
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other essential consumer commodities.
New forms of indirect taxation to Curb the unbridled consumption patterns fed by the influx of Middle-east money, review of the food stamp scheme which assist almost fifty percent of the population which remains below the poverty line are considered to be inevitable steps that the government would take.
CONTD FROM P.1
The government of the 'Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka' paradoxically believes in the Supremacy of laissez faire concept of the Friedmanite variant is also said to be seriously considering to embark on a programme of privatisation of tea, rubber and coconut plantation industries which were nationalised under the previous government.
The formation of a purely private sector oriented USSri Lanka Consultative
visit of Mr. Orville Freeman, Secretary for AgriCulture under late President Kennedy, is considered to be only a prelude to the government's intention to open up Sri Lanka's cultivable lands to the US agricultural big business.
Committee following the
CONTD FROM P.3
Conflict and Confrontation (Philippians 2: 5-8); Pope John Paul Il's Encyclical ““Redeemer of Man'").
It was decided to hold a similar consultation annually and a Committee consisting of the Rt. Revd Lakshman Wickremasinghe, the Revd Soma Perera, the Revd. Fr. Tissa Balasuriya, O. M. I., the Revd. Fr. Paul Caspersz S. J., the Revd. Fr. Aloysius Peiris, Sevaka Yohan Devananda, Sister Josephine Mendis, Vijaya Vidyasagara, Annathaie Abayasekera and Ainsley Samarajiwa Convenor) was appointed to meet as and when the need arises.
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Page 15
FEBRUARY 1983
SLSLSSLSLSSLSLSSLSLSSLSLSSLSLSSLSLSSLSLSSLSL
ETTERS TO THE EDITOR
MULTI-ML ON DOAR TAMIL CENTRE IN NEW YORK2
had the opportunity of reading a recent issue of the Saturday Review of Sri Lanka in which there was a report about an event organised by the Thamid Eelam Liberation Council in New York to celebrate the centinary birth Anniversary of Mahakavi Subramaniya Bharatiyar.
While congratulate the organisers for holding the event in memory of one of the greatest Tamil Poets ever, was surprised, indeed saddened, to leann that, on the same occasion, the New York Tamils have launched the 'concept of a multimillion dollar TAMİL CENTER in New York housing a library, museum, school, temple, mosque and a church . . .''.
When the Tamil speaking people of Sri Lanka are undergoing severe racial oppression, acute economic deprivation etc.; when there are thousands of Tamils dis
placed by frequent racial violence awaiting resettlement and rehabilitation; when there are vast tracts of Cultivable land without adequate inrigation facilities; when there is a lamentable absence of industrial development due to lack of investment in these areas; and when the people of these areas lack basic facilities like health care, hospitals, schools for primary education and water for both drinking and cultivation, to talk about, let alone erecting, a MULT-MILLION DOLLARTAMIL CENTRE in New York is, in my humble view, a criminal misapplication of resources. Every dollar or pound that can be made available to alleviate the sufferings of the Tamil speaking people from dire economic and Social hardships they undergo will be a Service to the tamil Community at large.
No amount of multi-million
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dollar concrete structures in New York or London Will help to remove the racial, political, economic and social oppression of the Tamil speaking people. Rather than spending enormous amounts of money in erecting plush auditoria for music etc., sending a few dollars to alleviate the real day to day problems of the Tamil speaking people, es
pecially for the purpose of resettling and rehabilitating displaced Tamil plantation workers would be more worthwhile.
Nero was accused of playing the fiddle while Rome was burning. I hope the New York Tamils will not play the role of modern Neros.
RANEE EMMANUEL Bromley, U.K.
WΗΥ ΝΟΤ ANOTHERNAME?
I am a regular reader and a subscriber of your journal. It serves the purpose of highlighting the oppression of the Tamil speaking people of Sri Lanka at the hands of successive Sri Lankan governments and the country's security forces.
As a Sri Lankan, ahthough being a Sinhalese, I feel that any Sri Lankan worthy of his name should endeavour to See that the discrimination and oppression of the Tamil speaking people, and particularly the exploitation of the Tamil plantation workers are brought to an end. In this context, permit me to raise certain points which consider to be pertinent.
Firstly, the substantial majority of the Sinhalese people do not realise the enormity of the discrimination suffered by the Tamil people. This is primarily due to mischievous misrepresentations and distortions in the national media, whether state-controlled or privately owned. In this context, it would be a worthwhile endeavour for some Tamils, who have the necessary resources, to join hands with independent and progressive minded Sinhalese individuals and set up a newspaper group which will publish umbiased and truthful accounts of what actually takes place in Sri Lanka in all three languages, Tamil, Sinhalese and English.
Secondly, suspect that the substantial majority of your readership must be Tamils from Sri Lanka presently living abroad. By now, most of them, if not all of them, should have come
to know about the discrimination that takes place against the Tamils. What is of crucial importance is that the Sinhalese, who are either ignorant of the real situation or are misled by reading the normal Sri Lankan newspapers, are given the opportunity of reading a journal iike the Tamil Times. Unfortunately, by its very name, the Tamil Times will not attract many Sinhalese readers. It Sounds and looks sectarian and ethnically committed to the Tamils, although the material that appears in the journal does not qualify for such comment. in this context, may be permitted to suggest that the name of your journal is changed so as to be able to attract a readership that will represent a cross-section of the Lankan population as a whole. After all, the purpose of spending time, energy and money in publishing a journal like yours is to not only inform but also to influence opinions of people.
Your readers may have Contrary views to that of mine on the points I have raised in this letter. Let us hear them.
R. CHANDRASENA London N3
MORE FREE TRADE ZONES
Due to the current economic recession, very Soon large numbers of Sri Lankans— both Sinhalese and Tamilspresently living abroad and earning their livelihood will be forced to return to their country. If the Sri Lankan government can declare Jaffna Peninsula and some
CONTD ON P.8

Page 16
16 TAM L TIMES
BRITISH POLICE IN LEAGUE WITH
Sri Lankan Tamilis in London are convinced that the British police are collaborating with their Sri Lankan counterparts by passing on information on Tamil Students and activists living here.
The recent interrogation of Rajeshwari Balasubramanium, a Tamil writer, gives credence to these suspicions. On Thursday, January 2O, rajesh and her three children were about to leave their flat for a doctor's appointment when she was confronted by George Wild and Stuart Jones of New Scotland Yard.
The detectives said they wanted to speak to Rajesh about a picket which she had helped to organise the previous Saturday outside the Ceylon Tea Centre. The picket, which was both orderly and peaceful, was for MS. Nirmala Nithyananthan, a well-known Tamil writer and dramatist, who has been detained without trial at the Guru
Nagar army camp in Sri Lan
ka since November 18 last year. Nirmala has been refused visits from relatives and friends by the camp guards who are all male.
Detectives Wild and Jones told Rajesh that they wanted to find out whether she intended to organise any more pickets so as to know how many police they should allocate to the next one. When Rajesh informed them that she was not planning any further pickets, the Yard men then quizzed her about her motives for organising a picket in support of Nirmala Nithyananthan.
They even interrogated Rajesh about her lifestyle and asked her how she found time to write whilst looking after the children and doing a full-time job. As if this wasn't enough, they also asked whether she knew a particular man who had recently been deported from India.
The London-based Sri Lanka Research and Information Group strongly sus
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ANKAN POLICE?
pects that the Sri Lankan police are working in close collaboration with their British counterparts. A number of Tamil students who have returned from London to Sri Lanka in recent years have been arrested at Colombo airport and shown photographs of themselves taken in London without their knowledge.
Scotland Yard have issued a statement explaining that the questioning of Rajesh had been 'in the course of a general inquiry aimed at assisting the police to cover any future demonstrations by her group, it was purely routine.'
However, when the journal, New Statesman, rang Mr. Jones earlier to ask about the purpose of his visit to Rajesh's flat, he replied 'I would think it's a matter of public order, wouldn't you?'" Whilst agreeing that the picket had been perfectly orderly, he declined to answer any more questions.
STUDENTS
PROTEST
The biggest protest march in Jaffna in recent history was held on January 26, when thousands of students, boys and girls, from the University and other schools marched in demonstration demanding the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the release of arrested members of the clergy, teacher and student leaders.
The protest march was organised by the Student Council of the University of Jaffna in which students from other colleges and schools, including Canagaratnam Madhya Maha Vidyalayam, St. John's College, Chundikuli Girls College, St. Patrick's College, Jaffna Holly Family Convent, Kokkuvi Hindu College, and Kokkuvil Technical Institute also participated.
The University students had boycotted lectures the whole day to participate in the demonstration.
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Page 17
FEBRUARY 1983
BHARATI DAY IN NEW YORK
The Thamil Eelam Liberation Council held a major event in Nanuet, New York On Dec. 1 1 th 1982 at the residence of Dr. W.V. Panchacharam to celebrate the 1 OOth Birth Anniversary of Mahakavi Bharathiar. The event was well attended by Tamilians drawn both from the Indian and Ceylonese community from the IriState area.
The occasion fittingly was geared to raise the ConSciousness of the Tamils present at this event to the life and work of Subramania Bharathiar who championed the Cause of freedom in India through his poetic genius.
Or, this day Mrs. Padmini Ramachandran, the Indian film idol, released the alburn THE STORY OF THAMIL EELAM PART 3. ThiS reCord produced by the TELC, is a commemorative album of the firSt WORLD THAML EELAM CONVENTION held in Nanuet, New York,
The Liberation Council also took the opportunity to
award two separate CITATIONS to KUTTIMAN and JEGAN for their heroic Services to the Tamil Community. The plaques were received by Mr. M.K. K. Periasamy on their behalf to be forwarded to the members of their family.
The concept of a multi-million dollar TAMIL CENTER in New York housing a library, auditorium, mu Seum, school and a temple, mosque and a church (where prayers would be said in Tamil) was launched and the idea received a favourable response from the audienCe.
CONTD FROM P.11
the Tamil Congress and form the Federal Party. It was the year 1950. Mr. Chelvanayakam and Mr. Vanniasingam came to talk to the upper form boys of Jaffna Hindu College about this new thing called Federalism. Dressed in a dun coloured cotton Suit, hair almost plastered down on his scalp, ears standing out like those of an elephant, in simple and lucid English,
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TAM TIMES 1 7
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Mr. Chelvanayakam built up the case for Federalism brick by brick, during his one hour lecture. There was none of the oratorical flourishes or flamboyance Of Ponna mbalam. There was no need for such effects, because Mr. Chelvanayakam had a solid case. Half way through the lecture came the philoSophical core of his case, in the form of a simple questions. 'What is a keerthanai?' asked Mr. Chelvanayakam and paused for an answer. We blinked and looked down at our toes. There was no answer. Not through shyness, because when question time came, many questions were fired, which Mr. Vanniasingam answered smartly. The reason for the silence was ignorance, pure ignorance. 400 upper form boys of Jaffna Hindu College, coming from Tamil speaking homes, who knew a good deal about Archimedes and Galileo and Newton, and even from the English newspapers, about Mozart and Beet
hoven had never heard of Thiyagarajar So Mr. S.J. V. Chelvanayakam, K.C., proceeded to explain to us in lucid English what a keerthanai was. Mr. Chelvanayakam's case for a federal consitution, for unity in diversity, was unanswerable. To be continued in next issue)
CONTD FROM P.13
From 1964 to 1972 he taught in Nigeria, and for the next five years he was a teacher at Stoneham School, Reading. He returned to Nigeria in 1977 to take up the post of Director of the Educational Resource Centre in the State of Yola. He retired in June 1982 and was living in Reading with his son and daughter. It was his fond desire to spend his days of retirement in Karainagar but this was not to be because of growing illhealth. Mr. Suntharasivam will be remembered not only as an outstanding teacher of English but also as a pleasant and humourous per: Sonality.
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Page 18
18 TAMIL TIMES
LSSSSSSSSSSSSS
GUESSECRETARY ARRESTED ON ARRIVAL
S. Jegendran, Secretary of the Indian wing of the ''General Union of Eelam Students' (Gues) who was returning home on Jan. 13th, after many morths of studies in India, was arrested by Cld personnel even before he could enter his house, taken to the Gurunagar Army Camp and Subjected to rigorous interrogations.
Jegendran who was arrested in front of his home at Kanathiddy, was bundled into a jeep, baggage and all, and taken to the Army Camp in front of his shocked family which had been eagerly awaiting his retUr.
He was subjected to eight hours of questioning, his passport was confiscated, and though he was allowed to go home he was asked to report at the Camp on the 15th and 22nd of January.
He had been asked Whether GUEShadany connections with Secret
terrorist organizations, and whether any Tamil youths were getting military training abroad. Jegendran had replied that they had no connections with terrorist groups and that they actually condemned terrorist activities.
Asked whether they were, opposed to the Sinhalese people he had replied, "GUES considers the capitalist government of Sri Lanka alone as the enemy; not the Sinhalese people.' Asked whether they encouraged people to take up arms, Jegendran had said, 'We won't force the people of Tamil Eelam to take up arms, but if they themselves did we won't prevent them in any way'. He had been shown photographs of many vouths who are wanted, and asked to give information regarding them.
When leaving him at his house after the induiry, the CID personnel had told the parents "Your son is not a terrorist, but Leftist, and hence a more dangerous element. See that he doesn't tread the path of destruction'.
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Meanwhile, in a press release, the GUES states that if S. Jegendran is subjected to any long duration of detention or torture, they would organise a mass protest campaign.
CONTD FROM P.15
place near Gaile in the south as Free Trade Zones in addition to Kattunayake and Trincomalee, and in other areas stimulate greater development at village and regional level so that local industry and agriculture are safeguarded, there will be adequate opportunities for all our people. Jaffna, like Singapore, is well situated for FTZ development.
It is in economic development one can see a ray of hope for a stable society, be it in the North or South, East or West, of our once peaceful and prosperous island home.
Government should encourage investment in export-oriented projects. Jaffna, particularly, has had a very stagnant economy. Tamils living overseas should contribute to a plan
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ned development of their own villages and regions introducing new industries and technology. We should co-ordinate our knowledge and experience, and extend a helping hand to whoever seeks our advice, expertise and aid. I hope your paper will provide a channel of communication and a forum for discussion.
K. MALVAGANAM University of Jos, Nigeria. 92.83.
WHY THE DELAYP
I have been a regular reader of your valuable journal since its inception. appreciate several of the articles which veryably analyse the Conditions of the Tamils in Sri Lanka and especially their policies.
However, your December issue reached me only in the first week of January and the January issue is again late. On behalf of myself and fellow readers, may urge you to see that the paper reachs us in time.
V. SANKARALINGAM 1 O6 Adelaide Road, London W13.

Page 19
FEBRUARY 1983
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Page 20
2 O TAM IL TIMES
MISCELLANY
JR THE GREAT
When it comes to the statecontrolled Sri Lankan press, there is no limit to its Servility.
An article on the 'Focus on the Arts' page of a recent issue of the Ceylon Sunday Observer declared that 'the young ones of today should emulate this great man' (President J.r. Jayawardene), because he "is an embodiment of virtue and morality and possesses qualities and traits worth emulating. Intellectual curiosity and capacity, Search for new knowledge, well-balanced education, excelling in studies, sports, drama elocution, importance of team work, acceptance of victory and defeat alike, thoroughness in everything, religious education, homesty, fearlessness, courage, steadfastness and determination, simplicity in
living, and concern for others, even for the lowliest, patriotism and
national consciousness, and emulation of great men in contemporary history'.
`TAML o8S ANNUAL SUBSCR
K/India/Sri Lanka . . ! Other countries
amil Times Ltd, .O. Box 304, ondon W139 O.N.
WHO KILLED PULENDRAN?
Talking about the Sri Lankan
press, the 'Saturday Review'', the only independent regional Eng
lish weekly in Sri Lanka had
this to say about the manner
in which the killing of Mr. K.T. Pulendran, the United National Party Chief Organiser in Vavuniya was reported in the Sri Lankan media:
'The SUN and the DALY NEWS have run true to form in handling the Pulendran affair.
'The day after K.T. Pulendran, the UNP Chief Organiser in Vavuniya, was shot dead, the SUN as expected, came out with a page 1 story headlined UNP Organiser's Killing, a Terrorist Execution'.
'The DALYNEWS of the same date published a Page 1 story which explicitly ties up terrorists in the North with the shooting.
''The ISLAND's report (Jan. 21) was a factual one, with no speculation about terrorist involvement.
'The follow-ups are the most interesting part of the affair. The SUN (Jan 22) carried a page 1 story which
ః
Published by TAMIL TIMES
and printed by Modern Offset Litho. Greenford, Middlesex. Tel: 01-575 5576/575 2964
 
 

FEBRUARY 1983
baldly announces that a Grama Sevaka and two others have been arrested in connection with the killing. No mention of names or nationalities.
'The page 1 DAILYNEWS report of Jan. 24 blandly tells its readers Pulendran Killing-Two more nabbed'. The report mentions the total number of arrests as five but the suspects' names, designations and nationalities are not disclosed.
'It is the ISLAND's report of Jan. 23 which exposes the SUN and the DALY NEWS. Its page 1 story says that Police sources think it was political rivalry which was the likely motive for the killing and adds that 4 suspects-2 SINHALESE and two Tamils-are in custody.
'so now we can understand the 'coyness' of both the SUN and the DALY NEWS, their deliberate omission of names and nationalities. After all the ballyhoo about Northern terrorists and executions, it certainly is embarrassing to have to admit that the Police think that the shooting was a "home and home' affairl'
CLERGY, VICTIM OF SCURRILLOUS REPORTS
In the wake of the arrest of some Tamil Priests, the Sri Lankan press, true to their despicable past record, published sensationalised reports alleging direct involvement of named priests in the Neerveli Bank robbery carried out allegedly by 'Tigers' in 1981. Without any regard for truth, or prob
able danger of prejudice to
an impartial trial (if that is possible), press reports alleged that Rev. Fr. Singarayer and Rev. Fr. Sinnarasa received and deposited Rs. 1,100,000 despite their knowledge that the money was part of the loot from the bank robbery. It was also reported that a sum of Rs. 69,000 of the stolen money was recovered from Fr. Singarayer's
residence in crisp 'thousand rupee notes'. These reports were given credence by Army Commander, Brigadier Weeratunga!
The palpable falsity of these reports is demonstrated by the fact that the thousand-rupee notes were not in existence at the time of the Neerveli Bank robbery. The notes of this denomination were issued by the Central Bank for the first time long after the robbery.
The indictments that have now been filed against the priests do not refer or relate to either the priests' involvement with the robbery or possession of part of the loot as alleged by the Lankan media. The charges relate only to withholding information about the movement of 'terrorists'
TRINCO TRIO IN TROUBLE
ls it true that Mr. R. Sampanthan, MP for Trincomalee, Mr. Thankathurai, Chairman of the Trinco District Development Council, and Mrs. Saraswathy Swaminathan, Chairman of the Trinco Town Council,
are under fire from the rank
and file of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) for their participation in the reception recently accorded to President J.R. Jayawardene on the occasion of the distribution of free text books to school children?
Accusations that the TrinCo Trio had acted in defiance of party discipline and without even consulting the other TULF members of the DDC and the Town Council have been made, and party members have described their action as an act of gross betrayal of the people-to receive the President under whose government three priests, a university don and his wife, a doctor and several other students are being detained under the Terrorism Act. They expect disciplinary action to be taken against the Trio. What will the TULF leadership do?