{"id":67107,"date":"2020-02-04T05:55:17","date_gmt":"2020-02-04T10:55:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=67107"},"modified":"2020-02-04T11:47:27","modified_gmt":"2020-02-04T16:47:27","slug":"tamils-want-to-sing-the-national-anthem-in-their-mother-tongue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=67107","title":{"rendered":"Tamils Want To Sing The National Anthem In Their Mother Tongue"},"content":{"rendered":"

by D,B.S.JEYARAJ<\/strong><\/p>\n

Singing The National Anthem In Tamil Trilogy \u2013 3<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

This is my third and final column in this trilogy of articles about the singing of Sri Lanka\u2019s national anthem in the Sinhala and Tamil languages. <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I would have very much liked to write about hot topics like Ranjan Ramanayake\u2019s recordings or President Gotabaya\u2019s Policy Speech or the internal troubles of the UNP , but I shall stick to this issue that I feel very strongly about. I have been deeply touched and vastly encouraged by the wide -spread response to the previous two articles in these columns. Most of the responses I received were of a positive nature while a few were certainly negative. Interestingly enough, many of the negative ones were from Sinhala and Tamil expatriates residing in western countries while the positive ones were preponderantly from readers living in Sri Lanka. This pattern was most revealing.<\/p>\n

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AE Manoharan<\/p><\/div>\n

Another refreshing phenomenon was the appearance – in some English newspapers – of several articles, viewpoints and letters in support of the national anthem being sung in both languages. They were somewhat critical of the current Government\u2019s declared intention of banning the National anthem being sung in Tamil also at the forthcoming 72nd independence day celebrations in Colombo on Feb 4 2020. I was greatly elated by the fact that almost all of these positive viewpoints were expressed by Sinhala people ranging from film makers to opinion makers. It made me realise that in spite of the poppycock uttered on this topic by political ignoramuses ensconced in the seats of power, there were multiple enlightened and courageous voices within the majority community who are willing to speak truth to power.
\n<\/p>\n

I am aware that these are all silver linings in dark clouds. They should not make us entertain illusory hopes or lull ourselves into a false sense of complacency. Nevertheless we do need such happenings to feel good and also to retain our sanity in an adverse environment. It is against this positive backdrop that I commence this week\u2019s article on a personal note about the singing the national anthem in Tamil.<\/p>\n

Nowadays the question of singing the national anthem in Tamil is one that I care strongly about. However I do yearn nostalgically for the \u201c blissfully ignorant\u201d past where this was not an issue at all to me. When I was a student at St.Thomas\u2019 prep school in Kollupitiya (1959-64) during the times of J.T.R. Perinpanayagam as headmaster, we used to sing the national anthem at end of term assemblies and other important events.<\/p>\n

The students were multi-ethnic \u2013 Sinhala,Tamil,Muslim, Burgher,Malay with a sprinkle of cultural minorities like Colombo Chetty, Bharatha, Sindhi. Bohra,Parsi, Chinese, Malayalee and Telugu(a great great grandson of the last king of Kandy was a student too). <\/p>\n

Lively and Lilting Tune<\/strong><\/p>\n

We were given \u201croneo\u201dcyclo-styled sheets with the words in Sinhala and Tamil and the Sinhala version scripted in English. We were free to sing in whichever language we wanted but almost all of us being fluent in English preferred to sing the Sinhala words via the English script. As a Tamil I don\u2019t think I then understood the meaning of the Sinhala words fully but at that primary school tender age it did not matter. The words had a musical tone and the tune was lively and lilting. Later on as my Sinhala proficiency increased after learning Practical Sinhala , the Sinhala words became more meaningful.<\/p>\n

It was after I relocated to Jaffna in my mid \u2013teens that I started hearing the national anthem being sung in Tamil. The students at Jaffna College, Vaddukkoddai were almost entirely Tamil with one or two Muslims and Malayalees. By this time one had got \u201cpoliticised\u201d in terms of ethnicity.We were more aware politically as secondary school students. Besides the early seventies of the 20th century was also the era of standardization that caused much upheaval amidst Tamil students. \u201cTamil Eelam\u201dconsciousness had not entered our lives then but we did feel strongly about discrimination and perceived racist oppression.<\/p>\n

However it was while singing the national anthem or listening to it in my mother tongue Tamil that I really understood the meaning fully and began feeling a sense of patriotism and above all gained an understanding of what this Island was all about. These feelings were enhanced in later years by A. E. Manoharan\u2019s Tamil pop song \u201cIlankai Enbathu Nam Thaai Thirunaadu\u201d (Lanka is our Motherland) which instilled affection and endearment towards the land of my birth.<\/p>\n

Politically I found the content of the Sri Lankan national anthem unobjectionable as the words were about mother Lanka and the virtues of the country and not about any particular ethnicity. However I must admit that though I understood the national anthem better in Tamil, I liked hearing it being sung in Sinhala as the words seemed to sound mellifluously and exuding a mood of joi de vivre. Despite this personal opinion , I was and am not prepared to let go of or be denied the cherished right to sing the Sri Lankan national anthem in my \u201cThaai Mozhi\u201d (mother tongue)which is Tamil. A few days ago I mentioned this to a Tamil friend in Sri Lanka who was very fluent in Sinhala. He too felt the anthem sounded better when sung in Sinhala but concurred with me that our right to sing it in Tamil cannot be forfeited.<\/p>\n

Created Controversial Crisis<\/strong><\/p>\n

Last week\u2019s article in these columns related in detail about how the First Rajapaksa regime of President Mahinda Rajapaksa created a controversial crisis regarding the national anthem in Tamil.The years between 2010 and 2015 had seen the country experiencing an unnecessary problem in the singing of the National Anthem in the Tamil language due to an ill-advised measure by the Rajapaksa regime.<\/p>\n

A Cabinet paper advocating that the National Anthem (NA) be sung only in Sinhala was \u201cshelved\u201d after a heated intra-govt. debate. Orders however went out quietly to Govt. officials and officers of the armed forces that the National Anthem should not be sung in Tamil. There was no official decree but \u201c officially sanctioned unofficial instructions\u201dresulted in the silencing of the Tamil National Anthem. The issue hurt the sentiments of the Tamil speaking people widely. Besides it seemed utterly absurd to prevent a Tamil version of the NA also being sung in areas where Tamils were concentrated or in functions connected to Tamil Medium schools. Sadly this was the prevailing situation until the regime change in January 2015.<\/p>\n

It has become fashionable after the regime change ushered in by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to find fault with the \u201cGood Governance\u201d Govt of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for various acts of omission and commission. Very little praise is given for the positive measures enacted by that regime. The split between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe along with the Ranil- Sajith tussle has brought about a situation where nothing good is being said about the previous govt. Sajith Premadasa who was part and parcel of that regime seems to be thinking that he can gain political mileage by disassociating himself from that Govt.<\/p>\n

In such a situation the previous Govt is being depicted as totally bad without a good word said in its favour. This is not true. The Sirisena-Wickremesinghe Govt did enact several constructive achievements . Chief among them was the climate of ethnic amity and harmony it brought about. A key factor in this was restoring the practice of singing the national anthem in Tamil again. This change was best illustrated by the singing of the national anthem in Tamil at the annual day of Independence celebrations. It has been the practice from 2016 to 2019 for the national anthem to be sung in both Sinhala and Tamil at the freedom day event. The ceremony began with singing the anthem in Sinhala and ended with singing it in Tamil. It was symbolic of the fact that Tamil too was an official and national language of this country.Singing the national anthem(NA) in Tamil at the independence day event boosted the image of Sri Lanka immensely.<\/p>\n

It is this very desirable practice that the new Rajapaksa regime under President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is now aiming to discontinue. When Public Administration minister Janaka Bandara Tennekoon came out with this \u201cbombshell\u201d announcement there was widespread shock and disbelief. Why was this Govt trying to disrupt the practice of singing the NA in both languages at a national event? There were fears too that the move was a precursor to the elimination of the singing in Tamil of the NA altogether.<\/p>\n

TPA Leader Mano Ganesan<\/strong><\/p>\n

The first Tamil political leader to react against the contemplated move was former cabinet minister and Tamil Progressive Alliance(TPA) leader Mano Ganesan. The Colombo District MP expressed his criticism through posts in his Facebook account and via Tweets in Twitter. More importantly Ganesan wrote to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa protesting against the proposed move and released the contents of the missive to the media.<\/p>\n

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Mano Ganesan MP distributing school supplies to students in Colombo-Jan 5, 2019<\/p><\/div>\n

Mano Ganesan pointed out that Tamil was enshrined in the Constitution as an official and national language and urged the president to desist from such a course of action. He also reminded the president that sidelining Tamil was contrary to the pledge Gotabaya made at his swearing in where he said he would function as the president of all Sri Lankans.<\/p>\n

Mano Ganesan followed up his letter to the president by participating in many meetings and TV shows and expressing strong criticism of the proposed move to abolish the singing of the national anthem in Tamil at the independence day event. He has also been posing the question as to whether the Govt wanted to set up a \u201cSri Lankan Rajya\u201d or a \u201cSinhala Buddhist Rajya?\u201d.<\/p>\n

The main reason for Mano Ganesan\u2019s concern over the National Anthen in Tamil issue is perhaps due to the fact that the TPA leader played a very constructive role in restoring the rightful status of the national anthem in Tamil. In fact it was Mano Ganesan who started the ball rolling in gaining recognition for the NA in Tamil after the 2015 regime change.<\/p>\n

Media reports appeared in early March 2015 that Mano Ganesan -who was not an MP then – had raised the issue of the national anthem being sung in Tamil at the National Executive Council meeting. According to reports the then President Maithripala Sirisena had responded positively and reiterated the Constitutional position that there was no bar on the national anthem being sung in Tamil. He had guaranteed that the National Anthem would be sung in Tamil also.<\/p>\n

Question and Answer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Upon reading these reports I contacted Mano Ganesan via electronic mail and posed a question to him on the matter. He replied in detail. Both my question and Mano Ganesan\u2019s answer were published in the \u201cDaily Mirror\u201d then. I am reproducing both here.<\/p>\n

Q:<\/strong><\/p>\n


\n\u201cWhat were the circumstances that motivated you to raise this issue at the National Executive Council meeting and how do you feel now that the President has answered positively\u201d?<\/em><\/p>\n

A:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201c National anthem, National Flag etc are the elements of expression of nationalism of a citizen of any country. This goes with us in Sri Lanka too. During the last regime, this subject was a highly heated up issue in year 2010. Weerawansa, Gammanpila, Bodu Bala Sena and others were on a (war) path of totally rejecting this constitutional right of the Tamil speaking community. They went to the extent of getting then Interior Minister John Senaviratne to submit a Cabinet paper. It was to \u201corder\u201d citizens and State admin & school administrators to refrain from singing the Tamil National Anthem.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut due to our combined opposition, Mahinda Rajapakse who gave tacit support to this backtracked. I remember saying then that those who claim to be \u201cDeshapremi patriots\u201d should on the contrary support the Tamil National Anthem. It is not about Eelam, but about Sri Lanka. It is bringing in the Tamils into the national mainstream.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I failed to convince the hardliners. Though they stopped at that point, the fear psyche had already gone into the minds of the State administrators in the Tamil speaking regions. Tamil regional GAs and AGAs and school principals either refrained or blocked the use of the Tamil national anthem due to their fear of the regime. And the Army in the north added brutality to this. They trained the school children band to sing only the Sinhala version and barged into the civil events and at times, stopped theTamil national anthem. The Sinhala only law was in action.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThese hardliners failed to understand the basic facts. The Tamil anthem is not a new strange song about Eelam but only the translation of the Sinhala version praising Mother Lanka and the music score is also the same. Therefore, these hardliners are nothing but severe racists who reject anything Tamil and who are trying to take our country backwards.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNOW, This is the era of good governance and real reconciliation. So I thought of raising this issue at the National Executive Council (NEC). I am not in Parliament. If I had been, I would have raised it there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe latest is that many local media electronic and print have taken up this issue. Yesterday I was interviewed and thus spoke in many Sinhala radio channels. Last night I was in Rupavahini TV live this morning Weerawansa came on Neth FM radio live and blasted me. He said there can be only one language, one national anthem in this country, since this is a Sinhala country. But to my pleasant surprise, the former interior minister John Seneviratne who brought the Cabinet paper to ban the Tamil national anthem, said on the same radio that he regrets his earlier stance also adding that Tamils should have the right to use the Tamil national anthem.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo DBS, my efforts have brought about some positive developments. I was one of those who agreed with the idea of not putting the Tamil national issue in the Maithri manifesto during the presidential elections. We did not want to give any opportunity to hard liners. But it does not mean that we have to keep quiet all the time. We must choose the right time to raise issues and create discussions. It is my policy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Significant Event in Valalaai<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shortly after this e -mail exchange with Mano Ganesan a significant event took place in the north. A symbolically meaningful event unfolded on March 23 2015 at Valalaai in the Jaffna Peninsula where President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and former Premier cum President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga were present.Over 400 acres of land taken over by the Sri Lankan armed forces to maintain a high security zone was handed over to the long deprived rightful owners on the occasion.. The presence of the top trio at such a simple ceremony in the north demonstrated the avowed sincerity and goodwill of the new govt in bringing about ethnic reconciliation and amity. The Valalaai event also served to relay another simple yet powerful signal in the sphere of ethnic relations. The Sri Lankan National Anthem was sung in both Sinhala and Tamil at the event.<\/p>\n

The National Anthem was first sung in Tamil and then in Sinhala. The music was played on tape while a \u201cchoir\u201dfrom the staff of the Jaffna District Secretariat sang in both languages. The gathering including the distinguished leaders stood to rapt attention. It was truly a heartwarming spectacle and a harbinger of hope. It demonstrated clearly that the new dispensation of Maithri, Ranil and Chandrika would proceed slowly but steadily in seeking remedial action in issues such as the singing of the National Anthem in Tamil also.It was a symbolic gesture!The Tamil version of \u201cSri Lanka Matha\u201d echoing in Valalaai resonated politically throughout the Island. There were howls of protes from predictable quarters. .A campaign of misinformation and disinformation about the National Anthem being sung in Tamil got underway.<\/p>\n

The Valalaai event in March 2015 was a harbinger of more glad tidings. Gradually the practice of singing the national anthem in Tamil began to re-emerge after being \u201csilenced\u201d under Rajapaksa rule. Meanwhile Parliamentary elections took place in August 2015. A coalition Government comprising the UNP led UNF and Sirisena -led faction of the SLFP\/UPFA was set up. Things moved smoothly and the singing of the NA in Tamil began to gain wider currency.<\/p>\n

And then came Sri Lanka\u2019s 68th anniversary of Independence on Feb 4th 2016. The official commemorative event was held at the Galle Face Green. The highlight of the day was the singing of our national anthem in both Sinhala and Tamil. The following paragraphs are excerpted from the article I wrote in the \u201cDaily Mirror\u201d then.<\/p>\n

\u201cDuring the past decades I have seen many official commemorations of Independence day occur. However for the first time in my life I witnessed a scene via the internet which I thought would never ever happen during my lifetime. I saw and heard a youthful choir of boys and girls exuberantly rendering the Sri Lankan National anthem in my mother tongue \u2013Tamil. It took 2 minutes and 32 seconds. The singers were students of Bambalapitiya Ramanathan Hindu Ladies College and Colombo Vivekananda College. They sang harmoniously. After several decades the national anthem was being sung with official approval at the state sanctioned commemoration of Independence.\u201d<\/p>\n

State of Emotional Ecstasy<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI was in a state of emotional ecstasy. I did something which I have not done before when Sri Lanka\u2019s National Anthem was being played. I cried! I am not ashamed to say that!! I kept clicking replay to see the clip over and over again. My eyes turned moist and tears kept trickling down my cheeks. I even sobbed a few times involuntarily. It was with the greatest difficulty that I controlled myself. When the \u201cRupavahini\u201dcamera panned on the distinguished gathering, I saw those very important children of the Sri Lankan mother \u2013 most of them Sinhalese- standing respectfully erect as the words rang out clearly in Tamil. It was truly a defining moment!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI realised that the land of my birth had embarked on a new and exciting journey. After decades of post \u2013 independence conflict fuelled mainly by ethno-linguistic contradictions, the nation at large was realising and recognizing its pluralistic national identity. While Sinhala continued to retain its rightful place, the Country was now moving forward on the path of inclusion and was prepared to accommodate what had been excluded before. The 68th independence day ceremony was a good omen of the brave, new Sri Lanka that was being envisaged by the new dispensation in power.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUS Astronaut Neil Armstrong after his historic lunar mission described his first step on the moon as a small step for a man but a giant leap for mankind. Likewise the singing of the national anthem in Tamil at the official Independence day ceremony is a great leap forward of tremendous symbolic value in the right direction. It is a signal to the long alienated Tamils of Sri Lanka that it is time for them to come in from the cold and re-enter the national mainstream.The Tamil language recognized Constitutionally as an official language is now being given parity of status. Tamil is not only spoken by Sri Lankan Tamils but also by Upcountry Tamils of recent Indian origin and a substantial numbers of Sri Lankan Muslims. The language spoken by nearly 25% of the populations was granted symbolic recognition at the Independence day event.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe announcement that the national anthem was going to be sung in Tamil also on Feb 4th had earlier brought in its wake loud howls of protest. A motley group of pseudo- nationalists kept ranting and railing that the singing in Tamil would threaten national security.Some alleged that the Eelamists were trying to divide the country by singing \u201cSri Lanka Thhayae\u201d. The pater familias of nepotistic corruption shed crocodile tears for the country\u2019s independence. People who never bothered about constitutional provisions regarding Tamil as an official language not being implemented turned overnight into constitutionalists insisting that the constitution was being violated. A sanctimonious cat even warned of President Sirisena being impeached in this regard. \u201c<\/p>\n

Maithripala,Ranil and Chandrika<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAn orchestrated campaign was underway to create an illusion that the national anthem being sung in Sinhala and Tamil on Independence day would bring about a great calamity upon Lanka and her people.Given the deep divisions within and outside the government over this matter and the aggressive hostility displayed by influential politicians, I had thought that the Govt would back down on this issue . Happily my fears became liars! I thank President Maithripa Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and all other ministers and members of this Government who made possible the singing of \u201cSri Lanka Thaaye\u201d in Tamil also. I salute them for their political courage in doing the right thing in the face of opposition.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPoliticians from both sides of the ethnic divide have time and again pursued the politics of the irrational by appealing to raw emotions of the electorate.These political elements continue to thrive because the Sri Lankan people of all hues have demonstrated time and again that they can be whipped up into a frenzy at elections through emotive yet empty slogans and cheap political stunts.Thus it is a vicious circle of inter-dependence where the people continue to get the leaders they deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat has prevented Sri Lanka from descending into total chaos and utter misery is the ability of some of its leaders and people to take corrective measures at times and undo some , if not all, of the damage caused. What is more these corrective measures are enacted through democratic methods.:<\/p>\n

\u201cDemocracy in Sri Lanka may be flawed but nevertheless the country can be proud that it remains basically democratic.One set of rascals may be replaced by another set but these are done through democratic elections. Dictatorial tendencies are curbed through the casting of the vote. These have been the silver linings prevalent in the dark clouds looming over the Island\u2019s political horizon.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOne such silver lining was visible last week in the case of the national anthem being sung in Tamil at the independence day ceremony. The new dispensation under President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is striving valiantly to rectify some of the wrongs perpetrated by the previous Rajapaksa regime. The 68th Independence anniversary commemoration was truly a heartwarming spectacle and a harbinger of hope. It demonstrated clearly that the triumvirate of Maithri,Ranil and Chandrika will proceed slowly but steadily on the road to inter-racial justice,ethnic amity and national reconciliation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAbove all the singing of the national anthem in Tamil at the Independence day event has conveyed a strong symbolic message to the Tamil speaking people that they and their language are an integral part of the evolving Sri Lanka. This has made all those Tamils desiring to live as equals in a united undivided Sri Lanka very, very , very happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Legal Challenge in Supreme Court<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shortly after the national anthem was sung in Tamil on Feb 4th 2016 a legal challenge was mounted against the move. A fundamental rights petition was filed in Feb 2016 in the Supreme Court. After considering submissions by all parties concerned a three -judge bench of the Supreme court in November 2016 refused to grant leave to provide with the petition. A news report in the \u201cDaily News\u201d by its courts reporter Lakmal Sooriyagoda stated as follows –<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Supreme Court yesterday refused to grant leave to proceed with a Fundamental Rights petition filed by three residents of Kelaniya area challenging the government\u2019s decision to sing the National Anthem in the Tamil language during Independence Day celebrations\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cTaking into consideration the submissions made by the Attorney General and the intervenient parties of the petition, a three-judge-Bench comprising Justice Priyasad Dep, Justice K.T. Chitrasiri and Justice Prasanna Jayawardena decided to dismiss the petition in limine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe three petitioners Sanjeewa Perera, Pradeep Asiri Zoysa and Don Premaratne sought a declaration that the National Anthem shall be sung in Sinhala language with Sinhala words in accordance with the Third Schedule of the constitution.The petitioners cited President Maithripala Sirisena and the Attorney General as respondents.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDeputy Solicitor General Viraj Dayaratne appearing on behalf of the Attorney General informed Court that Article 18 and 19 of the Constitution clearly unambiguously provides that Sinhala and Tamil shall be the official and national languages of Sri Lanka.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDSG Dayaratne further stated that the words and music of the National Anthem in the Tamil language is constitutionally recognized by Article 7 read with the Third Schedule of the Tamil version of the Constitution of Sri Lanka.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe further submitted to Court the National Anthem that was sung in the Tamil language at the Independence Day celebrations on February 4, 2016 contained the same words and melody as entrenched in the constitution in terms of Article 7 read with the Third Schedule of the Tamil version of the constitution of Sri Lanka.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey alleged that the petitioners\u2019 fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 12(1) and 12(2) have been violated through the government\u2019s decision to sing the National Anthem in Tamil language during the Independence Day celebrations.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe petitioners observed that they tend to name President Maithripala Sirisena as one of the respondents in the petition since he participated as the Chief Guest at the Independence Day celebrations while functioning as the Executive President of the Republic.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDeputy Solicitor General Viraj Dayaratna appeared for the Attorney General. Senior Counsel Mahanama de Silva appeared for the petitioners.Counsel Suren Fernando with Senior Counsel Viran Corea appeared for the intervenient parties\u201d<\/p>\n

Centre for Policy Alternatives<\/strong><\/p>\n

Meanwhile the Colombo based NGO Centre for Policy Alternatives(CPA) had also filed an intervenient petition in the case. A communique issued by the CPA stated as follows –<\/p>\n

\u201cSanjeewa Sudath Perera and two other persons filed a Petition dated 26th February 2016 in the Supreme Court challenging the decision to sing the National Anthem of Sri Lanka in Tamil at the official Independence Day celebrations in 2016. The Petitioners argued that singing the Anthem in Tamil was contradictory to Articles 7 and 12 of the Sri Lankan Constitution, which relate to the National Anthem and the rights to equality and non-discrimination, respectively.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOn March 4th 2016, the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) and its Executive Director Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu filed an Intervention-Petition, which argued that singing the National Anthem in Tamil was Constitutional. This intervention Petition first referenced Articles 18 and 19 of the Constitution, which state that Sinhala and Tamil are the official and national languages of Sri Lanka. Furthermore unlike subordinate legislation such as acts of Parliament, the Constitution contains no provision, which stipulates that the Sinhala text shall prevail over the Tamil text. As such the words and music of the National Anthem in the Tamil language are constitutionally recognized by Article 7 read with the Third Schedule of the Tamil version of the Constitution of Sri Lanka.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe intervention Petition further referenced Article 12 of the Constitution, claiming that a declaration that the National Anthem should be sung only in Sinhalese would be a direct violation of Article 12, which in turn would be a violation of the fundamental rights of Tamil-speaking citizens. CPA also supported two additional Intervention-Petitions that supported the constitutionality of singing the National Anthem in Tamil.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Supreme Court took up the case on the 18th of November 2016, discussing whether the Petitioners made a strong enough case for considering the Petition in the Court. During the discussions, the Deputy Solicitor General (DSG) also referenced Articles 18 and 19 of the constitution recognizing both Sinhala and Tamil as the official and national languages of Sri Lanka, and that the singing of the Anthem in Tamil was not in violation of the Constitution. The court therefore decided that the Petitioners had not disclosed a case to be considered, and subsequently their case was dismissed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Equality,Unity, Harmony and Amity<\/strong><\/p>\n

The national anthem was sung in Tamil also at the independence day events of 2017, 2018 and 2019. The precedent set in 2016 seemed to be taking firm root. The people of Sri Lanka were able to see and realise that the singing of the national anthem in Tamil was not harmful to the country or the Sinhalese majority in any way. As far as the Tamil people were concerned the right to sing the NA in Tamil did not mean that all their lost rights were restored and that they had achived equal status with the majority on the Island. Yet the singing of the NA in Tamil at the independence day event was of symbolic value. It indicated bright prospects for equality, unity, harmony and amity in the future.<\/p>\n

Alas! A fairy tale ending was not to be. The election of Gotabaya Rajapaksa as president and the return of Rajapaksa rule has given rise to many drastic changes both positive and negative. One such \u201cchange\u201d was in the singing of the national anthem in Tamil at the independence day celebrations.<\/p>\n

Janaka Bandara Tennekoon<\/strong><\/p>\n

The \u201cDaily Mirror\u201d stated \u201cThe 72nd Independence Day celebrations will be held on February 4 at Independence Square in Colombo on a grand scale, the Public Administration Ministry said, adding that the national anthem would be sung only in Sinhala\u201d. Janaka Bandara Tennakoon, the Cabinet Minister for Public Administration, Internal Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government told the BBC that it has been decided to ban the national anthem being sung in Tamil at the next Independence Day celebrations. Elaborating further, the minister said a national anthem was one and should not be split in two. Some other Sinhala ministers also made public comments indicating that the national anthem would be sung in Sinhala only and not in Tamil. One cabinet minister even said that the 69 Lakhs of voters who elected Gota as president had voted for a \u201cSinhala Only\u201dnational anthem.<\/p>\n

Despite minister Tennekoon telling the media that the NA wont be sung in Tamil, his ministry secretary said no decision had been made to that effect so far. A news story in \u201cThe Island\u201d of Dec 29th 2019 said as follows \u2013 \u201cSecretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government, S. Hettiarachchi said yesterday that the government had so far not taken any decision to sing the national anthem only in Sinhala during the coming independence day celebrations.The decision on the anthem would be taken soon after a discussion with Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa. Hettiarachchi denied reports that the government had made a decision to sing the anthem only in Sinhala.The Independence Day celebrations committee would meet again in January, under the leadership of the Prime Minister and a decision on the anthem would be taken then, the Ministry Secretary added.\u201d<\/p>\n

Minister Douglas Devananda<\/strong><\/p>\n

The solitary Sri Lankan Tamil minister in the cabinet and Eelam Peoples Democratic Party(EPDP) Secretary-General ,Douglas Devananda however was confidently optimistic about the future of the national anthem in Tamil. Devananda the cabinet minister for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said in Parliament on Jan 8th said that there wont be any changes in the singing of the national anthem in Tamil. The minister speaking on the second day of the debate on President Gotabaya\u2019s Policy Declaration speech said that neither the Govt nor the cabinet of ministers had taken any decision on bringing about changes in the singing of the national anthem. He said firmly that the national anthem would continue to be sung in Tamil also and that there wont be any change in that practice.<\/p>\n

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Minister Douglas Devananda<\/p><\/div>\n

This then is the current uncertain situation about the singing of the NA in Tamil also at the independence day event. It remains to be seen as to whether Minister Janaka Bandara Tennekoon or his secretary S. Hettiarachchi is correct about a decision being taken or not taken.Likewise only time will tell whether minister Douglas Devananda\u2019s confident assertions in Parliament about the status quo in singing the national anthem in Tamil continuing to remain are proved correct or not.<\/p>\n

One can sympathise with Devananda\u2019s predicament. He is a minister under a President who has been overwhelmingly elected by the Sinhala people. Had a sizable segment of Sri Lankan Tamils voted for Gota as canvassed by the EPDP, Devananda would have been in a better position to gain benefits for the Tamil people. As it is Douglas is in an unenviable situation. However many Tamils including this columnist would support Devananda in his efforts to ensure that the status quo remains as far as the singing of the NA in Tamil is concerned.<\/p>\n

Let me conclude by reiterating that the Government of Gotabaya Rajapaksa should not abolish the practice of singing the national anthem in Tamil at the Independence day event. The Tamils who want to sing the national anthem in Tamil are neither separatists nor extremists. One state minister has said that those with Prabhakaran\u2019s separatist mindset and fellow travelers of the pro-LTTE diaspora wanted the national anthem to be sung in Tamil. Nothing could be further away from the truth as this idiotic assertion.<\/p>\n

Tamils Want To Identify With Their Country<\/strong><\/p>\n

The silent majority of Tamils living in Sri Lanka want to sing the national anthem in Tamil because they belong to Sri Lanka and want to identify with their country. It is not a new right they demand but only the continuation of what has been and was available. While giving pride of place to the national anthem in Sinhala they only want to sing it in their mother tongue wherever and whenever possible or applicable. Singing the national anthem along with Sinhala at the Independence day national event is perhaps the best occasion to do so. It is also of great symbolic value.<\/p>\n

DBS Jeyaraj can be reached at dbsjeyaraj@yahoo.com<\/span> <\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

This Article was written for the DBS Jeyaraj Column in the “Daily Mirror” of January 11, 2020. It can be accessed here:<\/strong><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.dailymirror.lk\/opinion\/Tamils-want-to-sing-national-anthem-in-their-mother-tongue\/172-181083<\/a><\/p>\n

Tweet<\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by D,B.S.JEYARAJ Singing The National Anthem In Tamil Trilogy \u2013 3 This is my third and final column in this trilogy of articles about the singing of Sri Lanka\u2019s national anthem in the Sinhala and Tamil languages. I would have very much liked to write about hot topics like Ranjan Ramanayake\u2019s recordings or President Gotabaya\u2019s …<\/p>\n

Continue reading ‘Tamils Want To Sing The National Anthem In Their Mother Tongue’ »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[27],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67107"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=67107"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67107\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67138,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67107\/revisions\/67138"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=67107"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=67107"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=67107"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}