My amusement knew no bounds when I read the article under the above heading written by Dr. Dayan Jayatilleke, appearing in your issue of May 21. He states inter alia, "This is why July 4th, America's Independence Day, must be celebrated irrespective of the Vietnam War." He then compares America with Sri Lanka and states, "It is why our Independence Day, Feb 4th, must be celebrated notwithstanding July `83."
America and Vietnam are poles apart and America landed in Vietnam and carried out a war. There is absolutely no similarity whatsoever between what America did in Vietnam and what happened within Sri Lanka in July '83. What happened in Sri Lanka in July '83 was only a reaction to an action that took place in Jaffna, where 13 innocent soldiers, who were travelling from one point to another and not on combat duty, were brutally murdered. If there was no action, there would not have been a reaction. Suffice it to say that if these 13 innocent soldiers were not murdered, there would not have been a July ‘83.
Taken in this context, what should be appreciated by all diplomats and ex-diplomats et al, is the tremendous patience and restraint shown by the majority community in the midst of grave and sudden provocation, for 30 years, details of which would consume more than one full page of this newspaper. What happened in July '83 fades into total insignificance, when compared with what happened for 30 years. I sincerely trust that Dr. Jayatilaka, in his next article, touch on the tremendous restraint and patience shown by the majority community for 30 years, which is unprecedented in the history of the entire world. Please do tell The Island readers whether such patience and restraint has been shown by the majority community in any other country.
D. M. Wijewardena
Deniyaya
island.lk
America and Vietnam are poles apart and America landed in Vietnam and carried out a war. There is absolutely no similarity whatsoever between what America did in Vietnam and what happened within Sri Lanka in July '83. What happened in Sri Lanka in July '83 was only a reaction to an action that took place in Jaffna, where 13 innocent soldiers, who were travelling from one point to another and not on combat duty, were brutally murdered. If there was no action, there would not have been a reaction. Suffice it to say that if these 13 innocent soldiers were not murdered, there would not have been a July ‘83.
Taken in this context, what should be appreciated by all diplomats and ex-diplomats et al, is the tremendous patience and restraint shown by the majority community in the midst of grave and sudden provocation, for 30 years, details of which would consume more than one full page of this newspaper. What happened in July '83 fades into total insignificance, when compared with what happened for 30 years. I sincerely trust that Dr. Jayatilaka, in his next article, touch on the tremendous restraint and patience shown by the majority community for 30 years, which is unprecedented in the history of the entire world. Please do tell The Island readers whether such patience and restraint has been shown by the majority community in any other country.
D. M. Wijewardena
Deniyaya
island.lk