Racism: Some questions

June 19, 2013, 12:00 pm


While reading through the article of Mr. Izeth Hussain titled: "SL Muslim Problem, Sinhala Racists’ Problem or Sinhala Politicians’ Problem?" that appeared in ‘The Island’ of 31st May, the following questions arose in my mind. I shall be grateful if Mr. Hussain could clarify them for me and may be for other readers too, who may have had the same question. The question is this: Let us assume for a moment that the Sinhalese are in fact ‘Racists’. Are the minorities in this country ‘Racists’ by any chance? The answer I believe, is that they are not.




If that is so, why is it that almost minority parties have their party name Indicating the name of the community they represent, while some others have the word ‘eelam’ in their name? And when it comes to matters on which they speak in public meetings and in Parliament, excepting perhaps, Mr. Rishard Baduddeen and Mr. A.H.M. Fouzie, speak only on matters pertaining to their community? Why is that they only rarely speak on things that affect the entire nation? On the other hand, none of the Sinhala dominated political Parties with at least a few non-Sinhala members, do not have such Communal identities in the names they have chosen for their political parties. The main opposition party calls itself "United National Party" for that matter. The other parties are Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Jathika Vimukthi Peramuna, Mahajana Eksath Peramuna, Lanka Sama Samaja Party and Communist Party f Sri Lanka etc. Even the Much maligned Jathika Hela Urumaya which is widely accused to be synonymous with Racism, calls itself Jathika – National and Hela Urumaya – meaning Heritage of the Helas. They have explained themselves saying that what they mean is that, when they say heritage of the Helas, they mean it encompasses all communities in the country.


I am also intrigued by the fact that most of the Tamil politicians who speak very emotionally on ‘Tamil Rights’ do not speak to either leaders of Tamil Nadu or of the Indian Central Government on behalf of the Tamil fishermen of the North whose fishing harvest is being robbed by Fisher folk of Tamil Nadu. Why is that Mr. Hussain?


Then for instance when at cricket, Sri Lanka plays Pakistan, many of our Muslim brethren cheer for Pakistan   whereas the Indian Muslims do not do that. Why is that?


Let me ask a straight question. Are you a Racist?


Sugath Samarasinghe

island.lk