Sri Lanka scraps Tamil version of its national anthem

[rockstarIN]

Sri Lanka scraps Tamil version of its national anthem


Read more: Sri Lanka scraps Tamil version of its national anthem - The Times of India Sri Lanka scraps Tamil version of its national anthem - The Times of India

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka has scrapped the Tamil version of its national anthem at official and state functions, a move likely to further alienate the ethnic Tamils in the country.

Now the national anthem--'Sri Lanka matha....' can only be rendered in the majority Sinhala language at official functions, the Sri Lankan cabinet decided.

The decision was taken at the last cabinet meeting headed by the President Mahinda Rajapksha, who pointed out that no country in the world uses the national anthem in other than one language, the 'Sunday Times' reported today.

"The move will mean that the current Tamil version will no longer be played at any official or state functions"

The Sinhala version is widely used across the country except for the north and east where a majority speaks Tamil.

"A directive to use only the Sinhala version is to be sent out by the Ministry of Public Administration.

All government establishments will be called upon to adhere to this decision" the paper added.

President Rajapaksa told ministers that in no other country was the national anthem used in more than one language. He cited an instance where one time Prime Minister, the late Sirimavo Bandaranaike, had walked out of a function in the north where the national anthem was played in Tamil.

He said there could not be two national anthems and that it was a shortcoming that must be rectified. "We must all think of Sri Lanka as one country," Rajapaksa was quoted as saying by Sunday Times.

Minister Wimal Weerawansa supported President Rajapaksa's proposal. He said that even in neighbouring India, where around 300 languages were used, the national anthem was only in Hindi.

However, two Ministers voiced their dissent. National Languages and Social Integration Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara said the move would not be a suitable one.

Minister Rajitha Senaratne also endorsed the same view. Later, the Cabinet decided to adhere only to the Sinhala version of the national anthem.


Read more: Sri Lanka scraps Tamil version of its national anthem - The Times of India Sri Lanka scraps Tamil version of its national anthem - The Times of India

 

[BATMAN]

Good move... Srilanka shall get rid of every last bit of the menace.

 

[ajtr]

If there are many versions of national anthem then it doesnt remain a national anthem.it becomes normal song.National anthem must always be unique in which ever language of the land it is sang.like indian national anthem is in bengali not in its national language.

 

[twoplustwoisfour]

Minister Wimal Weerawansa supported President Rajapaksa's proposal. He said that even in neighbouring India, where around 300 languages were used, the national anthem was only in Hindi.

Errr, Indian National Anthem is in Bengali, not Hindi.

Edit:

Good move... Srilanka shall get rid of every last bit of the menace.

And then such people rail on India whenever a minority breaks their fingernails.

 

[LaBong]

If there are many versions of national anthem then it doesnt remain a national anthem.it becomes normal song.National anthem must always be unique in which ever language of the land it is sang.like indian national anthem is in bengali not in its national language.

Irrelevant as India doesn't have a national language to begin with.

What's the status of Tamil in Sri Lanka?

 

[Lala_Peace]

It is a bad step by Rajapakse. When it was expected some steps for bridging the gap of trust between Sinhaleese and Tamils, this is just utter nonsense. This has implications for India as India is deeply involved in improving the conditions of war affected Tamils. This is not expected from Rajapakse, who I thought of behaving as a statesman.

 

[KS]

Another move by the Sinhalese(this time it is the Sinhalese) in their quest for domination over the ethinic Tamils and make them second class citizens.

It is precisely these kind of activities that gave birth to a full blown insurgency and it seems the lessons have still not been learnt.

Good move... Srilanka shall get rid of every last bit of the menace.

No please.Dont make words flow out of my mouth. Just STFU

 

[nramesh1990]

Now LTTE is not in good position, so they can do whatever they want.

 

[Fasih Khan]

I wish Sri Lanka the Best of Luck. Deal Politely with the Tamils, Solve their Grievances and be aware of The Devil Around.

 

[nramesh1990]

I don't think that Sinhalese treat us equal to them. Definitely they will try to root out us from lanka.

 

[somebozo]

Lanka should stick to its native language..no one will be dishearted by this news more than India. I am looking forward for accusations towards Sir Lanka for some tamil terrorist attack in India..This time the rehotric will be "Lanka based terrorist group..LeT acronym may be dubbed into LeTS (Lasker e taiba in srilanka) and we will hear the usual talk abt surgical strikes blah blah!

By the way india has already set the grounds by forward such accusations towards Lanka that Laskher has set up secret ops base in Lankan island.

 

[SpArK]

The major language spoken in North and east Srilanka is Tamil and they consists a good percentage in total population.

But some people here will only support "brothers" and "brotherhood" ones..

If Tamils belonged to a particular religion, there would have been an over whelming support for them, unfortunately they are not. So can expect all sort of insults showered against them.

 

[Lankan Ranger]

Internal affairs of Sri Lanka

 

[TankGirl]

Internal affairs of Sri Lanka

Isn't this the same guy who goes around starting threads on "Internal Affairs" of other countries all over this forum. Why the double standards? It hurts when someone questions your country, doesn't it?

 

[KS]

Internal affairs of Sri Lanka

Its no longer an 'internal affair' when actions like these causes hundreds of thousands of refugees to flee to Tamil Nadu,India.