Amend Thesawalamai

27 November 2010 11:01 am - 78 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Thesawalamai law which is being practiced in Jaffna should be amended to allow any citizen of the country to live in the Jaffna province, UNP PM Sujeewa Senasinghe proposed in Parliament today. (KB/YP)

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Comments - 78

Common Man Sunday, 28 November 2010 05:25 AM

Suicidal.

kumudini Sunday, 28 November 2010 10:43 AM

One law for all . No person whether Sinhal Tamil Muslime one should be treated differently , Yes about time to highlight this . Good thinking .

Eastern Tamil Sunday, 28 November 2010 08:39 AM

Please do, I want to move to Jaffna.

Eranga Sunday, 28 November 2010 07:50 AM

We must abolish Thesawalamai law, Kandian Law, Muslim Law, etc..

All Sri Lankan's should be able to live in one single law.

I Hussein Sunday, 28 November 2010 07:24 AM

Thesawalamai itself creats communalism or seperatism. Must be abolished. Not only corners the Tamils discrimanation for other races as well.

ulg Sunday, 28 November 2010 06:33 AM

before tamils it was Sinhalas. you all should return to india. Amend the sutpid thesawalame law or else all tamils should leave Wellawatta!

Ramzil Sunday, 28 November 2010 05:43 AM

Abolish, not amend.

Common Man Sunday, 28 November 2010 05:32 AM

Cat out of the sack, Prabakaran (Mr. Nandikadal) had the same Idea.

Common Man Sunday, 28 November 2010 05:29 AM

Simple Deed will show the ownership. Nothing to worry..

kumudini Sunday, 28 November 2010 10:44 AM

One law for all , whether Sinhala Muslin otr Tamil . About time this ridicuous law was abolished .

Common Man Sunday, 28 November 2010 05:22 AM

Yes super Criminal & Deadliest.

gUL fERNANDO Sunday, 28 November 2010 05:08 AM

This are the resons to contribute to next war, which will be well come by UNP at least try to get some advantage

Anuruddha sanjeewa Sunday, 28 November 2010 04:52 AM

Good proposal as there should be no barriers what so ever for any citizen of this country to live anywhere.

s.jayawardene Sunday, 28 November 2010 04:27 AM

For a country to prosper olden things and traditions and laws should change according to time. If you are to dwell in the past you will never be a loku uncle.

aaa Sunday, 28 November 2010 04:08 AM

Muslim law does not talk about any one's land or matters pertaining to other races.

Rajitha Sunday, 28 November 2010 03:31 AM

i totally agree with you

dpl Sunday, 28 November 2010 03:28 AM

why you alloewd the india to open consulate office in jaffna.

podda Sunday, 28 November 2010 02:20 AM

The first step was taken by the British back in 1940s. They isolated Jaffna Tamils from rest of the country by introducing Thesavalamei law.

nala3 Sunday, 28 November 2010 05:43 PM

If the laws of this country are not implemented equally for every citizen of this country what is the point in having laws and amending them? Can any one say that we are all treated equally?

After British, our own politicians know well to divide and rule!

Common Man. Monday, 29 November 2010 05:55 AM

Tamil home land is in Tamil Nadu.

Lionel Monday, 29 November 2010 05:03 AM

Jaffna is now in the hands of the Central Gov't, hence Thesawalamai cannot exit anymore

lankaputha Monday, 29 November 2010 03:18 AM

If we all are sri Lankans, we all should be abide by the same law. there shouldn't be different laws depending on race or the place. Period.

spark Monday, 29 November 2010 03:00 AM

Buddhism is the religeon of the state...read the constitution. No problem with buddhism but as a matter of principle it needs to be revoked so that even a Muslim can become the President of this country one day. Only then we call ourselves the Miracle of Asia. Until then we can only grin like buffoons and look at other countries such as USA, India doing it.

Harsha Sunday, 28 November 2010 10:58 PM

The Government is gradually reducing the security restrictions and as a part of this is resettling Tamil civillians in lands which formerly fell under High Security Zones.
The term colonizing is incorrect and misleading. It implies the invasion of another country which is not the case here as it is to do with Sri Lankans resettling within Sri Lanka. All citizens of Sri Lanka have the right to live anywhere in Sri Lanka including Jaffna. The Sinhalese who have arrived in Jaffna recently to live permanently are those who were chased out of there by the LTTE. They were long term residents of Jaffna who owned property and businesses.

TomSamusa Sunday, 28 November 2010 10:33 PM

We vehemently DISagree with the prof, K. He is comparing apples and oranges.
Tamils come from an arid land ,education ,(govt) employment, and academic profession is for their survival.as a community/nation.
They moved to Colombo as a necessity and not by choice.
It is not Govt sponsored mass colonosation but an economic necessity.
What this pakisthan govt types are trying to do is planning mass ,forced colonisation of sinhalese in Tamil hameland to to dilute the Tamil population and make them minority in tour homeland.

RajasH Sunday, 28 November 2010 09:54 PM

I want to live in Hambantota

Southern boy Sunday, 28 November 2010 06:24 PM

We must adopt laws to suit the country and not to a minority.
I live in the west and find minorities who made sacrifices to move with the majority have successfully integrated whilst others who prefer to live in their own ghetto communities remain isolated.

Kithsiri De Zoysa Sunday, 28 November 2010 05:46 PM

Let us all live in Peace with one Law for all.
Kithsiri

Prof. Ravi Kulatunga Saturday, 27 November 2010 11:23 AM

I agree completely. Every citizen in this country should be able to buy land in any part of the country without any hinderance. Over 1 million Tamil citizens live in Colombo and in outer areas. They have no such hinderance to buy property. This is an outdated feudal law aimed at artificially maintaining ethnic composition. It is in effect "legalised ethnic cleansing." Good call.

chinthaka Sunday, 28 November 2010 04:28 PM

Beware Mr. Serasinghe,

Not the moderate Tamils, Your boss will get angry .

Fantastic Sunday, 28 November 2010 03:33 PM

Any Sri Lankan should be allowed to live anywhere in Sri Lanka, whether they be Tamil or Sinhalese.

Liberal Muslim Sunday, 28 November 2010 03:00 PM

Yes, change the Muslim law as well.

Patriot Sunday, 28 November 2010 02:41 PM

Yes, change Muslim Laws as well. Why a different set of laws to them?

Saman Silva Sunday, 28 November 2010 12:06 PM

Accept the universal truth...

If something spread hatred and crave..get rid of it..

If something make you a fool, get rid of it

It applies to all...whether it is Thesavalamai, Kandyan or Sharia...

Common Man Sunday, 28 November 2010 11:28 AM

You people were moving anyway.

Common Man Sunday, 28 November 2010 11:26 AM

Name a few.

sen Sunday, 28 November 2010 11:18 AM

there are lot of things to ammend in the mindset of the srilnkan poitician and lawmakers, toward miniorities, before turn in to Thesavazamai law.

Lohan Saturday, 27 November 2010 12:30 PM

I stgrongly believe, during the British time when drafting the constitution prior to the handing over of Sri lanka, the then tamil politicians smuggled this condition into the constitution. The reason was the British had consultations with the various Sri Lankan interested groups and made it law. So the Thesawalam was not there before the British and therefore this law should be expunged from the Sri Lankan Law forthwith and I applaud Mr Senasinghe for bringing this up to the attention and this should be taken up seriously.

Jane Saturday, 27 November 2010 01:39 PM

There is nothing wrong anyone living anywhere in the country
even some sinhalese lived in north before violence started in 80s, but only the state sponsored settlements are not acceptable, I believe this is what the tamil MPs mean, because
what if some tamils from Jaffna arrive in fort station and stay
there demanding food and shelter ? ? ? will govt or samurdhi officials come and provide everything ? ? ? or will these people
end up in welikada ? ? ? violence is language of unheard !

Jaffna man Saturday, 27 November 2010 01:33 PM

i totally disagree with this.

naomi Saturday, 27 November 2010 01:32 PM

A great proposal, which should have been implemented a long time ago by the previous failed governments. They betrayed us and lead us to major armed conflicts with Tamils.

Sribala Saturday, 27 November 2010 01:17 PM

"Thesavalamai" is an example for Tamils had their own traditional homeland. New amendment will be breach of law.

Rajash Saturday, 27 November 2010 01:11 PM

after defeating liberating the Tamils from the clutches of LTTE terrorism as portrayed to the world by Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is now addressing the grievances of the Tamils

don Saturday, 27 November 2010 12:57 PM

I law to every part of Sri Lanka.

Lalith Saturday, 27 November 2010 12:52 PM

Kandian law is not such law which restrict the land transfer. According to my knowldge it is only a family law (but it is not in practice today)

malkanthi Saturday, 27 November 2010 12:37 PM

Thesawalamai has allowed forming and grouping people more harm than good. Better to abolish this/

udul Saturday, 27 November 2010 12:32 PM

a real good move !!!

podda Sunday, 28 November 2010 01:59 AM

Can you tell us the exact clause? Do you have any problem with Buddhism?

Nayikutti Saturday, 27 November 2010 12:29 PM

Sujeewa, well said. These laws discriminate our other communities. Also, these landowners of Jaffna are not going to come back from those foreign countries where they are citizens now. So might as well change the law so that the land owners too, will benefit.

Abdul Razeen Saturday, 27 November 2010 12:22 PM

Well said. Not only Thesawalamai , if there are any more laws that favor any race and discriminate others, they should be abolished immediately.

harin Saturday, 27 November 2010 12:07 PM

Well said man.... one law, one country...... what a good move ! Well done man.... also we need new leaders in the UNP who love the country....like you... Ranil, Ravi, Vajira, Akila all have to go.... man..... also one shot if he is not falling in line....

Damian Saturday, 27 November 2010 12:01 PM

Mr. What about Tamil live and buy land in Colombo and othe rparts of teh country????????????????? even in Kandy my friend,,,, dont talk with out point man... I live in Kandy and by house next door was bought buy a Tamil Gentlemen..............All our Sri Lankan and we all should have the chance to buy and sale land any part of the country....

Samuel Saturday, 27 November 2010 11:41 AM

All such laws should be abolished, ONE set of laws and ONE type of courts for the country. There is no point calling One country, One nation if we dont have equal rights. No body should be special.

Common Man Saturday, 27 November 2010 11:31 AM

Yes, You can't have different laws setup in each & every corner of the Island. One Country one law, let's correct them now. We need this kind of people in the Parliament to fight Terrorists, not thugs, idiots & Pabas.

Vernon Saturday, 27 November 2010 11:27 AM

Not only amending, all such laws should be abolished. There should be only one one law (right or wrong) for the country. Accordingly laws like, Upcountry Law, Muslim Law, Thesawalama Law should be abolished, which we should have done when we got independence. Rather than doing that, all our rulers exploited the divisions of people for their own political gain. State should recognize each individual only by gender and nationality. Hence citizens should all be Sri Lankans and there would be no "so called" minorities. Religion should be treated as a purely individual matter, and the state should only encourage all religions, but not give state priority to one religion (as presently done in the constitution)

Podi uncle Saturday, 27 November 2010 11:17 AM

Sujiwa Senasinghe has no rights to propose amendments for Thesawalamai, as Thesawalamai has nothing to do with him.

Will Sujiwa Senasinghe accept if TNA proposes amendments to Kandyan Law? Sujiwa should understand other community's sentiments.

Kanishka Saturday, 27 November 2010 02:37 PM

Agree!!! Finally, words that make sense from a UNP politician!!! ALL such laws should be abolished! Sri Lanka is for ALL irrespective of ethnicity!

Ranjith Sunday, 28 November 2010 02:18 AM

Only MR has the backbone to solve this trap!.

podda Sunday, 28 November 2010 01:55 AM

Can you please tell us the reason?

wahir Sunday, 28 November 2010 01:04 AM

how if sinhalese disagree of living jaffna tamils in colombo. dont talk nonsense

resplendant Sunday, 28 November 2010 12:52 AM

How come people who blast the Sinhalease as racist have nothing to say for such a racist law, unheard anywhere in these times.

george Saturday, 27 November 2010 11:18 PM

good old tamils should be able to buy land wherever they like, not the sinhalese please

george Saturday, 27 November 2010 11:14 PM

Tamils are a superior race and therefore should be ablle to buy land wherever they like, but not the sinhalese

Patriot Saturday, 27 November 2010 10:16 PM

Abolish this racist Thesawalami law which is totally outdated and discriminatory against other communities to bear the right to purchase property and live in Jaffna.

Ampare son Saturday, 27 November 2010 09:25 PM

Way to go sujeeva. any one can live anyware this country. whats the matter?

DXB Saturday, 27 November 2010 06:20 PM

Agree if it is related to culture , , as said in the article if the law says that only Tamils can live in Jaffna ....then it should be amended immediatly .

Priyan Saturday, 27 November 2010 05:54 PM

I agree with this view - not only Thesawalmai - but Kandyan & Muslim laws also should be abolished. This will pave the way to a uniformed & unified mode of personal laws...

Nesan Saturday, 27 November 2010 05:47 PM

Both Sinala parties are no different. This is the first step to officially isolate Tamils in their own lands.

Martin Thomas Saturday, 27 November 2010 05:45 PM

I agree people from other parts of the country should be able to buy or sell properties in Jaffna. Here what is happening is the opposit. Government is forcebly ejecting the Tamils from their lands and colonizing the Sinhalese from the South. Every 50 Tamils live in Jaffna and Wanni have one soldier to monitor them. This has made the people's life there misserable no privacy or freedom. There are hundreds and thousands of Tamils still living under temporary shelter without proper facilities or jobs to servive.

Asanka de Silva Saturday, 27 November 2010 04:32 PM

This is the first time i heard such a positive comment from a UNP MP. Before they all went through the different direction.

ram23 Saturday, 27 November 2010 04:27 PM

will the law promoting buddhism be revoked too for one law for all citizen ?

Above the crowd Saturday, 27 November 2010 03:17 PM

The stupid thesawalame law will create worst problems in Sri Lanka when Tamils buy up more and more land in Colombo and Kandy. DO SOME THING BEFORE ITS TOO LATE

roshan Saturday, 27 November 2010 02:56 PM

sri lanka belongs to all citizens of sri lanka forget race and creed after all we are all sri lankans wherever we go.....
good work mr.senasinghe......

Liberal Lanka Saturday, 27 November 2010 02:42 PM

is there anything in Kandyan Law that states only up country people can reside in up country? If so TNA or any other can propose to abolish such discriminate laws

Saman Silva Saturday, 27 November 2010 01:39 PM

Good suggestion from UNP after long time...

SL should have one law...all other Thesavalamai, Kandian or any other crappy laws should be abolished.

Nivekithan Friday, 13 March 2020 07:09 AM

Can you tell me what discrimination did you find in thesawalamai against the race and other community.

Nivekithan Friday, 13 March 2020 07:12 AM

There is no discrimination in thesawalamai against any other community or race. There is only a discrimination against gender that's what whey propose to ammend. If you don't know the law well then don't comment like stupid..

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Amend Thesawalamai

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