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Last Updated : 2024-05-11 03:39:00
6 May 2012 10:05 pm - 35 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The hoisting of the national flag at the UNP/TNA May Day rally in Jaffna has created uproar with some Tamil politicians being critical of the move while some others hailing it as a gesture of goodwill.
Democratic People’s Front Leader Mano Ganeshan said TNA leader Sampanthan had shown his political will for an undivided Sri Lanka by holding the national flag in Jaffna which he cited as the cultural capital of Tamils.
Mr. Ganeshan said Mr. Sampanthan had spoken about his Sri Lankan identity and dream.
“He is not the first Tamil democratic leader to do so. We only hope that he does not go down history as another Tamil democratic leader who failed to reach the Sinhala south by his political gestures. We now look for governments reciprocate action,” Mr. Ganeshan said.
Also, he said, “Mr. Sampanthan’s action has already displeased certain Tamil forces. The lion symbol is being considered as the symbol of aggression by them due to history. In this context the TNA leader has taken a courageous step. It should not go in the drain. He should not go down history as another Tamil democratic leader who failed to reach the Sinhala south by his goodwill gesticulations. It is the responsibility of the government of the day.
Tamil democratic leaders in the past were seeking political solutions within the radius of the united Sri Lanka. They respected the territorial integrity of the country. They demanded political power. Yet they distinguished between the separation of the country and separation of political powers. But their political gestures and goodwill messages were discarded by the successive governments of Sri Lanka led by both SLFP and UNP, he said.
Mr. Sampanthan as the leader of TNA has again taken the bold step in this post war era. The whole world is demanding reconciliation with political solution. The government should take the lead from Sampanthan’s signal. It is not only the reasonable step but also intelligent.
TULF leader V. Anandasangari said, in his view, Sri Lanka was not a contended society to hoist the national flag in this manner.
“Mr. Sampanthan might have hoisted the flag together with the UNP leader under accompanying circumstances. But, I do not think there is a contended society in Sri Lanka to hoist the national flag in this manner,” he said.
TELO political leader M.K. Sivajilingam said that there was no equal status for Tamils and therefore they cannot accept hoisting the national flag.
“We are second class citizens. We do not think we have a national flag as a result,” he said. (Kelum Bandara)
Ling Monday, 07 May 2012 07:41 PM
@ tamilian, do you know for the past 2497 years, the lion was not a issue at all and it symbolise the national flag of the country and independent of the races. All this problems came when race was introduced to the flag by adding green and brown.Why not add red strip for the Chinese and how about the burgers and dutchs and Malays, what colour you can like propose and where is the end?You only talk about the Lion, why don't you ask, where is the Cross and Moon? If all religious tolerate the bo leave why not the Lion then.
tamilian Monday, 07 May 2012 03:48 PM
then why do you have lion on flag? change to tea leave or other common thing.
Dharshan Monday, 07 May 2012 03:43 PM
if they are not happy with the flag .., leave the country and go back to where u come from
tamilian Monday, 07 May 2012 04:07 PM
first remove lion from your flag and change to a common symbol like canada or usa... use like "tea leave" or something common in srilanka.. not based on religion or others...
Rom Monday, 07 May 2012 05:28 PM
ONE FLAG+ONE COUNTRY=ONE LAW+EQUAL COMUNITY
Charitha Monday, 07 May 2012 06:25 PM
Lion has been on the flag for thousands of years, even among rival kingdoms within Lanka. Tea leaf. Haha. You joker.
Charitha Monday, 07 May 2012 06:27 PM
Lion is not for the sinhalese. Lion is for all people born in Sri Lanka. Lion is your (sri lankan tamil) heritage too.
Charitha Monday, 07 May 2012 06:53 PM
The US flag has the 13 stripes symbolizing the old colonial days when Blacks were still slaves. Blacks are a rational minority, not irrational savages like you Diaspora fools.
The british flag - the union jack, has been a symbol of white dominance for years, and yet all communities in britain, the blacks, arabs, sri lankans, all british citizens originating from those countries, have no issue with it.
People like you are a shame to humanity.
Sri Monday, 07 May 2012 06:46 PM
Will it help? Cannot be a substitute for mass criminality by any civilised standard.
Fayad Monday, 07 May 2012 02:18 PM
If we treat all citizens as srilankans this issue will not arise
sach Monday, 07 May 2012 08:14 PM
actually lion symbol is not a sinhala thing as many ppl believe. It was tamils kings that had a passion for lion as the symbol
rajajaja Monday, 07 May 2012 08:24 PM
There is nothing on the flag, open your hearts, we can live together
Mervyn Monday, 07 May 2012 09:58 PM
If anybody doesn't like the Sri Lankan Flag and the symbod therein they advised to leave the country to a country of their choice. Sri Lanka is not a land of Immigrants. This land belongs to Sri Lankans and the LION in the Flag depict the fearlessness of the inhabbitants of this land. Additionally this symbol was there from the very begining of the Singhalese race.
Mary Monday, 07 May 2012 10:46 PM
Oh jezus christ people! The flag is biased and as much as I love the lion and the bo leaves for asthetics, we should create a common flag without religious or ethnic ties. Something that says Lanka and not sinhala-majority-totally-rules. Why would not liking this flag mean you are an LTTE supporter? Isn't this all the more reason why Tamil people and other would become an LTTE suppoter, because this flag shows discrimination? Stop the petty name calling please.
It's now that we should stay united and stop the whole discrimination against Tamil people and vice versa. I see it specially on the internet and I guess the anonimity draws it out. It's a shame really... It's now that SL should show the world that after 30 years of war, we are still one country. But for now it seems it only showing it's ugly name-calling head...
balaraman Monday, 07 May 2012 10:12 PM
mr sampanthan's action should be lauded.his brave action has all the hallmark of a statesman,which should be appreciated by the singhala leaders and accordingly reciprocated.mr sampanthan by holding the flag has shown his sincerity for a united srilanka in the hope tamils will be accorded thir rights as citizans of srilanka with respect.now,we need statesmanship and fearless leadership from singhala leaders for peace.
Rohana Monday, 07 May 2012 10:44 PM
The flag of Sri Lanka, also called the Lion Flag, consists of a gold lion, holding a kastane sword in its right fore paw, in front of a crimson background with four golden bo leaves, one in each corner. Around the background is a yellow border, and to its left are 2 vertical stripes of equal size in saffron and green, with the saffron stripe closest to the lion. The lion represents the Sinhalese ethnicity and the bravery of the Sri Lankan nation while the four Bo leaves represent Mettā, Karuna, Mudita and Upekkha. The orange stripe represents the Sri Lankan Tamils, the green stripe represents Sri Lankan Moors, and the maroon background represents the majority of Sinhalese, like the lion, this is the color used in early flags of Sri Lanka by kings.
Cynic Monday, 07 May 2012 11:30 PM
Tea Leaves were introduced by the British, iin case you did not know. Why have a Tiger on your flag. There were no Tigers in Sri Lanka, either.
harfim Tuesday, 08 May 2012 12:58 AM
Tamilian, Do not be naive. The Lion Flag as it is today, representing all ethnic groups, is THE NATIONAL FLAG OF THE COUNTRY, and was accepted by the nation.
Malith Monday, 07 May 2012 09:45 AM
The truth is if any one cannot pledge allegiance to the national flag of Sri Lanka should take a ticket and leave this country immediately for good.
Sri Lanka flag will not to be changed and if it does it will be over my dead body. In this Sovereign Nation we have only one flag. We have given into too many groups and thugs to do as they please previously and for 30 years, this Nation got destroyed with no help.
I consider every one who cannot pledge allegiance to our National Flag as Fully fledged LTTE supporters.
They need to be surrounded and caught. Enough is Enough. We gave into these stupid mutt heads for too long.
citizen1 Monday, 07 May 2012 04:06 AM
Oh come on!! What a fuss out of nothing! It is ok to be sensitive, but to jump for everything is bit over the top.
reader Monday, 07 May 2012 04:20 AM
to all those who does not believe in the lion flag please go to India ohh but in hindustan they dont have any recognition
Leela Monday, 07 May 2012 04:29 AM
For Tamils to feel 'first class' they need 13 plus now and more pluses later. Got it.
Leon Jayatunge Monday, 07 May 2012 05:26 AM
Jaffna is a part of the country. Thats all
Ranasinghe Mahipala Monday, 07 May 2012 07:35 AM
Truth will prevail at the end.
Punchi Monday, 07 May 2012 07:43 AM
Well said.....!!!
If the public have understood its a
ONE FLAG
ONE ANTHEM
ONE COUNTRY
Why cant the politicos understand it..............!!!!!
Kiri Monday, 07 May 2012 08:56 AM
One Nation One Country
Unity for all
Gayan Monday, 07 May 2012 09:12 AM
National flag is not the flag of Sinhalese. Its the flag of the country.
Nodrog Monday, 07 May 2012 03:39 AM
Those who cannot pledge allegiance to the national flag should take up residence elsewhere.
Tissa Witharana Monday, 07 May 2012 10:25 AM
Yes, They can go and have their Eelam Flag in Tamil Nadu.
Most of the North & east Tamils belonging to everywhere in Sri Lanka. Not only North & East.
mackie noohuthambi Monday, 07 May 2012 11:34 AM
if one cannot accept the national flag to admit that from jaffna to matara sri lanka is one, then how can the majority minority rights can be achieved. one has to come to the negotiating table to solve their problems, as brothers in one family have. if you cannot accept your mother as your mother and your father as your father, then no other way to live in a house. forget the past. mr sampathan's gesture is a goodwill green signal to the government and our president should see the writing on the wall and take necessary steps to honour sampathan's gesture.
Aravinthan Nadarajah Monday, 07 May 2012 11:42 AM
Until the referendum
Cyril Alwis Monday, 07 May 2012 11:56 AM
One Country, One Nation, One Flag. Nothing else. Those who don't like our lion flag should go smoewhere else, may be to Australia or Canada and there they can creat a new flag.
Cyril
MUSTHAFA Monday, 07 May 2012 12:34 PM
this guy talking too much as member of municipal council? if he is a minister what will be the situation?
Piranha Monday, 07 May 2012 12:50 PM
Absolutely. You got it right at last.
Now go and educate your fellow sinhalese.
kumudu Monday, 07 May 2012 01:04 PM
Equality is a myth when you have majority and that is with huge gap. I surprise Ganashen have to talk about Sampanthan. As I know Sampanthan is not Dum.
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