Sri Lanka is a Republic, not a Sinhala country
by Dushy Ranetunge
Ven. Ellawala Medhananda thero’s comments about Sri Lanka being referred to as a Sinhala country are interesting.
But the interpretation of what was meant by the term "Sinhala" then and now should be made clear.
Today the word "Sinhala" has an ethno-linguistic meaning, similar to the word "Tamil".
But in the past, and for most of our history, the word "Sinhala" had a completely different meaning, similar to Chola, Pandya, Kerala, Kalinga, Sinhala etc. referring more in terms of a Royal house/kingdom.
Under this Royal umbrella, the people would have identified themselves under various tribes, clans and castes. For example the people who built Buddhist structures in Tissamaharama would not have identified themselves as "Sinhalese", but as "Nagas" or some other tribe, as Magama and Kelaniya were known ancient "Naga" settlements. Tissa we are told is more a "Naga" name than a "Sinhala" one.
The Mahavamsa refers to the Naga’s defending the Western gateway into Anuradhapura and sitting on a throne, equal in size to the Sinhala king.
Dutugemunu carried the Royal standard of a Lion, but this Lion flag did not signify an ethno-linguistic race, but the Royal house, under which various tribes would have united. This perhaps enabled a Tamil Buddhist Velu, also known as Velu-Sumana to fight under the Lion flag, together with many other tribes such as the Nagas.
This concept also enabled "Sinhalese" generals to fight in Elara’s army and for "Sinhalese" people in Anuradhapura to love and respect Elara as a just ruler. Of course they were not "Sinhalese" people in today’s sense, but various tribal inhabitants of Lanka, identifying themselves under the royal patronage of Elara and Dutu Gemunu.
This concept also enabled "foreigners" from South India and "Catholics" to sit on our throne as the "Sinhala" king enabling present day tribalists to misinterpret the meaning of "Sinhala" and to celebrate these "foreigners" and "Catholics" as champions of the "Sinhalese" ethno-linguistic identity.
So we have a "Tamil" Perumal who become a "Sinhalese" Sapumal, a "Sinhala" champion who invaded Jaffna and built the magnificent Nallur Kandasamy Kovil in Jaffna. A Buddhist monk even wrote Sandeshayas to his glory. Even to this day the Kattiam at the Nallur Kandasamy Kovil mentions his name as "Sri Sangabo, Buvanekabahu".
Don Juan of Austria, a baptized Catholic is also celebrated as the "Sinhala" champion, Vimaladharmasuriya I of Kandy. He was married to the Catholic, Donna Catherina, the Empress of Kandy and the mother of Rajasimha II, another champion of the "Sinhalese" who besieged Portuguese Colombo. His brother Prince Kumarasimha was also known as Xavier Kumara Banda, a baptized Catholic.
Significantly, the Mahavamsa refers to "Lanka" rather than "Sinhale". "Hela" or "Sinhaladvipa", terms which are given disproportionate publicity for mischievous reasons, by present day tribalists, who are trying to give a particular tribe in Sri Lanka some kind of pre-eminence.
This same evolution of the word "Sinhala" from a Royal/kingdom identity to a narrow ethno-linguistic identity has taken place with our flag.
The Lion flag is the royal standard of the Sinhala royal identity and not of any ethno-linguistic Sinhala tribe. The Kings of Sri Lanka carried this Lion standard and they, and the Lion flag, commanded the loyalty of all the many races and inhabitants of Lanka.
But since the demise of the Kandyan Kingdom and the rise of tribal nationalism in Sri Lanka, the relatively new concept of the Sinhala ethno-linguistic identity has taken sole possession of the Lion flag as their own flag, excluding all the other peoples the Lion flag represented previously as the flag of the Royal house.
So today we have to accommodate the other inhabitants of Sri Lanka, outside the Lion flag in terms of a green and an orange strip.
From the time of Dutu Gemunu to Sri Vickrema Rajasinha, the Lion flag also represented those who are represented today by a green and an orange strip.
The evolution of the identity of the Lion flag is the tragedy of Sri Lanka, of alienating some inhabitants of Lanka based on the new European concept of ethno-linguistic nationalism. Europe has defeated its demons and moved on, while we are still stuck in old outdated nationalist concepts of a colonial era.
The concept that from the moment that Vijaya landed, we were one cohesive group of inhabitants identifying ourselves as of the Sinhalese tribe, living in Sinhale or Sinhaladvipa is a mirage, far away from reality.
Being an island, Sri Lanka had a constant stream of settlers, from various nationalities and tribes, enriching our culture and nation. DNA testing may prove that most of us, including our present political and military leadership are of South East Asian, South Indian and European descent.
The passport that Rev. Ellawala carries identifies him of not as being of Sinhale, Hela or any other classification based on a particular tribe, but as a citizen of Sri Lanka, a republic, which functions on the foundations of equality and citizenship and not of any particular tribe.
The constitution of Sri Lanka and parliament functions on this basis.
The concepts of Hela, Sinhale, etc as narrowly interpreted by present day ethno-linguistic tribalists never existed in our 2500 year old history. Those who advance such misguided theories share the limelight with the likes of the KKK, the British National Party, the National Front and even Adolf Hitler.
Germany for Germans and the Jews for the gas chamber? No … no … we are more respectable, so we will let the Jews live among us, as equals, but remember, Germany for Germans.
It is incredible that at a time that we are fighting to defeat Tamil Eelam, some others are advancing perceptions of a Sinhala Eelam, "Sinhale Ueber Alles".
For those who are confused let me gently remind them that we are not living in Hela or Sinhale, but in the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, constituted under law under the concept of equality and citizenship.
14 Comments
Even during this darkest of times, with bigots of the likes of Sareth Fonseka calling the shots, it gives me hope that there still may be a future for/in Sri Lanka if there are only a few good men across the devide, of the likes of "Dushy Ranetunge" who build bridges.
Go Lanka Go!!
You begin your piece stating Bhikku Ellawala referring to this country being an exclusively Sinhala is "interesting" With respect, I disagree with your semantics. Much of the rest of the article is constructed with a degree of reality and fidelity to history the writer is known to. This political Bhikku's irresponsible claim - parroted by uninitiated men like the army man Sarath Fonseka - are divisive and calculated to destroy the remaining strands of racial unity in this country only to "advance" the cause of the bhikku's political career and that of his party. Elsewhere, it is reported the head of this bhikku's political party Minister Ranawake calls for changes in the country's system of governance according to that of the earlier Sinhala Dharma Rajya.
Not surprising coming from this Buddhist Talibanist.
Even in these columns historians and academics have questioned the antiquity of Sinhala kingdoms and suggesting they were more Naga and other than Sinhala.
Perhaps it is not the LTTE or the war that has brought this country to its point of current destruction - but ignorance among the more infuential in the ruling class. How they came about to capture the positions of power is yet another sordid and gory tale of deceit
and intrigue.
this is a good article
actualy the people who talks about sinhala sri lanka are leaches, because of these struggle how many sri lankans have left the the country most of then efficient intelligent and vallient people. these leaches do not want these people to live in this country. if they stay the economy will flourish, percapita income will increase, everybody will be educated enough to question the leaches then they can not ride on the country with their thugs. Sri Lanka is run by thugs as all politicians and monks keep their power by thugs. even thugs and killers are made politician and they do their works with immunity.
What Sri Lanka needs is some form of escape from these corrupted political and religious leaders to develop the country. Ethnic issue is not the real problem in the country. it an escape route for politician to keep the public in dark.
Dear friend Dushy,
Sarath Fonseka, been very clear with his 'sinhala' racist policy, it doesn't need any further explanation!
My dear enlightend Dushy Renetungue and a proud democrat socialist republican,
When you concluded " For those who are confused let me gently remind them that we are not living in Hela or Sinhale, but in the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, constituted under law under the concept of equality and citizenship. ", are you referring to, Sarath Fonseka,Bogollagama, Rambukwella, HLD Mahindapala,Dayan Jayatilleke, Palitha Kohena, Rajapakse brothers,Dew Gunasekara,Ven Ellawela Medhanda Thero and the likes as confused people ??? They make clear statements with clear mind.
By the way when did Srilanka became a Democratic Socialist Republic of Srilanka ? How can a non secular state concept be compatible with the concept of equality and ctizeship ?
Since 1947 all the constitutional changes made the position Sinhalese Buddhists and their language & culture supreme because of majority rules parliamentary system. State Terrorism started in SL because of armed forces and the state since 1958. Who killed SWRD Banda and who were behind it and why ?
Later what did JRJ do to the Tamils openly because of US support? India under Indira Ghandhi responded and the liberation struggle took a different phase.
Dushey knows very well Bush's war on terror helped Srilanka immensely to deny Tamil soverignity and independnece. But the tide is going to change after the finacial crisis and India US nuclear deal.
So Dushy is pretending to be fair minded and trying to brain wash the moderate tamils like us and trying to pave the way for reconcilliation under the lion flag. Is she for a new non secular constitution through the current APRC lead by Professor Vitharane ?
I think before that She has a more pressing moral need to help her own community that is to debunk the Mahinda Chinthanaya. First she can file a case against Ven Medanada Thero and Sarath Fonseka for public appology to the minorities. Second she can make a case against the defence secretary for the methods they employ to recruit more Sinhalese youths to the Sinhala Army. Thirdly she can make Bogollagama or Rambukwella ( one of them ) who ever said that the lion flag will fly from Pointpedro to Donrahead soon after displacing the Tamils from their homes and homelands or habitats.
Yes this is obvious to most. But as in any group there are outliers and this monk is an outlier within the Buddhist clergy as well as in society in general.
But the problem we face is to defeat extremism on all sides. Every time the LTTE bombs a bus and kills a few Sinhala office workers on their way home, these people get a boost. Extremism begets extremism!
It is only for those who are hungry for truth, the historical facts, DNA testing or archeological findings are of help to determine how Sri Lanka was evolved. Why do Ven Ellawala Medhananda, Gen. Sarath Fonseka and other politico-religious fanatics need those things? It is history that former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who fought against 3 Cs – Colonialism, Communism and Communalism and contributed for the concept of ‘Malaysian Malaysia’ was finally overwhelmed by the communal forces advocating ‘Malay for Malaysia’ and was pushed out of Malaysia to have his pluralism and equality in 214 sq. miles of Singapore. 'Sri Lankan Sri Lanka' is no more. Future events will decide what is going to happen to those who oppose the concept of 'Sinhala Sri Lanka'.
The Lion Flag of the Tamil Sri Wickrema Rajasingha the "Sinhala" King (of Kandy) is the origin of the lion in the present Sri Lankan flag.
The origins of Sri Wickrema Rajasingha's lion flag are unknown and Dushy Ranetunge is making up stories about Dutugemunu carrying such a lion flag/standard.
To come to the present:
The lion, the centre-piece of the flag, subsequently came to represent the Sinhalse, and the Tamils and Muslims were given two token strips on the periphery (perhaps to emphasise their unimportance or foreign/outsider status in the view of the centrally important Sinhalese) and the other minorities including the Veddhas were pushed into the background.
This is the present interpretation of the flag and that is why it is not suitable.
I would also tend to agree with M.Thiru's comment (October 12, 2008 09:55 PM): "So Dushy is pretending to be fair minded and trying to brain wash the moderate tamils like us and trying to pave the way for reconcilliation under the lion flag."
Hi N2
The Mahavamsa refers to Dutu Gemunu carrying a Lion standard.
For your information archeological digs have found both Lion and rhino remains in Sri Lanka, animals found to this day in India.
regards
Dushy
Dushy Ranetunge,
Where in the Mahavamsa does it mention that Dutugemunu carried a lion flag/standard? Chapter and verse please if you can.
I am sure even dinosaur remains might be found in Lanka.
So the existence of lion and rhino remains has no relevance to Dutugemunu or the lion flag.
A suggestion: the lion on the present flag could be replaced by a rhino, and the rhino could represent everyone on the island!
Hi N2,
Unfortunately, I do not carry copies of the Mahavamsa with me in London. I recall a reference in the Sinhala edition which I read in Sri Lanka some time back. But you could satisfy yourself about Dutu Gemunu and the Lion flag doing a search on the internet using these words as several articles have been written and I have seen a picture as well of the flag carried by Dutu Gemunu.
The remains of Lions is of relevance in that the Lion is not alien to Sri Lanka and would have been used as a symbol during early times by local tribes. It would have been difficult for them to have drawn it or hewn it out of stone, if they had not seen a Lion.
I am not sure about Dinosaurs, but there has been no discovery of Tiger remains in Sri Lanka, indicating that Tigers are alien to the island.
Kind regards
Dushy
Dushy Ranetunge,
There are some Engish translations of the Mahavamsa on the wwww.
But there is no mention of Dutugemunu and lion flags/standards.
So either the Sinhala edition was wrong, or you are recollecting something that was made up at school.
Your argument about lions and tigers is very silly.
Besides, there may well have been tigers as well; you do not know.
OK then what about an elephant flag; definitely can't have giraffes or penguins!
While there is much scholarly doubt about the integrity of Bhikku Mahanama's Mahavamsa, I note some sections
of the acadamecia doubting the historical existence of
Dutugemunu - clearly a Mahavamsa creation. If this is to be so then the Buddhist supremacists of Sri Lanka will
lose an important icon. I realise at the sametime my comments will engage stiff response. But so did the
fate of the late, great and respected Prof Paranavitana when he concluded Gautama Buddha never came this way.
Who tells? Sri Lanka is sinhala Country.