Sri Lanka is known for the decades-long civil war and now it is in the limelight for UN’s call for an inquiry into alleged atrocities carried out by both Sri Lankan government and LTTE towards the end of the decisive battle in 2009. The grudge and rivalry between Tamil and Sinhalese communities have been raging and never seeming to be receding. Major political parties representing Tamils are not ready to see any good in the government’s initiatives and the Sri Lankan government is always doubtful about Tamil parties’ moves. These two sides do not listen to each other to understand and provide a political solution for the grievances of the Tamils. But there are instances of understanding between these communities in our day to day life before and after the war ended.
One of the unforgettable moments when a Sinhalese understood me happened at the height of the war. It was in 2008. Most of the Colombo city was declared high security zone. The city was lined with military check points and you should be ready to get down anywhere to show your identity card to military personnel or Police.
I was working in Ratmalana around 30 km from my home in Modara. I was checked and harassed a number of times because I had an ID card with Batticaloa address. Batticaloa is my home town and it is eastern part of the Tamil home land. Military would doubt any soul for an LTTE from north or east of Sri Lanka. Therefore I was not exceptional in the eyes of government troops.
I naturally developed hatred and extreme dislike for the army due to several unhappy questioning at checkpoints. But one day one young trooper behaved in a very opposite way than normal. That day I was travelling back home after a long day at office at around 12 midnight. As usual I was asked to get down from my vehicle at a high security zone checkpoint. The soldier wanted my ID card. I handed over. He went over the ID card and asked me in a very kind voice “Ayye (elder brother in Sinhalese), where do you live?” I replied “Colombo 15”. “Then why don’t you take an ID card with your present Colombo address. If you carry this when something bad happens army will trouble you for sure. Therefore apply for a fresh one with the changed address” he advised. I was stunned by his courtesy and I could not believe those words from a Sinhalese soldier.
This incident taught me that it was wrong to hate an entire community. Human race is not made like that. Many Tamils would have come across such healthy encounters that will improve the goodwill between the two communities. Those refreshing stories should come to light to help build this estranged relationship between the Tamils and the Sinhalese.
We could have numerous bad experiences. But highlighting and exaggerating those will never take us anywhere better. Each community should respect the other’s cultural values to make this island country prosper. I like to leave you an appropriate quote “United we stand, divided we fall”.
-Yasovarman Perinpanayagam
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