No level-playing field for Tamils in Lanka

CHENNAI: Tamils and Muslims face discrimination in Sri Lanka as there is a lack of a level-playing field for these communities in the Island Nation, according to political analyst and two-time nominee to Sri Lankan Parliament A Kandappah.Delivering a lecture on “Impression of Sri Lanka” at Madras University in the city on Wednesday, Kandappah, who was nominated to the Sri Lankan Parliament both by the People’s Alliance and the United National Party, said Sri Lanka was following a policy similar to that of Burma where Tamils can be seen but not heard.Providing an insight into the ethnic conflict by dividing it into three phases - 1958, 1977 and 1983  - he said that the prosperous Tamils had nearly vanished, except in some pockets, due to the communal strife.He blamed the Janata Vimukti Peramuna (JVP) and SWRD Bandaranaike’s anti-Tamil and chauvinistic actions for the resulting ethnic conflict. The Sinhalese were happy with government jobs while the Tamils were happy doing business but JVP and Bandaranaike poisoned the island, he said.The JVP indoctrinated the youth with anti-Tamil and anti-India propaganda and this was followed by Bandaranaike attempt’s to improve his political fortunes which pushed Sri Lanka towards conflict, he said, adding that the majority on the island nation suffered from a minority complex.He said the role of Tamils in business was diminishing as can be seen from the delegation of Chamber of Young Lankan Entreprenuers (COYLE) which visited China along with President Mahinda Rajapakse.There was not a single Tamil or a Muslim in the delegation, he said.