Canoi and Beach

Africans descendants survive only in pockets along the island's coastal regions of Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Negambo, according to Census Department

The African-Sri Lankans are known as "Kaffirs" but not in an insulting way

SIRAMBIADIYA, Sri Lanka — In a village deep in west Sri Lanka, one of the island's few remaining communities of African descent breaks into song -- a poignant elegy to a disappearing culture.

The music starts with a slow, gentle rhythm played on a tambourine, spoons and coconut shells, before it builds to a climax with dancers swinging their hips, hands and feet wildly.

The performance is a direct link back to the tiny minority's distant African past.

"We are forgotten people," Peter Luis, 52, said. "We are losing our language and, having inter-married many times, our children are losing their African features."

The population of African-Sri Lankans -- now numbering about 1,000 -- is mainly descended from slaves brought to the island after about 1500 by Portuguese colonialists.

They are known as "Kaffirs", but the term is not the savage racial insult here that it is in other parts of the world, notably South Africa.

"We are proud of our name. In Sri Lanka, it is not a racist word like the word negro or nigger," said Marcus Jerome Ameliana, who believes her ancestors came to Sri Lanka, then known as Ceylon, as Portuguese slaves.

The slaves were also used as soldiers to fight against Sri Lanka's native kings, in the first stage of a long history of oppression under a series of imperial masters.

When Dutch colonialists arrived in about 1600, the Kaffirs worked on cinnamon plantations along the southern coast.

After the British took over Sri Lanka in 1796, the Kaffirs were further marginalised by an influx of Indian labourers who took most work on tea and rubber estates.

Lazarus Martin Ignatius, 82, remembers her grandfather telling how their ancestors were chained up and forced by the Dutch to take on the Ceylonese army.

Her memories, like those of most other Kaffirs, are fragmented, and she speaks a lyrical creole language with a mix of native Sinhalese and Tamil.

"We never learnt how to read or write, only to speak. Now young people go to school. They marry outside the community, so I think education comes from that influence," the frail Ignatius told AFP.

Louisa Williams, 17, dressed in jeans and a pink T-shirt, said she may train to become a traditional Kaffir dancer but admitted she rarely uses the dialect.

"I like to dance and will perhaps join a local dance troupe," she said. "I have heard about my ancestors from aunts and uncles, but I only speak a few words of creole like 'water', 'eat' and 'sleep'."

The future looks bleak for the Kaffirs, according to Anuthradevi Widyalankara, senior history lecturer at the University of Colombo.

"They have been denied education so they have a lack of interest in sustaining their language or culture -- unlike some other minority groups," Widyalankara told AFP.

Widyalankara, who is writing a book on the ethnic group, said the Kaffirs had assimilated over generations, having married Tamils and Sinhalese in Sri Lanka.

But in the palm-fringed village of Sirambiadiya, about 100 Kaffirs remain, living in modest brick houses and earning a living as labourers and cleaners.

At lunchtime, the men chat and doze in hammocks as the women sing catchy creole tunes while preparing a meal on outdoor stoves.

Their songs, mostly repeating a few basic lyrics, speak of love, the sea and wildlife, explained George Sherin Alex, 43, one of the village dancers.

The performing arts remain one of the few expressions of the Kaffirs' roots, Shihan Jayasuriya, a senior fellow of the London-based Institute of Commonwealth Studies, told AFP.

"Music and dance seem to be the best indicators of African ancestry, other than their physiognomy. Their other cultural traits are not African because they have adopted local customs and habits," Jayasuriya said.

The Kaffirs were originally Muslims, but now they practice a range of faiths from Catholicism to Buddhism, and wear typically Sri Lankan clothes of long skirts for the women and sarongs for the men.

No one knows how many Africans were brought to Sri Lanka, but their descendants survive only in pockets along the island's coastal regions of Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Negambo, according to Census Department officials.

Jayasuriya, who has done extensive research on the African diaspora in the Indian sub-continent, said the Kaffirs' predicament is centred on their struggle to find a place in post-colonial Sri Lanka.

"They have become disempowered because their patrons, the European colonisers have left the island. They have lost their role as a part of the colonial machinery," said Jayasuriya.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iaORVW-MuvhsMtFdeGJzuUj1infw

Human smuggling begins in East

By Chris Kamalendran and Damith Wickremasekera

While Australia and Indonesia are engaged in diplomacy to resolve the problem of the growing number of Sri Lankan asylum seekers drifting into their seas, the people-smuggling racket originating from the eastern coast of Sri Lanka is continuing unabated, the Sunday Times learns. Young men desperate to get away from the country are paying anything between Rs. 150,000 to Rs. 500,000 to board a deep-sea fishing trawler with the hope they can make it to Australia and claim asylum there. The money is paid to a middleman, after which the asylum seekers are given short notice to meet at a particular point to board the boat. More than 600 persons are reported to have already left on the perilous route, according to Rest House owners in Batticaloa who provide shelter to the men till the day of their departure arrives. One young man who is waiting his chance to board a boat after having failed to get on the last one that left Batticaloa two weeks ago, said, that in spite of the defeat of the LTTE, he feels unsafe and thinks he will have a better life in Australia. “We know that once we get there, we will not be sent back. I am hopeful of getting there and in a few years I will help my family members to do the same,” said Nirmalan, a 34 year-year-old man from Passekudah. The trip is estimated to take 13 days during which time they would be given cooked meals on board. With the east coast becoming the new launching pad for human smugglers, Police in the area are trying to track down those behind the operation. DIG (Eastern range –Central) Edison Gunatillake confirmed that since the defeat of the LTTE, the eastern coast has become the setting-off-point for those trying to leave the country illegally. “Some people are encouraging people to leave the country in this manner so that it gives a negative picture of the situation of the north-east, even after things have returned to normal. There is an organized group of people behind this and we are investigating to find out who they are,” DIG Guantillake said. On Thursday police apprehended one person in the Batticaloa area in a trawler that had met with a mishap before the perilous journey. There were more people on board, but they had got off, when the trawler met with the accident. He is being questioned now to ascertain the modus operandi of the agents behind the human-smuggling trade, he added. The issue has now gained international significance after the latest boat-load of 78 asylum seekers were picked up by An Australia customs ship “ Oceanic Viking” in Indonesian waters two weeks ago. They are since stranded in Indonesian waters with neither country willing to accommodate them. Source:Sunday times

SunRise at Batticaloa

Genocide of Batticaloa district of the East.

In 1958 Hon Velupillai Chelvanayakam, the Opposition Leader of the parliament of Sri Lanka, commenced the “tar-brush” campaign against the state and against the Sinhalas. This was a copy from the Dravidistan & anti-Hindi agitators of Tamil Nadu who tar-brushed Hindi letters.

After brushing tar over Sinhala letters on a number plate of a bus in Jaffna, he traveled all the way to Batticaloa to repeat his actions. His willing followers also indulged in this act. It started the 1958 riots killing hundreds of Tamil people. Though the riots ended within days, the message was loud and clear – in Sri Lanka other than North and the East has no place for tamils.

Sinhala population percentage of Batticaloa district was 5% in 1971 but by 2007 it has fallen to zero percent!

Sinhala and Tamil people disliked this form of politics but had no political choice as communal politics ensured that no collective multi-ethnic politics take root in the North by eliminating everything non-Tamil. ITAK’s escalation of aggression saw it graduate into the TULF (Tamil United Liberation Front) by merging with its arch rival the ACTC.

The boy from Batticaloa, Dineshkanthan Thangarajah brought Sri Lanka glory by winning the singles crown at the ITF Junior Circuit Week-Two Tournament

The boy from Batticaloa, Dineshkanthan Thangarajah brought Sri Lanka glory by winning the singles crown at the ITF Junior Circuit Week-Two Tournament concluded at the SLTA hard courts on Saturday morning.

With like concrete concentration , Thangarajah warded the strong challenge offered by Chung Hyo Woo of Korea in the final. The first set with exciting with the scoring going either way from the start before Thangarajah broke Woo’s service point to win on 7/5.

Thangarajah managed to give away only three games (6/3) to Woo to finish off in style and amidst vociferous cheering from his supporters who gathered in large numbers.

This was the most cherished moment for the boy from St. Michael’s College in the East who was brought to Colombo and enrolled at St. Peter’s College after his talent was spotted during a junior tournament.

Thangarajah had the distinction of winning a double when he also won the boys’ doubles event with partner Amresh Jayawickrema on Friday afternoon.

Fighting over fish

Photo: Anupama Ganegoda

Fishermen working in the shallow waters off Batticaloa in Sri Lanka complain that their catch has gone down with the arrival of multi-day fishing trawlers

COLOMBO, 16 October 2009 (IRIN) - The seas off Batticaloa in the country's former war-torn east are home to one of the most fertile spawning grounds off Sri Lanka, and fishermen rarely had to travel far for a good catch.

But of late, traditional fishermen who use boats powered by outboard motors or canoes to fish have complained of meagre harvests.

"I went out on five consecutive days, and only yesterday did I return with some fish, but only 6kg," said Tamil Chelvam, who operates a boat from Tirivendu beach, just south of Batticaloa.

Locals blame a recent influx of large fishing trawlers into their waters for their dwindling catches. Before the encroachment, a good catch would earn fishermen up to US$174, and a normal catch, about $85.

But now, after paying helpers and offsetting other expenses, including fuel, the small catches do not leave them with much, they say.

"They have big boats, big nets and they stay out at sea for days," S. Paskaran, who has been a fisherman for more than two decades, told IRIN. "The problem for us is that they catch in shallow waters and deep sea, but we can only go a certain distance."

Dutch Fort at Batticaloa

Dutch Fort at Batticaloa

Attribution:

World Monuments Fund

BATTICALOA

SRI LANKA

Key Dates

A Buddhist stupa and shatra from the Ruhuna Kingdom date back to the 1st Century BC.

The Dutch developed a fort there in 1628.

It was damaged in the 2004 tsunami.

The Fort of Batticaloa is on a small island on the east coast of Sri Lanka, 69 miles south by south east of Trincomalee. Its local name is Mada Kalapuwa, which means "muddy lagoon" in Sinhala, after the inland lagoon over which it looks. Although the site gets its name from a Dutch settlement built there in 1628, it has important ancient religious significance because of a Buddhist stupa and a a dagaba and Chatra from the Ruhuna kingdom of King Kavantissa.

The City of Batticaloa has had a violent recent history. Claimed by the Tamil separatist guerilla group, the LTTE (Tamil Tigers) as part of their homeland, it has been the scene of conflict, murder, and kidnapping. In 2004, it was one of the towns hit worst by the December 26 tsunami. It is now listed on the World Monuments Fund 2010's Monuments Watch List.

The Dutch Fort in Batticaloa

The Dutch Fort in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, and the Carlisle Memorial Methodist Church in Belfast, Northern Ireland, illustrate some of the ways in which heritage conservation can bring together fractured communities.

http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2∫_new=33755

Batticaloa road was built entirely with EU funds amounting to 110 million euros.

During the tsunami the Committee authorised emergency funding worth 370 million euros through its Emergency Fund to the affected countries including Sri Lanka. The Matara - Batticaloa road was built entirely with EU funds amounting to 110 million euros. This is one of the many projects carried out in the rebuilding and reconstruction process soon after the 2004 tsunami.

Batticaloa was under the Sinhalese kings – in 1505 – and not under any Tamil king.

Around 1505 when the Portuguese took over the south and harassed Arab traders who were running businesses there. The Arabs complained to the Sinhalese King and the king gave them land on the East coast, where they still live today. This proves the East, Batticaloa and Trincomalee were also under the Sinhalese kings – in 1505 – and not under any Tamil king.

When the Dutch arrived in 1637 they signed a deal with the Sinhalese King to have berthing rights for their ships in harbours on the East coast, Trincomalee and Batticaloa during the monsoon rains, proving that the eastern costal regions belonged to the Sinhalese in 1637.- and not to any Tamil Kingdom ..

When in 1660 Robert Knox’s father’s ship “Anne” stopped over at the eastern port of Trincomalee , Sinhalese soldiers arrested them and took them to their Sinhalese King, proving that in 1660 the east was under a Sinhalese King. Robert Knox and his friend Stephen Rutland lived among the Sinhalese (mostly in Kandy ) for over 17 years. Robert Knox wrote “Robert Knox in the Kandyan Kingdom ” a book about the Sinhalese he met. Nothing about Tamils or any Tamil kingdom is mentioned.

Portuguese historian De Queyroz in “Conquest of Ceylon ” says “As long as Anuradhapure was the capital, the whole island was subject to one King – There were fifteen kinglets, Dinvaca, Valave, Putaloa, Trinquilimale, Batecaloa, Candea and Jaffnapatam”. ( Anuradhapura was the capital of Sinhalese Kings)

http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2009/10/02/the-myth-of-eelam-dream/

Mr. A. Sinnalebbe,Batticaloa MP on 16th January 1948 suggested that the Lion Flag of King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe should be made the National Flag

National Flag The necessity of a National Flag was discussed even before Sri Lanka gained independence on 4th February 1948. Mr. A. Sinnalebbe, MP for Batticaloa tabled a motion in the State Council on 16th January 1948 suggesting that the Lion Flag of King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe which was taken to Britain in 1815 should be made the National Flag. This was debated and later, Prime Minister Rt. Hon. D.S.Senanayake named an Advisory Committee for the formulation of a National Flag. The members of the committee were Mr.S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike (Chairman), Sir John Kotalawela, Mr.J.R.Jayawardena, Mr.T.B.Jayah, Dr.L.A.Rajapakse, Mr.G.G.Ponnambalam and Senator S.Nadesan. Although a committee for the formulation of a National Flag was appointed, no finality had been reached when the first independence day was celebrated on 4th February 1948. However, the Lion Flag fluttered on that day. The Lion Flag and the British Union Jack fluttered on the occasion of the opening of the first Parliament of independent Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) on 19th February 1948. Prime Minister D.S.Senanayake unfurled the Lion Flag at the Octagon (Pattirippuwa) during the independence celebration held in Kandy on 12th February 1948. The National Flag recommended by the special committee was presented to Parliament by Mr.D.S.Senanayake on 2nd March 1951 and adopted. It had two strips, one green and the other yellow. Each of these strips had to be equal to one seventh of the size of the flag. When Sri Lanka was first made a republic in 1972, the traditional Bo Leaves depicted in the National Flag were changed to resemble natural Bo Leaves. This amended flag was first unfurled at the Republic Day celebrations held on 22nd May 1972. The National Flag is incorporated in Section 6 Second Schedule of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka of 9th September 1978. Except for the new Bo Leaves, the present flag is the same flag recommended by the National Flag Formulation Committee on 2nd March 1951. National Anthem After gaining independence from foreign rule, the people of Sri Lanka were kindled with patriotic feeling. On the recommendation of the Sri Lanka Gandharva Sabha a competition to select a national anthem was conducted in January 1948. At this competition, late Mr. Ananda Samarakoon`s composition `Namo Namo Matha` was chosen as the National Anthem. The main theme of the Anthem is designed to instil honour and respect to the Motherland and create national progress through unity. During the early 1950s there was a controversy about the national anthem. A defect was found in the lyrics and the opening words were changed as `Sri Lanka Matha - Apa Sri Lanka` The first rendering of the National Anthem was made on Independence Day, 4th February 1948 by a group of 500 students from Musaeus College, Colombo and it was broadcast over the radio. The National Anthem is incorporated in Section 7 Third Schedule of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. State Emblem Sri Lanka used the British emblem when it was a British Crown Colony. We continued to use it even after gaining independence in 1948. According to the recommendations of a select committee appointed to devise a state emblem more suitable for Sri Lanka (Ceylon) we opted for a new State Emblem. It had a Lion with Sword in its right fore paw encircled with a `Palapethi` design atop. Below there was a strip carrying the country`s name in Sinhala, Tamil and English. A new republican emblem was chosen after the country was declared a Republic on 22nd May 1972. In addition to the lion with a sword and the `Palapethi` design, it portrays the `punkalasa`, `dhammachakka`, sun, moon and two sheaves of paddy. National Flower The Nil Mahanel flower was declared the National Flower of Sri Lanka on 26th February 1986. Its botanical name is `Nympheae Stellata`. This flower is mentioned in many Sinhala, Pali and Sanskrit Literary works. The flower which is also referred to as `Kuvalaya`, `Indhewara`, `Niluppala`, `Nilothpala` and `Nilupul` occupies a pre-eminent position in Buddhist literature too. It is said the `Nil Mahanel Flower` was among the 108 ceremonial designs found on the footprint of Prince Siddhartha. This proves that it had been a ceremonial flower throughout history. It is believed that the damsels depicted in Sigiriya Frescoes also carry the Nil Mahanel flower in their hands. Traditional poetry known as `Sandesa Kavya` likens women`s eyes to the Nil Mahanel flower which has also been used as an ear ornament. The Nil Mahanel plant which grows in shallow waters is found in all parts of the country. The flower which is purplish blue in colour has a heavy concentration of petals in the centre. The Nil Mahanel flower is also considered a symbol of truth, purity and discipline. National Tree A proposal made to declare the Na Tree as the National Tree was adopted by the Cabinet on 26th February 1986...

Batticaloa Lagoon the largest lagoon of Sri lanka

Hi divers,
My dive yesterday 27.09.09 on the wreck of Hermes was the 50th hermes dive. We usually leave from the Giant Batticaloa Lagoon. (the largest lagoon of Sri lanka) Every year during the months of September and October the mouth of the lagoon gets blocked.
We had to pull and push the boat to the sea. It was a 21ft fiber glass boat with a 25hp out board motor. Four tec divers and the boatman. It worth the trouble. We found the 2nd Propeller (port side prop) partially buried in sand but still connected to the shaft at 56m. Excellent visibility, great marine life. The season to dive the hermes will come to and end in a couple of weeks. It's a bit inconvenient to dive the hermes in September and October. We used a 25 hp out board engine for the first time after three decades.
Divers need to plan their dives next year during the months of March and August.
Happy diving
Felician
Diving in Sri Lanka - For PADI diving courses, Vacation, trips, diving holidays in Sri Lanka - Home