மட்டக்களப்பு கல்லடிப்பாலம் புதிதாகத் திறக்கப்பட்டது
கடைசியாக பிரசுரிக்கப்பட்டது: 22 மார்ச், 2013 - 15:47 ஜிஎம்டி
Monday, March 25, 2013
Monday, February 27, 2012
An army corporal was arrested for molesting a woman in the Batticaloa night mail train yesterday
The woman had been molested in one of the empty compartments by the corporal who was on his way to a camp in Batticaloa. His colleagues were in a different compartment.
The woman had complained to the Head guard and the Assitant Guard and when they attempted to question him, the suspect had assaulted the Assistant guard causing injuries to him.
He has been admitted to the Ragama hospital.
source:TUESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2012 10:44;times online ;Sunday times
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Eastern Tamil people need a new democratic voice
So far so call Sri lankan Tamil political parties (TULF ,TNA and etc ) and Tamil movements in Sri Lanka are all have northern (Jaffna) people as leaders and TMVP and deputy minister also represent mostly government
needs.
There is no political party to represent Eastern Tamil people in Sri lanka.
needs.
There is no political party to represent Eastern Tamil people in Sri lanka.
கிழக்கு தமிழ் மக்களுக்கு தேவை ஓரு புதிய ஐனநாயக குரல்
அன்று தொட்டு இன்று வரை தமிழ் தேசிய கூட்டமைப்போ , தமிழர் விடுதலை கூட்டணியோ, இலங்கை தமிழரை பிரதிநிதித்துவப்படுத்தும் எந்வொரு தமிழ் கட்சியோ , இயக்கங்களோ வடமாகண தமிழர்களை தலைவர்களாக கொண்ட கட்சிகளாவே உள்ளன.அத்துடன் தமிழ் மக்கள் விடுதலை புலிகளும் , பிரதி அமைச்சரும் அரசாங்கத்தின் பிரதிநிதிகளாகாவே செயற்படுகின்றனர்.
கிழக்கின் தமிழ் மக்களை உண்மையாக பிரதிநிதிப்படுத்வதற்கு யாருமில்லை.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Is Low Agricultural Productivity Keeping Batticaloa Poor?
By Roshini Jayaweera - (Research Officer – IPS)
In considering issues of poverty in Sri Lanka, Batticaloa is conspicuous as a district that requires particular attention. In addition to being identified as the country’s poorest district in 2009/10, it is also one of two districts for which poverty statistics actually increased between 2006/07 and 2009/10.
According to the latest Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) 2009/10 of the Department of Census and Statistics, the poverty rate in Batticaloa district was five-and-a-half times higher than that of the Colombo district.
A major contributing factor to this is the low agricultural productivity which the district continues to experience. This is of particular concern, given that the majority of Batticaloa’s residents are engaged in agriculture – especially paddy farming. This article, based on a survey conducted by the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka in 20112, shares some thoughts on why Batticaloa’s agricultural productivity is low and is, in turn, keeping its people who are engaged in agriculture poor.
A major contributing factor to this is the low agricultural productivity which the district continues to experience. This is of particular concern, given that the majority of Batticaloa’s residents are engaged in agriculture – especially paddy farming. This article, based on a survey conducted by the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka in 20112, shares some thoughts on why Batticaloa’s agricultural productivity is low and is, in turn, keeping its people who are engaged in agriculture poor.
Many in Batticaloa are ‘working poor’
A key issue in this district is the persistence of poverty even among employed members of the population. The existence of this group of ‘working poor’ indicates that employment does not, of itself, guarantee an escape from poverty. So, in addition to lowering unemployment, poverty alleviation efforts must also consider the factors which constrain earnings among the working population of this district.
The three largest categories of employment in Batticaloa are agriculture (largely paddy farming), labour and market gardening (see Figure 1). Taken as a whole, 58 percent of workers are employed in the agriculture and fisheries sector. The majority of these workers are poor due to low incomes from employment.
Low agri productivity – the blight of Batticaloa?
A main reason for the persistence of low incomes among this group of workers is low agricultural productivity. Batticaloa is ranked among the five districts which recorded the lowest productivity in paddy farming in the 2010/11 Maha season. Certainly, it may be argued that this is due in part to the severe floods experienced in this region in early 2011. However, although paddy productivity has been slightly higher in previous years (i.e., years unaffected by floods), it has still compared poorly with other districts even over time. Thus, it is clear that improving agricultural productivity is the key to transforming the agricultural sector in a manner that meets the challenges currently faced by the district. Consequently, it is important to identify the issues that continue to bar the expansion of agricultural production and incomes.
One of these is weather and other environmental issues. Among those surveyed, 33 percent of people were engaged in agricultural activities and they reported that this was a key issue for them. Of them, 44 percent have been the victims of flooding.4 Simultaneously, however, another 22 percent have suffered from drought. This odd combination would suggest that accelerating climate change may be a contributing factor to low productivity in the region. One of the best solutions to this is the introduction of short-age seed varieties, especially drought tolerant and flood resistant verities. Another possible solution is the development of the irrigation system and sound irrigation water management.
Attacks by wild animals are also a concern in Batticaloa’s agricultural sector. Nonetheless, measures to minimize the effect of this need to be taken not merely by the government but also by farmers themselves. The latter must take the necessary precautions to protect their farms by traditional methods. The government and Wildlife Department could then become involved only in cases where farmers are unable to protect themselves.
A second important issue which was reported as hindering the expansion of agricultural production is a lack of capital. It may be inferred that nearly 22 percent of farmers in this area face financial difficulties in their agricultural activities. This is mainly due to low incomes which in turn, as previously discussed, result from low productivity. Many farmers in the Eastern Province are now keen to utilise higher technology techniques in their paddy fields. However, this equipment is expensive and requires easier access to credit.
“We do not need storage facilities as we have to sell our whole production to the moneylender from whom we borrowed money for the cultivation. We have to sell our products at a lower price to them immediately after harvesting, although the government is buying it at a higher price” – a farmer from Pudumandapathadi
Qualitative information gathered during the survey suggests that the issue is becoming increasingly severe, as most of these farmers also face credit constraints and cannot sell their products at higher prices in order to make larger profits. The low quality of these agricultural products also limits the price that farmers receive and, by extension, their ability to invest in capital. Most of these farmers are unable to sell their paddy to the government’s paddy-buying scheme because it does not meet the required quality standard.
A solution to these financial issues is microfinance. The results of the household survey show that currently, the most important financial sources in Batticaloa are government banks. NGOs, Community Based Organization (CBOs and moneylenders are equally ranked as the second most important financial source. Informal financial lending is high among selected households, mainly due to land ownership issues which give rise to a lack of collateral. Therefore, the availability of microfinance can go a long way in bridging this. Although many microfinance institutions already operate in these areas, and some government banks also engage in microfinance activity, greater awareness must be generated among the population on the availability of such schemes, as well as their benefits. At the time of conducting the survey, most of the villages in this area had an active producer organization or farmers’ organization. These could potentially be a useful medium through which financial institutions could reach the working poor.
A lack of access to inputs is a third obstacle faced by Batticaloa farmers. Insufficient access to seed paddy is a problem, which has become more severe as a result of the floods experienced in the region in early 2011. This contributes to the consistently poor quality of the paddy produced by farmers and, consequently, to the low prices received at the marketplace.
Visvalingam, a farmer in rural Batticaloa, installed a pilot micro-irrigation system on his vegetable plot in 2009, with UNIDO funding. He now earns Rs. 18,000 more a month due to higher yields and lower costs, after moving to better productivity technology for irrigation. Despite his optimism for the future, however, Visvalingam echoes the gripes of other farmers in the area, that getting micro loans from local banks is nearly impossible.
The three largest categories of employment in Batticaloa are agriculture (largely paddy farming), labour and market gardening (see Figure 1). Taken as a whole, 58 percent of workers are employed in the agriculture and fisheries sector. The majority of these workers are poor due to low incomes from employment.
Low agri productivity – the blight of Batticaloa?
A main reason for the persistence of low incomes among this group of workers is low agricultural productivity. Batticaloa is ranked among the five districts which recorded the lowest productivity in paddy farming in the 2010/11 Maha season. Certainly, it may be argued that this is due in part to the severe floods experienced in this region in early 2011. However, although paddy productivity has been slightly higher in previous years (i.e., years unaffected by floods), it has still compared poorly with other districts even over time. Thus, it is clear that improving agricultural productivity is the key to transforming the agricultural sector in a manner that meets the challenges currently faced by the district. Consequently, it is important to identify the issues that continue to bar the expansion of agricultural production and incomes.
One of these is weather and other environmental issues. Among those surveyed, 33 percent of people were engaged in agricultural activities and they reported that this was a key issue for them. Of them, 44 percent have been the victims of flooding.4 Simultaneously, however, another 22 percent have suffered from drought. This odd combination would suggest that accelerating climate change may be a contributing factor to low productivity in the region. One of the best solutions to this is the introduction of short-age seed varieties, especially drought tolerant and flood resistant verities. Another possible solution is the development of the irrigation system and sound irrigation water management.
Attacks by wild animals are also a concern in Batticaloa’s agricultural sector. Nonetheless, measures to minimize the effect of this need to be taken not merely by the government but also by farmers themselves. The latter must take the necessary precautions to protect their farms by traditional methods. The government and Wildlife Department could then become involved only in cases where farmers are unable to protect themselves.
A second important issue which was reported as hindering the expansion of agricultural production is a lack of capital. It may be inferred that nearly 22 percent of farmers in this area face financial difficulties in their agricultural activities. This is mainly due to low incomes which in turn, as previously discussed, result from low productivity. Many farmers in the Eastern Province are now keen to utilise higher technology techniques in their paddy fields. However, this equipment is expensive and requires easier access to credit.
“We do not need storage facilities as we have to sell our whole production to the moneylender from whom we borrowed money for the cultivation. We have to sell our products at a lower price to them immediately after harvesting, although the government is buying it at a higher price” – a farmer from Pudumandapathadi
Qualitative information gathered during the survey suggests that the issue is becoming increasingly severe, as most of these farmers also face credit constraints and cannot sell their products at higher prices in order to make larger profits. The low quality of these agricultural products also limits the price that farmers receive and, by extension, their ability to invest in capital. Most of these farmers are unable to sell their paddy to the government’s paddy-buying scheme because it does not meet the required quality standard.
A solution to these financial issues is microfinance. The results of the household survey show that currently, the most important financial sources in Batticaloa are government banks. NGOs, Community Based Organization (CBOs and moneylenders are equally ranked as the second most important financial source. Informal financial lending is high among selected households, mainly due to land ownership issues which give rise to a lack of collateral. Therefore, the availability of microfinance can go a long way in bridging this. Although many microfinance institutions already operate in these areas, and some government banks also engage in microfinance activity, greater awareness must be generated among the population on the availability of such schemes, as well as their benefits. At the time of conducting the survey, most of the villages in this area had an active producer organization or farmers’ organization. These could potentially be a useful medium through which financial institutions could reach the working poor.
A lack of access to inputs is a third obstacle faced by Batticaloa farmers. Insufficient access to seed paddy is a problem, which has become more severe as a result of the floods experienced in the region in early 2011. This contributes to the consistently poor quality of the paddy produced by farmers and, consequently, to the low prices received at the marketplace.
Visvalingam, a farmer in rural Batticaloa, installed a pilot micro-irrigation system on his vegetable plot in 2009, with UNIDO funding. He now earns Rs. 18,000 more a month due to higher yields and lower costs, after moving to better productivity technology for irrigation. Despite his optimism for the future, however, Visvalingam echoes the gripes of other farmers in the area, that getting micro loans from local banks is nearly impossible.
http://anushwij-photos.blogspot.com/2009/10/how-better-technology-is-helping-mr.html
“We get deceived when buying seed paddy” - A farmer from Mandapathadi
Access to crop insurance is also limited in Batticaloa. Additionally, a lack of market access and of infrastructure facilities (notably transportation) contributes to the phenomenon of the ‘working poor’ in this area.
Access to crop insurance is also limited in Batticaloa. Additionally, a lack of market access and of infrastructure facilities (notably transportation) contributes to the phenomenon of the ‘working poor’ in this area.
Conclusion
Adverse weather and climatic changes, capital shortages, high cost of inputs, access to credit difficulties, and poor quality of output are affecting agricultural productivity in Batticaloa, and impacting on the incomes of the farmers in Batticaloa. Among these issues, capital shortage emerged as the most pressing issue that needs to be remedied.. Meanwhile, introducing short-age seed varieties, as well as drought tolerant and flood resistant seed varieties could help to overcome issues generated by climate change. For this, greater investment in agricultural research and development is critical. More access to microfinance is also required, to help ease financial constraints faced by the agricultural community. Developing agriculture-based rural entrepreneurship can also be a solution to the problem of seasonal unemployment among agricultural workers. Interventions such as these, particularly those that could improve agricultural productivity, have the potential to pull up the ‘working poor’ in Batticaloa out of poverty and ensure better living standards in the future.
The author acknowledges valuable inputs received from Dr. Parakrama Samarathunga (Research Fellow–IPS) and Asha Gunawardena (Research Economist–IPS) in developing this article.
Courtesy ipslk.blogspot.com
Adverse weather and climatic changes, capital shortages, high cost of inputs, access to credit difficulties, and poor quality of output are affecting agricultural productivity in Batticaloa, and impacting on the incomes of the farmers in Batticaloa. Among these issues, capital shortage emerged as the most pressing issue that needs to be remedied.. Meanwhile, introducing short-age seed varieties, as well as drought tolerant and flood resistant seed varieties could help to overcome issues generated by climate change. For this, greater investment in agricultural research and development is critical. More access to microfinance is also required, to help ease financial constraints faced by the agricultural community. Developing agriculture-based rural entrepreneurship can also be a solution to the problem of seasonal unemployment among agricultural workers. Interventions such as these, particularly those that could improve agricultural productivity, have the potential to pull up the ‘working poor’ in Batticaloa out of poverty and ensure better living standards in the future.
The author acknowledges valuable inputs received from Dr. Parakrama Samarathunga (Research Fellow–IPS) and Asha Gunawardena (Research Economist–IPS) in developing this article.
Courtesy ipslk.blogspot.com
Monday, September 12, 2011
The highest number of cancer patients are being reported from Batticaloa.
The highest number of cancer patients are being reported from Batticaloa. The reason for this is still unknown. Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena ordered health authorities to conduct a full study soon to find out the reason, a Health Ministry spokesman W.M.D. Vanninayake said.
At present cancer patients live in the Eastern Province need to travel to Badulla, Kandy or Colombo to obtain treatment. But once the Oncology Unit set up they can obtain the same treatment from Batticaloa Teaching Hospital, he said.
A new Oncology Unit with modern medical equipment will be opened at Batticaloa Teaching Hospital soon.
A new building complex is now being constructed at a cost of Rs. 200 million. A Linera Accelerator will be installed at Batticaloa Teaching Hospital at a cost of Rs. 1,500 million instead of the Cobolt machine which sometimes cause negative impact on the doctors who treat cancer patients, he added.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batticaloa_Teaching_Hospital
Monday, September 5, 2011
Kalladi bridge opening soon
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Batticaloa is specially called as “singing fish”
Batticaloa is one of the districts in Srilanka. Batticaloa is specially called as “singing fish”. There are many historical places such as Dutch fort, light house, beach and river are in batticaloa. Many tourists who are coming to Srilanka are watching the beauty of this district. There are temples, Churches, mosques for various religious people. Other than the other districts here most races such as Tamils, Islam, and burgers are living here.
| Pasikudah | ||||
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| Pasikudah or Pasikuda ( Pronounced Paasi-Kudah, Tamil translation Green-Algae-Bay) is a coastal resort town located about 35 kilometers northwest of Batticaloa, Batticaloa District, Sri Lanka. It used to be a popular tourist destination, however due to 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and Sri Lankan Civil War tourist numbers have declined. Pasikudah and Kalkudah are located few km apart. | |||
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| Tourist Information Centre | ||||
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| Batticaloa town in the East Coast like most other coastal townships was under Portuguese and Dutch rule. A Dutch Fort stands close to the Batticaloa lagoon. The most famous attraction of Batticaloa is its ‘Singing Fish’. On full moon nights a faint but distinct musical sound rises from the lagoon waters. This is attributed to a noise emanated by a kind of fish found in the lagoon. | |||
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| Dutch Fort | ||||
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| Originally a Portuguese settlement, the Fort of Batticaloa was first constructed in 1628 as a trading and administrative center. Set upon a small island, the fort protrudes into a swampy lagoon, surveying the brackish waters protected by the city’s outer banks. The Dutch had arrived in 1602, drawn to the prospects of trade and the abundance of pepper and cinnamon grown by the local community. However, it was not until King Rajasinghe in Kandy urged Dutch intervention that the European colonial power took action, capturing the fort in 1638 and establishing sovereignty in the region. | |||
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| Light House | ||||
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| Batticaloa is a beautiful and tranquil fishing town located in the eastern part of Sri Lanka. Home to many picturesque lagoons and beaches, the town lies upon a flat coastal plain that is bordered by the aquamarine waters of the Indian Ocean. One of the most popular attractions of the town is its historic lighthouse that stands majestically against the clear blue skies of Batticaloa along Bar Road. This rounded masonry tower was built in 1913 by the British during the period when they ruled the island of Sri Lanka which was previously known as Ceylon. For many years, the lighthouse acted as a beacon of hope and light to seamen upon the Indian Ocean. Today, it stands as a symbol of the history and heritage of the eastern coast of Sri Lanka. | |||
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| Tour Island | ||||
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| Tour Island is situated in Batticlaoa surrounded by the lagoon with lots of bio diversity such as rare plants and birds. | |||
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| Unichai Resevior | ||||
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| Unichai Reservoir is the largest dam in the east part of the srilanka it was built in before 1957 and it was breached by the cyclonic flood an 1957 and renewed and strengthened in the year 1985. | |||
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| Butterfly Peace Garden | ||||
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| The Butterfly Peace Garden (BPG) is a non-governmental organization established in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka in 1996. Since that time the BPG has provided counseling and support to children traumatized by civil conflict in the region. In late 2004 the BPG also became a centre for helping victims of the tsunami which devastated the Batticaloa area. The BPG and its staff have been supported by a variety of local and international agencies and charities, including the governments of Canada and the Netherlands, WarChild International and Ashoka International, which named BPG co-founder Paul Hogan a fellow in 2003. | |||
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| Arugambay Beach surfing | ||||
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| Situated in the district of Ampara, Approximately 314 km from Colombo, Arugam Bay is Known as one of the best three surfing spots in the world. this typical fishing village to the south of the small town of Pottuvil can be reached via A4 from Colombo. The unspoilt town of Arugam Bay offers an abundance of opportunities for those with a passion for water sports and underwater photography. | |||
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Ampara district Thambuluvil Kalaimahal Vidyalayam obtained 193 marks to top the list in the Tamil Medium grade V sholorships
Malavan Supatha of Thambuluvil Kalaimahal Vidyalayam obtained 193 marks to top the list in the Tamil Medium.Shukri Mohomed Safeer of Sri Ramakrishna Madya Maha Vidyalaya, Kandy came second with 192 marks while Yogeswaran Priyanesan of Vipulananda Vidyalayam, Vavuniya came third with 190 marks.
In Sinhalese medium
Sanuja Kalkara Edirisinghe of Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya topped the list with 196 marks. Navin Yasanka Pramaratne of Moragasmulla Primary School in Minuwangoda, J. Kalani Pabasara of Meegahatenna Primary School in Matugama and R.L. Lasith Navodya ofMahinda College,Galle emerged in a tie with 194 marks each.
The cut-off marks are as follows:
01 Colombo– Sinhala medium 148 marks & Tamil medium 145 marks.
02 Gampaha – Sinhala medium 148 marks & Tamil medium 145 marks
03. Kalutara – Sinhala medium 148 marks & Tamil medium 145 marks
04. Mahanuwara (Kandy) - Sinhala medium 148 marks & Tamil medium 145 marks
05. Matale – Sinhala medium 148 marks & Tamil medium 145 marks
06. Nuwara Eliya – Sinhala medium 140 marks & Tamil medium 140 marks
07. Galle– Sinhala medium 148 marks & Tamil medium 145 marks
08. Matara – Sinhala medium 148 marks & Tamil medium 145 marks
09. Hambantota – Sinhala medium 144 marks & Tamil medium 137 marks
10. Jaffna–Tamil medium 142 marks
11. Kilinochchi –Tamil medium 139 marks
12. Mannar –Tamil medium 141 marks
13. Vavuniya – Sinhala medium 139 marks & Tamil medium 143 marks
14. Mullaitivu – Tamil medium 139 marks
15. Batticaloa – Tamil medium 142 marks
16. Ampara – Sinhala medium 142 marks & Tamil medium 143 marks
17. Trincomalee – Sinhala medium 139 marks & Tamil medium 142 marks
18. Kurunegala – Sinhala medium 148 marks & Tamil medium 145 marks
19. Puttalam – Sinhala medium 142 marks & Tamil medium 141 marks
20. Anuradhapura– Sinhala medium 142 marks & Tamil medium 140 marks
21. Polonnaruwa – Sinhala medium 142 marks & Tamil medium 138 marks
22. Badulla – Sinhala medium 142 marks & Tamil medium 141 marks
23. Moneragala – Sinhala medium 141 marks & Tamil medium 143 marks
24. Ratnapura – Sinhala medium 145 marks & Tamil medium 140 marks
25. Kegalla – Sinhala medium 148 marks & Tamil medium 145 marks
In Sinhalese medium
Sanuja Kalkara Edirisinghe of Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya topped the list with 196 marks. Navin Yasanka Pramaratne of Moragasmulla Primary School in Minuwangoda, J. Kalani Pabasara of Meegahatenna Primary School in Matugama and R.L. Lasith Navodya ofMahinda College,Galle emerged in a tie with 194 marks each.
The cut-off marks are as follows:
01 Colombo– Sinhala medium 148 marks & Tamil medium 145 marks.
02 Gampaha – Sinhala medium 148 marks & Tamil medium 145 marks
03. Kalutara – Sinhala medium 148 marks & Tamil medium 145 marks
04. Mahanuwara (Kandy) - Sinhala medium 148 marks & Tamil medium 145 marks
05. Matale – Sinhala medium 148 marks & Tamil medium 145 marks
06. Nuwara Eliya – Sinhala medium 140 marks & Tamil medium 140 marks
07. Galle– Sinhala medium 148 marks & Tamil medium 145 marks
08. Matara – Sinhala medium 148 marks & Tamil medium 145 marks
09. Hambantota – Sinhala medium 144 marks & Tamil medium 137 marks
10. Jaffna–Tamil medium 142 marks
11. Kilinochchi –Tamil medium 139 marks
12. Mannar –Tamil medium 141 marks
13. Vavuniya – Sinhala medium 139 marks & Tamil medium 143 marks
14. Mullaitivu – Tamil medium 139 marks
15. Batticaloa – Tamil medium 142 marks
16. Ampara – Sinhala medium 142 marks & Tamil medium 143 marks
17. Trincomalee – Sinhala medium 139 marks & Tamil medium 142 marks
18. Kurunegala – Sinhala medium 148 marks & Tamil medium 145 marks
19. Puttalam – Sinhala medium 142 marks & Tamil medium 141 marks
20. Anuradhapura– Sinhala medium 142 marks & Tamil medium 140 marks
21. Polonnaruwa – Sinhala medium 142 marks & Tamil medium 138 marks
22. Badulla – Sinhala medium 142 marks & Tamil medium 141 marks
23. Moneragala – Sinhala medium 141 marks & Tamil medium 143 marks
24. Ratnapura – Sinhala medium 145 marks & Tamil medium 140 marks
25. Kegalla – Sinhala medium 148 marks & Tamil medium 145 marks
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
The Pandit who became a Swami
Batticaloa-born S. Mailvaganam, born of one of those rare Northern and Eastern Province alliances in Ceylon, studied both Arts and Science, excelling in both, before going on to be the first from Ceylon to pass the Pandit Examination of the Madurai Tamil Sangam c.1915. It was while he was Principal of the Manipay Hindu College, Jaffna, that this staunch Saivite got interested in the teachings of Swami Ramakrishna. To pursue his interests further, he arrived at the Ramakrishna Mission in Madras in 1922. Two years later, he was initiated into the Order and took the name Swami Vipulananda. While with the Mission in Madras, he edited its Tamil and English monthly journals, Ramakrishna Vijayam and Vedanta Kesari, respectively. He also, during those years, began to delve deeper into Tamil language, literature and history, publishing prolifically on them in English and Tamil.
When a University Commission met in Madurai in 1926, Swami Vipulananda addressed it and urged the establishment of a Tamil University in the Tanjore-Trichinopoly area — an idea that was to become reality over 75 years later. Annamalai Chettiar (later to be titled Rajah Sir) was one of those who heard his plea, and after discussions with him, decided to establish Annamalai University in Chidambaram. In 1931, Swami Vipulananda was to become its first Professor of Tamil. When the University of Ceylon was established in 1937, he was appointed its first Professor of Tamil, but kept urging the establishment of a Tamil University in Nallur, Jaffna, the capital of the Arya Chakravarty dynasty.
The Tamil Swami-Pandit during all these years kept contributing significantly with his pen to the Ramakrishna Mission. Then the Mission beckoned — and after a spell in Calcutta in charge of education, he was sent to his birthplace, Batticaloa, to establish the Mission at a new frontier.
In 1945, giving evidence before the National Languages Commission in Ceylon, he advocated Swabhasha and a three-language formula — education from kindergarten to university in the mother tongue (Tamil or Sinhalese), with the other language and English, which he stressed, compulsory subjects. It's a dream that still awaits fulfillment.
The holy relics of St. Anthony which were brought to Batticaloa ,Sri Lanka for the first time
The holy relics of St. Anthony which were brought to Sri Lanka for the first time from Padua in Italy were brought to Batticaloa.Trincomalee Bishop the Rt. Rev. Dr. Kingsley Swamipillai received the relics after performing the traditional rites. They were placed at the St. Anthony’s Church in Batticaloa for public veneration. From there they were taken to St. Anthony’s Church at Manipay, Jaffna on Saturday and were worshipped by a large number of devotees, sources said. MONDAY, 15 MARCH  |
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
The Traveler's Journey: Dutch Reformed Church
The Traveler's Journey: Dutch Reformed Church: "1639 the Dutch won over Trincomalee and Batticaloa from the Portuguese and handed over to the Sinhala Rule."
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
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
Monday, November 2, 2009
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 |
Thursday, October 29, 2009
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