National Identity
Don’t hate me cause I’m beautiful. Rosy Senanayake at Lasantha’s funeral
I was wearing an old UNP shirt through a checkpoint. Awkward. It says something like ‘Jathika Yovun Peramuna Pricharaka Balaka’ (I’m sure this is wrong, I’m just sounding it out and the ‘p’ with the curlicue is confusing me). Think it translates to something like National Youth Propaganda Force or something. I walk up to the army guy with my hands folded over my chest, cause I actually am a bit scared. Like, I don’t want no questions. I spoke in English and the guy asked me, ‘Api Sinhala, naythe?’ We’re Sinhala, no? And my heart dropped. You and I, the gun, National ID. We should be Sri Lankan. At least in this context. That is my national ID. I’m Sri Lankan. But sometimes it feels like a dying breed.
Was talking to a Tamil friend at the rugby club. Asked about his family, how they’re doing. They’re worried, of course, and the humiliation is everyday. I’d tell him to call me if they ever need help, but there’s not much I can do.
Was talking about, was talking about all the Sri Lankan doctors and lawyers in Australia, Canada, UK. All the Burgher girls, all the Tamil girls. My God I miss that the most. Tamil women are really hot. Really dusky eyes. And the Burghers know how to entertain, and travel, and tell stories. These people really love this country. And they had to leave. Most of the Burghers I know have family reunions in Australia now. And I’ve heard that the girls are a bit easier.
It’s something to hold onto transient demographics. People come and go, ships dock, sailors get off, etc. I mean, it’s not really possible. But sitting here, watching a diverse, cosmopolitan country veer into a Sinhala one. Kinda sucks. Even as a proper Sinhala myself. I don’t like it. I like our ‘minorities’, though I dislike the term. I mean, it makes you feel like a puss to start with, and you don’t have to be. I like having different people around, to chat to, and learn from, and flirt with and fight with and live. I like the Malays, the Muslims, the Colombo Chetties, the different parts of town.
And I like myself. Half Canadian American, half shark alligator half man. I like the people you bump into over Christmas or online, the New York journalists, the London drummers, the Dubai accountants, the Singapore students. I mean, these people, are to me, Sri Lankan. I mean, as Sri Lankan as they want to be.
And yet people play this political calculus with human beings. It’s granted that the SLFP (party in power) doesn’t give a fuck about Colombo, or the expats, or the ‘elite’. And I quote elite because it’s a vestigial term. The elite is now Sinhala and they have the guns and money. The Colombo elite may be more international and ‘cultured’, but they’re not elite in terms of power.
But to return, to the calculus. So many people tell me that Colombo people don’t matter, expats don’t matter, that they shouldn’t come back. That we’re not real, that we’re not Sri Lankan, because of where we live, what language we speak, our culture. And I’m like, WTF? I know that you don’t need Colombo to win elections, and I know expats can’t vote. But I wake up in the morning and I feel pretty real, and I walk around this country and I like it. I’m real and I’m here. What more does it take to be a person nowadays? Can I live?
And yet the Sinhala state and attitude is hardening. So you get comments like this from someone like Dayan Jayatilleke, who is – surprisingly – a diplomat at the UN in Geneva.
You use the word “people” , which is ironic: as far the people go, the masses, the majority of citizens, do you know what they think of the kind of stuff you are saying, and of folks like you? Who do you think the people prize more…Mahinda Rapajapakse, Gotabhaya or you and your heroes?
You want to know where the fuck I am. Well, I am on the side of the anti-fascist forces, the people and that impoverished old woman, the mother of Gamini Kularatne of Hasalaka who’s only wish is to be taken to the newly liberated Elephant Pass to see the improvised LTTE bulldozer/tank that her son disabled witha grenade while sacrificing his life in 1991 — an act for which he was decorated and his family visited by President Premadasa. That’s where I am.
To which I say? WTF? I had used the word people to mean humans, as in people with the same sort of organs who can produce fertile offspring. And this government guy is using it to refer to the majority, which is defined in opposition to facists. And I’m like fuck man, I’m people too.
I’m tired of people saying that I’m less Sri Lankan, or Tamils are less Sri Lankan, or Burghers, or gays, or white people who choose to settle here, or whatever. I did the paperwork, I pay taxes, I look out for the people around me, I don’t litter. I mean, I’m here. What it is.
This is weird, but it happened to me. Lately I noticed that Google links weren’t working and my Google search page had a ‘Google Kindle’ link at the bottom, which they don’t sell. This wasn’t just on my PC, it affected my iPad and everything on the WiFi network. So I figured the virus/malware was on the WiFi router, which it was. Which is a trip. Anyways, here’s the symptoms and a cure.
I want to visit my friend in China before he comes back. Free place to crash and all. So, I applied for a visa to China, from Colombo. I’m not sure I’ll get it, but this is process to at least apply. For official but incomplete info, check out the 
The Mahavamsa (a history of Sri Lanka) is full of conflicts between generals and kings. Usually, the more bloodthirsty and unscrupulous would win. Our current (elected) ruler Mahinda Rajapaksa has had his own general conflicts, namely with one Sarath Fonseka. In the old days Fonseka would have staged a coup, as in literally try to cut of Mahinda’s head, and Mahinda would – if that failed – tie him to four elephants and split his parts asunder. Can’t do that shit anymore. Instead Fonseka ran for office and lost and Mahinda tossed him in jail.
Today on the 
What a whole load of crap over one dead journalist, who really wasn’t a journalist anyway. sunday Leader wasn’t a newspaper, it was a yellow rag. Lasantha showed the entire world how irresponsible he could be with the power he had. CBK was the first leader to give complete media freedom and Lasantha showed his colours by telling his how many pints of scotch she guzzled, how expensive her wristwatch was, and who Anura was screwing. Responsible journalism? I think not. To boot, while he criticized all and sundry, not so much as a hum on how his new wife, Sonali Samarasinghe was sent off as a political appointee to Australia, where she swallowed government funds. And idiots in Colombo mourn his death as if he was some martyr.
Our soldiers die everyday. why don’t you dedicate blogposts to them, and picket in their name? At least they deserve it.
“I like the Malays, the Muslims, the Colombo Chetties, the different parts of town.”
You seem to be under a common misconception that’s completely fallacious. Malays ARE Muslims…
Malays are simply of a different race. The majority of Muslims in Sri Lanka are Moors (another “race”) who are originally from India and speak Tamil. The Malays are from Malaysia… Both races follow the same religion, Islam.
was just riffing, but still don’t think you’re correct. There are Malays that aren’t Muslim. Not all Muslims are Moors. And the Moors don’t trace their ancestry to India as much as to Arab traders. But it’s all a mix anyways
99% of SL Malays are Muslim.
Tumbleweed…you’re wrong. Malays are not from Malaysia. They’re actually Javanese. Check with some Malays..preferably older ones. They’ll verify this.
Most Malays are muslim – I am – but we still have a unique cultural identity which doesn’t fall under the umbrella of Moors.
damn ,
She is is still hot!
Great post. In this climate, you’ve spent the time to express your opinion with intelligence and thought. I’m sorry for you that at times all you get is someone picking on a small detail, like Malays=Muslim? I agree with you. People are people. And by saying that 99% of all SL Malays are Muslim still ignores the fact that, say, some “people” from Malaysia, whether only 1%, are not.
Whatever one says, every person is unique, within a race or outside of it, within a religion or outside of it. You, Indi, coming back from Canada, are in fact one of the most well-spoken, influential bloggers in the country. You call a spade a spade on behalf of Sri Lanka, even when you don’t have to and, quite possibly, your own self is at risk. I’d call that Sri Lankan in at least one sense and probably many others.
As for me? I’m a white guy with mostly Irish heritage living in America and spending day and night trying to help a few people (and animals) in Sri Lanka because I’m fascinated by the country enough to dedicate myself to helping solve some small problems or do what I can to improve a few lives. I can do the same here, but find myself less interested here in the people and history, the food, the dialects, the sounds and smells the elephant walking down the street, the pure white school uniforms. Being in Sri Lanka is, for me, like being home away from home. I have friends there now, and colleagues, and favorite restaurants and a desire to help iron out a few problems people have expressed to me–obstacles to growth.
So am I American (I’m not pushing an American vision)? Irish (despite my “blood,” I’ve never been to Ireland)? Sri Lankan? Human? Clearly we need labels, but it’s always amazing to me that the more labels we create, the more divisions we create. Every label has one name, but its border has many sides. I respect the value of borders and the definitions of individuality and differences, without question. But when affairs start to degenerate, as it continues to do over and over and over again, and not celebrate, WTF?, when is it time to step in and stop the merry-go-round?
Indi, thanks for your observations. They are some of the most level-headed around. Be safe.
You say that we were once a diverse, cosmopolitan country – implying that at some point, everything was multi-cultural hunky dory. Really? When exactly was this idyll? Under the British? Under the Colombo elite? Under Ranil? You remind me of those grumpy old white men who bang on about America in the ’50s, about how neat and swell everything was, and everybody knew their ‘place’.
The truth is that this jolly anglophone cosmopolitanism always rested on wholesale discrimation against vernacular-speakers. It started under the colonial occupation and continues, to some degree, to this day. You think that Sinhala-speaking soldier at the checkpoint is oppressing you? He probably thinks you’re oppressing him, and, in certain ways, he’d be right.
On that subject, you always write of the soldiers and police as sinister and threatening figures. Has the thought never struck you, for even a moment, that they may have saved your life? Have you never managed to muster even an iota of admiration for their courage, bravery and sacrifice? I’m not saying they’re above criticism, but have a little respect.
I know these are troubled times, but it’s easy to lose perspective on things. Ask your Singapore student if the press is freer there. Ask your Dubai accountant if there’s more religious tolerance there. Ask your New York journalist where American civil liberties would be if the US had faced over two decades of terrorist strikes on the homeland. There’s certainly no room for complacency, but some of your gloom and doom strikes me as being a bit OTT.
I agree with you. I don’t think being Sri Lankan should have anything to do with race, religion, language, etc. But people who act like tourists should not be surprised if they are regarded as such.
What does that mean? Sri Lankans actually treat tourists very well. While we had them.
The Benevolent Dictator sums it up admirably in the first paragraph below.
Indi,
I agree with rajivmw to the extent that your writing sometimes seems very simplistic, much like to the reports you get on BBC from the wet-behind-the-ear types they send here. The nuances are lacking and this is important because in SL everything is a shade of grey.
Rajivm has taken issue with your comments about the soldiers at the checkpoint and on this too I agree with him. I am a Jaffna Tamil who speaks Sinhala only haltingly but I have never felt threatened by any soldier at a checkpoint. They have for the most part been very courteous and whenever I come across a bad apple I don’t view the situation through the prism of racism etc. It is more likely that the personnel in question was just a plain rude bastard. You have to feel for these guys. They are mainly from rural backgrounds (an assumption so Blacker please feel free to correct me :-)) and stand in the hot sun day in and day out doing the highly repetitive and monotonous task of performing security checks. The other alternative is to go to the battlefield. How do you think they feel when they see us go about in air conditioned vehicles and show annoyance when stopped for checks. This is surely exacerbated by the many kids who roam about in nice vehicles dressed like their in NY or London and who are extremely haughty in the main with these chaps (unfortunately I know many of these kids). Whatever you and I feel about this govt, you have to admit that these guys are just doing their jobs.
We have the BBC to go to if we want simplistic takes on the situation in SL. ;-)
I think you have achieved what all good journalist strive for : a market place of ideas.
A nation is a society united by delusions about its ancestry and by common hatred of its neighbors.
– William Ralph Inge
This is true. However, the issue is that Sinhala/Tamil/English communities have more to gain from working together than one simply becoming dominant.
And it’s just a casual conversation with a security officer, he was smiling. It is possible to talk about security forces without disrespecting them. I don’t really see anything insulting in the description above, it’s just a literal conversation and how I felt.
Gota threatened to arrest some dude at Sirasa during his TV interview last night. He also said Sirasa blew themselves up for the insurance money. The Sirasa dude better get out of the country pronto (or start planning his funeral–this time please specify no effigy burning)
You don’t litter. That’s why you are less Sri Lankan…
Colombo poeple are characterized as aclass of their own. Unawares of the realities of SL life.
They are pushed aound in the eyes of the public within the machinations of propaganda. Yet perhaps, they probably have the best view of SL in context to the rest ofthe world, They are politically conrnered beause of this knowledge. Because knowledge of this sort is dangerous of the ‘common people’ got hold of it.
Sorry, can you add my blog up on kottu?
http://thestrangecaseofthelongblogtitle.blogspot.com/
just started it. eager to keep going. I know a mail is needed but i read your post and thought i’d just pop it down here. Its sri Lankan alright, and something i hope will turn into an interesting read eventually.
great job!
Rosy represents everything that’s wrong with the UNP. The plebes who vote govts into power just don’t identify with the beautiful unarmed elite.
@Ask
Certainly, but please note that this is not the forum for that. Just send me an email, instructions are on the About/Join page.
@etc
What we’re seeing is a wholesale class shift, the yakkos are in charge for the first time.
I heard an anecdote today about University culture now pervading everything. In Uni there are many rural people and a few ‘posh’ Ladies College/Royal types. So anyone who arrives in a car or has patties instead of rice gets teased and ostracized.
It’s happening now on a grand political scale where formerly second-class rural types . The danger is that these people are often unqualified for the titles they hold. In the extreme a rapid, politically driven class shift (as opposed to economic) takes the people that know how to operate the economy out and crashes the whole thing. As per Zimbabwe.
Education and work is the ideal mechanism for class mobility, not political appointment. The latter has the appearance of justice, but it is rotten underneath.
Yes, let’s talk about the unqualified.
Some years back I was working at a leading ad agency, and the media director came to me to do a vacancy ad for an executive in her department. I knew that we had just placed such an ad, and I asked her what happened. She threw up her hands in frustration.
Apparently they had received lots of applicants with very impressive credentials. But when interviewed, none of them could speak English properly. So now she’d be happy with even a school-leaver.
I asked her how much of the media-spend going through the agency was in Sinhala. 70-80% she replied. How much in English? 15% tops.
Media is a complex field, requiring a sharp mind, insight and skill. And yet she was ready to lower the bar, ready to risk incompetence – all for the sake of English.
I’d bet that most readers of this blog have experienced similar in their places of work. Education and work IS the ideal mechanism for class mobility. But who do you think has been blocking it? Is it any wonder then that politicians have exploited the situation?
Before you start feeling like a victim, remember this – you speak only English, not Sinhala or Tamil. Same with me. Do you really think we’re worse off in this country than people who might have our same qualifications, but speak only Sinhala or Tamil?
What has been blocking it is the Sinhala-Only legislation (deprecated but still defacto enacted) and the demise of English education.
In the business world you simply need to speak English at a certain level. Meetings are conducted in that language, documention, email, etc. Not to mention software, the Internet, etc.
In the corporate world I know there’s a clear language demarcation, and it’s there for actually a good reason. Email is the crucial thing, in my experience. If someone doesn’t speak English to a certain level then you can’t communicate anything complex in email, can’t forward any sort of project management documents for review, really do PowerPoint presentations, etc.
Of course one can type in Sinhala, but most people can’t. So it’s not only that people don’t speak English, they’re also computer illiterate in Sinhala. Nowadays that’s not a very competitive employee.
This is just from my perspective, and I understand that advertising is different. Some of the best guys I know in advertising are Sinhala only, and the much more localized Triad is probably the best agency. However, in the corporate world, especially on the management level (especially for big companies which are by necessity international) English is important.
I don’t think the solution is to make the people that speak English. That is, I don’t think equality is to bring everyone down. But I do think English is something valid to demand from a job applicant, and the education system should adapt to that.
Well there’s no denying that the Sinhala Only Act was a colossal blunder. But the way some people trot it out as an all-too-convenient root of all evil is tiresome, simplistic, and occasionally self-serving.
A good knowledge of English is essential in certain occupations. But I also think much of the insistence for English in parts of the corporate world arises from pure snobbery and prejudice. Quite often, it’s not a question of how much English is needed for the job, rather how much English is needed to fit into an anglophone company culture.
You might argue that these companies are anglophone out of necessity. That’s debatable. There are a great many emerging firms in Sri Lanka that are different – the primary language in their boardrooms is not English. Certain functions are still performed in English, and probably always will be. They’ll hire the appropriate people for that. But most matters are discussed, decisions taken, and deals struck in Sinhala or Tamil. I think the rise of these vernacular companies over the last two decades or so has contributed to some noticeable easing of class tensions.
You might think that these firms only do local business, but that’s not true either. Many are involved in trade and have plenty of dealings abroad. In my experience, foreigners are generally far more understanding of a little broken English than some of our own brown sahib bigwigs.
As for IT, I know a lot of people in the industry who are not fluent in English at all. But they do know enough to fulfill all their assigned duties very well. And they can certainly make themselves understood by e-mail. In advertising, I would say that at least 90% of computer operators are not English-speaking. My agency has made effective powerpoint presentations largely in Sinhala, and should the need arise, we’re ready to do so in Tamil. Windows Vista, for all its flaws, now has Sinhala built-in. Hurrah!
Many successful countries do not operate in English. Taiwan, South Korea, and Thailand are good examples. You might be surprised at how much big business is done in the vernacular even in places like Malaysia and Singapore. And let’s not get started on Europe.
This is not to say that English is not important. Well of course it is. Its decline in this country is lamentable, and deprives us of a potent competitive edge. Every Sri Lankan should learn it (in additon to both local languages). It is a wonderful tool to access knowledge and markets.
But it is only that – a tool. Sometimes it’s needed, other times not. It’s not the magic wand for the nation’s problems, nor the key measure of a person’s worth. It should certainly not be used as a lazy blanket excuse to deny opportunities to otherwise skilled and qualified people.
@Rajiv
Browsing the net for research is a bit tough without a descent knowledge of English. Come to think of it browsing the net for pleasure is also kinda hard, unless of course the pictures/videos are all one wants (pornos work in any language!).
An interesting anecdote: in a village I am familiar with, the schools have introduced an optional English medium, and many sinhala speaking parents have put their kids into this. One of the parents told me that the kids in the English medium like to act posh and don’t talk much to the Sinhala medium. The influence of the Kaduwa!
As for the yakkos taking over, I share your same fears.
But remember, it’s taken 60 years to get here, during which time, we were mostly ruled by fine upper-class specimens. Let’s look at two examples who received particularly large mandates from the second-class rural types:
JRJ – came to office facing no civil war, and left it with two.
CBK – a complete waste of time is about the most charitable that can be said about her.
As you yourself have pointed out, Mahinda was elected to thrash the LTTE, and he seems to be getting the job done. So, at this point, the yakkos do have some reason to be pleased with themselves.
I say us English speaking upper class specimens should band together and found a new Independent Republic of Colombo. We’ll let the yakkos in on work visas to do our laundry, cook our food, and clean our houses, but they better not get any ideas of doing more than that (like shooting our journalists). The northern yakkos can have their Eelam nation (I don’t wanna go there anyway–it’s really hot, and there’s no Coffee Bean); and the southern yakkos can have their Ruhuna nation (will go there for the occasional beach party in Hikka). We’ll be just fine and dandy keeping to ourselves and speaking English in Colombo.