I come from a Sinhala Buddhist peasant background. I have particularly my Sinhala compatriots in mind.īefore proceeding further, I must state my personal background so that what I have to say will be received without prejudice. There is still time to make a course correction if there is need of one.
We need to think in terms of our descendants at least 25 generations hence. In the history of a nation, a few or even many decades is not a very long period. That we have to do, using our intellect, without letting irrational animal emotions override our evolutionarily advanced part of the brain. I am of the view that after seeing no light at the end of the tunnel after decades of strife and blood shed, we need to pause a little and engage in a sinhavalokanaya, a penetrating look-back as the lion is supposed to do, to see what went wrong in the first place. It is necessary to reflect on these matters seriously. Karthigesu Indrapala, my old and respected senior Peradeniya friend, titled his book ‘The evolution of an ethnic identity’ ( my emphasis). Therefore, perhaps Aluth Avurudda/Puththandu, in those names, is a unique Sinhala and Srilankan Tamil event. I have not yet heard of a Puththandu being celebrated around this time of the year in Tamil Nadu or anywhere in South India. I begin writing this, on a Sinhala and Tamil Aluth Avurudu day (2021). However these ideas are what I honestly believe in, at the present state of my knowledge and conviction. Some of my ideas I know will not be palatable to many. I claim no expert knowledge on the issues involved but I consider that it would not be a waste of time for fellow citizens to give ear to someone who has tried to dispassionately examine the various aspects of the matter over a long period.
My intention in writing this note is to share with others my thoughts on the above question developed through, reading, varied experiences and quiet reflection over many years.
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