The Government’s policy is centred on reconciliation, development and culture, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.
“All should join hands in brotherhood with a new hope to rebuild the country,” President Wickremesinghe said.
The President was speaking after opening the Jaffna Cultural Centre (JCC) built with Indian assistance to the tune of Rs.13,500 million. The event was held with the participation of Indian Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr. L. Murugan.
Recalling that the first leader elected by the people through their franchise was Ponnambalam Ramanathan, the President said that the country could be developed fast under a combination of Sinhala and Tamil leadership.
Excerpts from the President’s speech:
“We decided to celebrate our 75th Independence ceremony not only in Colombo but also in Jaffna. The JCC is a gift from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Indian Government and the people of India. I extend my sincere thanks to the Indian Prime Minister and the Indian Government for it. We are discussing economic development projects in the Northern Province, a massive development project in the Trincomalee Port and the energy sector as well.
We appreciate the support extended by the Indian Government to Sri Lanka during this economic crisis.
The cultures of our two countries cannot be separated. Sri Lanka and India are the two sides of the same coin. The culture both the countries share should be conserved and protected and under the JCC. We decided to hold the 75th Independence Day events in Jaffna too to mark the assistance and the leadership by the Tamil people at the freedom struggle.
Accepting the Hindu Renaissance program commenced by Arumuka Navalar, the Maha Sangha led by Ven. Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thera commenced a Buddhist renaissance.
Thanks to Ponnambalam Ramanathan, the Vesak Day was declared a Holiday. He also called upon the then Governor to protect the life of Henry Pedris.
He struggled in the Legislative Council along with Harry Creasy on behalf of the Sinhalese Buddhists. Ponnambalam Arunachalam founded the Lanka Jathika Sangamaya and pioneered Trade Unions. But unfortunately he passed away in 1924. One year later, F. R. Senanayake passed away. However, had had they lived the history of the country could have been changed.
The Mediaeval Sinhalese Art book by Ananda Coomaraswamy brought Sinhalese art to the notice of the world. Arunachalam Mahadeva joined the struggle for the freedom of this country. We pay our gratitude to his family as Sri Lankans and also on behalf of the people living in Jaffna. In addition we cannot forget Vidyalingam Thureisamy, Sri Sundaraligam and C. Siththampalam who assisted Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake in his struggle for freedom should be remembered.
We should recall leaders such as G.G. Ponnambalam and M. Thiruchelvam as well. These leaders worked together with each other and other leaders to build the country. Accordingly, the Government decided to celebrate the 75th independence in Jaffna as well.
The policy of the Government is based on reconciliation, development and culture. Sri Lankan culture has been nourished by the culture in Jaffna and the Tamil culture. It has a connection to Tamil Nadu and Kerala cultures as well.
In 1840, the first newspaper was published giving a new life to literature in Jaffna. But with the war, all of them were destroyed. The Jaffna Library was set on fire and destroyed. The Jaffna Fort was destroyed. But Dravidian art and culture was preserved in Jaffna, Colombo as well as outside Sri Lanka by the diaspora.
Now there is resurgence again. There are movies and books written about the war in all three languages. A new art and culture has been developed.
Today Sinhalese are listening to Dravidian songs and Tamils are listening to Sinhala songs. We have created a new art movement and we have to take it forward. I have asked the Minister of Culture to organise a Jaffna Literary festival similar to the Galle Literary Festival.
In a similar manner let’s create and develop a new culture and art movement. Let’s all go forward on our journey together and rebuild the country. Then it will be the country of all of us. This place should be the centre of Tamil Art. Indian State Minister Dr. L. Murugan should convey the message to the Indian Prime Minister that we would name this place Saraswathi Mahal.”
Indian State Minister Dr. L. Murugan said: “Today is a historic day for India and Sri Lanka. The JCC foundation stone was laid during the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Sri Lanka in March 2015. The JCC will help develop the cultural and artistic activities of the people of Jaffna.
During my recent visits to several provinces of Sri Lanka, I saw the support India has given for the development of houses as well as infrastructure, education, health, and agriculture sectors.
In addition, when Sri Lanka faced a severe economic crisis in 2022, India provided US$ 4 billion in assistance. India provided the necessary guarantee for the restructuring of Sri Lanka’s debt to receive financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Prime Minister Modi is keen introduce a scholarship for 100 children from low-income families in the Northern Province, extending India’s assistance to Sri Lanka.
India will be celebrating 100 years of Independence in 2047. Sri Lanka will pass the same milestone in 2048. We believe that our journey of cooperation will continue.”
Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda also spoke.