Dear Burning Issue,

When arguments cannot be met with factual rebuttals what else would one do other than to try and discredit the proponent?

The Singapore Ethnic Integration Policy comes to mind.

I believe that Lanka is the home of all, whatever their ethnic make up. I oppose the Homeland theory as it is brazenly unfair and is an attempt to usurp over 50% of Lanka’s Publicly owned resources for the use of a population of less than 10%.

The attempt to amalgamate TWO Ethnic entities with disparate cultures using a language, by the larger of the TWO, is an obvious political ploy aimed at increasing the population numbers rather than with any consideration towards the Muslims.

I believe that the Public Resources of a Country should be shared equally and that the best way of doing so is on a per capita basis.

What you say confirms my view.
“The Tamils, the Jaffna Tamils in particular, always have been self-centered and looked down on the Muslims; there is a Tamil cliché that the Muslims should not be trusted with, a thoppy piraddy; meaning whichever the way the fringe on their hats turns, they turn that way. During the Sinhala/Muslim riots, the Tamils stayed separate; Sir Ramanathan even went London to argue in favour of the Sinhala. I do not blame the Muslims to feel sceptical about the Tamils; we have never been inclusive though great deal of tolerance existed within N&E in terms of religious practices”

However I believe that the last sentence of the above is misleading.

“though great deal of tolerance existed within N&E in terms of religious practices”

Tolerance does not mean the Murder of Muslims while at prayer.
What happens in India between Hindus and Muslims show the simmering undercurrent that exists. It comes to the surface when one section becomes dominant over the other as in the case when the LTTE was dominant.

Buddhist and Hindu practices are not only tolerant of each other but are intertwined.

Dear Wijayapala,

“And I notice that you failed to answer my counterpoints.”

Counterpoints? Did you make any?

What you did was to dishonestly break my post in to two by removing the SIMILARITIES between the Sinhalese and Tamils while retaining the DISIMILARITIES between the Muslims and the Tamils.

Then you dishonestly introduced words of your own, to prostitute my comments and kept arguing with yourself at length. You did not and could not offer any counterpoints in your original comment, to what I wrote originally.

Subsequently, you were jumping with glee when you saw the year 1805 mentioned in a document I referred to and summarily rejected it claiming it to be of 19 th century vintage when it was actually Published in the Times of Ceylon of 12th July 1946. That is midway in to the 20 th Century Wije.

That is another example of the inability of your brain to interpret what your eyes see. That itself is sufficient proof that you were shooting from the hip and was not interested in keeping the discussion at an intellectual level.

You have, in the past, attempted to filibuster comments by asking irrelevant questions and running away when you are provided with a reply.

http://groundviews.org/2011/07/25/tna-mp-suresh-premachandran-on-the-result-of-the-local-government-elections/#comment-35153

http://groundviews.org/2011/07/25/tna-mp-suresh-premachandran-on-the-result-of-the-local-government-elections/#comment-35174

Though you rejected the document published in 1946 using the purported vintage, you had the dishonesty to bring up an irrelevant example of Prof Karthigesu Sivathamby, who spent four years at Zahira (1949 to 1952) which was of the same vintage as the document you rejected.

Then you rejected the same document stating there were no STATISTICS because you had no other way to counter what that document stated. Subsequently you stated that what was contained in that document was an opinion of an educator, blatantly and dishonestly , ignoring the fact that it stated, that at Zahira, ARABIC was given a prominent place in the CURRICULUM.

When I provided you with a REPORT from the Principal of Zahira which stated amongst other things that Our  daily prayers are in Arabic and our religion cannot be taught or practised without the Arabic language.” You stated “An educator stating an opinion that the Muslims should learn Arabic is quite a different thing from him stating a fact that they know Arabic, regardless of whether he is Azeez or Prophet Muhammad himself. Do you know the differences between opinions and facts? “

The Fact is that at Zahira, Arabic was given a prominent place in the Curriculum (meaning the subject was taught with prominance). That is not an opinion but a fact but you are asking me whether I know the difference between opinion and fact. I do, but apparently you don’t

Unfortunately, I cannot meet the Prophet Muhammad but I was able to meet a Muslim Cleric of a Grand Mosque in Colombo. He confirmed that ALL Muslims are taught to read the Quran written in Arabic Script and that is a REQUIREMENT. He also said that they use only the Arabic Quran in the Mosques and not any translation. My claim was that All Muslims know Arabic (Both reading and writing). Please note that I specifically excluded speaking.

Muslims are Muslims because of their Religion and without Islam they cease to be identified as Muslims. According to prominent Muslims, whose words carry more weight than yours, without Arabic, Islam cannot be Taught.

Now you are resorting to dishonesty again by introducing the word “proficiency” and claiming it to be a Key Question.

It is not a KEY QUESTION because I never claimed that Muslims talk to each other in Arabic though that is how they salute each other.

You have a penchant to argue with yourself.

“Sri Lankans use certain words that the Indians do not know- does that mean Sri Lankan and Indian Tamils are culturally separate?“ …….. “You failed to answer my point that your underlying argument would nullify cultural links between believing Tamil Hindus and non-believing Tamil Christians.”

That is a dumb question and a dumber statement.
Religion or Language alone does not define culture as you seem to think.
Hence obviously they are not culturally separate because they have many other cultural and or religious connections between them that prove otherwise. Apparently Burning Issue and Yapa has understood what you failed to understand. Is it a problem of the English Language or your understanding of it?

You say “Your argument that Tamils and Muslims have no cultural affinities simply because they don’t share a holiday is also remarkably flat.”

Your brain does not interpret what your eyes see. Please re read what I wrote slowly, giving time for your brain to interpret what you see.

Is that why you could not name a single culturally important event celebrated or mourned by the Tamils and Muslims? Such as birth, marriage death, coming of age or any thing else important in life? Is it only Language that defines culture?
It is not simply the Holiday Wije, there is more to it than just a “Holy Day”

You have written several posts trying to counter my arguments but yet you have failed to provide a a single common cultural celebration or important event that you could name between the Tamils and the Muslims. Is that why you are attempting to belittle a common cultural celebration of the Sinhalese and Tamils that is not found anywhere else?

The Sinhala and Tamil New year is not simply a “Holy Day” It is a MAJOR cultural event common to both communities. It is an event where the Hindu Tamils and the Sinhala Buddhist act in UNISON, Island wide.

Can you name any other Cultural Event that is common to two different ethnic groups of such magnitude? It is of such cultural importance that it is the ONLY Cultural Event that is granted TWO days as Holidays by every Lankan Govt.

It is not just one notch above as you attempt to convey Wije, it is a Quantum Leap above.

Here are more commonalities between Tamils and Sinhalese (generally)
Both believe in Astrology and a birth chart is prepared for each birth.
The Birth chart is used for every important event in the lives of both communities including marriage.
Both communities observe auspicious and inauspicious times.
Both communities believe in Palmistry.
Both communities generally cremate the dead.
Both communities worship God Kandasamy (generally).
Both communities worship the Buddha (generally).
Both communities have a cast system.
Both communities share a 55% genetic pool.

The Sinhalese and Tamils are Culturally, Religiously and Genetically more intertwined than Tamils and Muslims.

You say “similar to how Sinhala Buddhists don’t need to be able to communicate in Pali…to practice their beliefs”

You are running after your tail again.

Who said anything about communicating in the language?
That is your own superposition.
Another example of dishonestly prostituting a comment to suit your argument.
Can’t you present an argument without being Dishonest Wije?

Islam is a Dogmatic Religion which lays emphasis on the ARABIC Quran.
Buddhism is not a dogmatic religion.
Muslims are required to READ the Quran written in ARABIC script.
Buddhist are not even required to know Pali, let alone read it, even when written using the Sinhala script.

Bad example Wije.

If you read my original post with care, you should be able to see that I am attempting to show that amongst the three communities, Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims the Sinhalese and Tamils have more in common than Tamils and Muslims and that annexing the Muslim population with the Tamil population is just a political expedient to increase Tamil numbers to make a stronger claim to what they call the Tamil Homeland. It also attempts to prove that the Homeland proponents are annexing the Muslim numbers without an actual feeling or concern for the Muslims.

During my discussion with the Muslim Cleric, he confirmed that Arabic Tamil, was written using Arabic script (not Tamil script) but is no longer in vogue. And for this reason, the Tamils can understand the Tamil, they now use (I was also told that a Tamil would request for a phrase to be repeated in order to help them understand). Hence I concede this point to you. However please note that I based my comment on an article written by a Muslim in which it was stated that Muslims use Arabic Tamil and that it was written using a modified Arabic script (not Tamil script).

With reference to Capt Percival’s account you state that you reject it. You say “Because it is unsupported by other accounts that give contrary information. The YVM for example mentions even the Sinhala community in Jaffna, as well as the Christians, but no mention at all about the Muslims”

Capt Percival, Robert Knox, Ibn Butata, Fa-hien etc wrote EYE WITNESS accounts of what they saw during their travels.

Robert Percival states thus

Still, however, I have been careful not to advance any fact of which I was not either an eyewitness, or which was not derived from information which no one could hesitate to believe. The manners and customs of the inhabitants, I have endeavoured to describe in the manner they impressed my mind at the time I observed them.

The inhabitants of Jaffna consist of a collection of various races. The greatest number are of Moorish extraction, and are divided into several tribes, known by the names of Lubbahs, Mopleys, Chittys, and Choliars: they are distinguished by wearing a little round cap on their close shaven heads. There is also a race of Malabars found here somewhat differing in their appearance from those on the continent. These different tribes of foreign settlers greatly exceed in number the native Ceylonese in the district of Jaffna. Those I first mentioned were induced many years ago by the encouragements held out to them by the Dutch, to pass over from the Coromandel coast, and carry on here a variety of manufactures, of coarse cloths, calicoes, handkerchiefs, shawls, stockings, &c. These articles were all made from the cotton growing on the island; and to this day the district of Jaffna continues to be the only part of Ceylon where manufactures of this sort continue to be carried on, with the exception of a very few about Columbo.

Percival did not do a census but was able to observe the preponderance of “little round caps on close shaven heads”

Percival Describes the Island of Lanka not just Jaffna. There is no apparent reason for him to be biased against the Natives of Jaffna who were their subjects and favour the still unconquered Kandyan kingdom.

Rejecting Robert Percival you say Because it is unsupported by other accounts that give contrary information. The YVM for example mentions even the Sinhala community in Jaffna, as well as the Christians, but no mention at all about the Muslims.

Contrary information?

Wije, “Contrary” is an adjective that means “opposite”

By its nature, CONTRARY information CONTRADICTS and does not SUPPORT.

I am not sure what YVM stands for but are you citing the YVM (what ever it is) to prove that there were no MUSLIMS in Jaffna?

Obviously this can’t be true as the Moors, as they were known then, were traders and they traded with India. What better place to trade with India other than Jaffna?

Percival also states the following

At Jaffna there are also a number of handicraftsmen, such as goldsmiths, jewellers, joiners, and makers of all different parts of household furniture. They are very expert .in their respective occupations; particularly that race known in this island by the name of Portuguese, who surpass all the rest in the beauty and dexterity of their workmanship.

Dependent upon the district of Jaffna, and at a small distance in the sea to the north-west of Point Pedro, are several small islands, which the Dutch named from their own native cities, Delft, Harlem, Leyden, and Amsterdam. These islands they employed in breeding horses and cattle, as from their excellent pasturage they are better adapted to this purpose than any part of Ceylon. The English government continues the same system. The horses are bred under the superintendance of officers appointed for the purpose, and when at a proper age, are disposed of on account of government. It would be unjust to pass unnoticed the many improvements introduced into every department of this district, by Colonel Barbet of the seventy-third regiment, who has been commander and collector of this district ever since it came into the possession of this country. His conduct has rendered him equally esteemed by his countrymen and the natives.

The Woods towards the interior which separate this district, and the others we have hitherto described, from the king of Candy’s dominions, are inhabited by an extraordinary race of savages, supposed to be the,aboriginal inhabitants of the island, and known by the name of Bedas or Vaddahs

you say, “The point you’re missing is that it makes no difference to TODAY what Jayah did 90 years ago-

You forget that it was you who brought up Prof. Karthigasu and Zahira.
My response was to show you that Zahira’s CURRICULUM gave PROMINENCE to teaching Arabic.

You say “the FACT is that Sri Lankan Muslims do not KNOW Arabic. You can’t dance around that FACT by throwing a temper tantrum when I correctly ignore your irrelevant google results. “

Every Muslim that I associate, tells me differently. Even the employees of the Muslim shop that I buy provisions from, confirms that they can read and write Arabic of the Quran.

Unfortunately for you, the FACT is MUSLIMS are REQUIRED by their Religion to be ABLE to READ the QURAN written in ARABIC (not Tamil script). For this purpose they have to be able to recognise ARABIC. This gives them the ability to WRITE as well. This is why I specifically excluded SPEAKING.

You ignored my questions because you cannot answer them. You can claim otherwise to save face.

“Know” is a relative word. Even you in your previous post uses the word “know” to show a low level of knowledge eg. “I know barely enough Tamil”

Well Wije why should I be angry with you when you are doing such a good job of making a fool of yourself?

I am rather amused at the way you keep on arguing with yourself.

Sorry for the delayed response, I was away on business, for a few days.

Dear Burning_Issue,

Thanks for your response. Here are my thoughts. 🙂

I am a Sri Lankan born Tamil and consider me as an anti-racist. I do not claim that I do not suffer from entrenched prejudices but do my utmost to fight it. I am very pragmatic and know that the Tamils in Sri Lanka are better off living with the Sinhala than looking up to India. India brought nothing but miseries to the Tamils. Let India be a big brother watching over us; let’s build a nation together in Sri Lanka to the envy of many outside.

Wonderfully said and very refreshing to see this from a Tamil person. Yes, I agree with you completely that India should not take sides in it’s neighbour’s conflict and had made many bad mistakes with respect to Sri Lanka. Hopefully, not in future. Let us see. 🙂

The reason I advocate and argue for an impartial War Crimes investigation is not only to seek justice for all but also to send a strong message to the politicians that, only good governance will suffice. I expect such an investigation will be the catalyst in changing the dynamics of Sri Lankan politics and will bring together communities and re-instill standards.

Regarding war crimes, I guess Sri Lanka’s leadership is focussed more on the UN reports at the moment (and talks with TNA have failed too). That is probably why SL diplomats/leaders keep visiting China I guess. US, UK and others don’t have any high moral ground but you need someone (China) to back you as well. But, given the state of global and SL economy, they can atleast replace military personnel with policemen in North, especially from the locals and let reconstruction go faster. It would be great if the Sri Lankan Government can independently look into such complaints. And I also a lot of sites indicating that people complain about their sons or husbands taken away forcibly for inquiry by police/military and never saw them come back. If these are true, these need to be looked at very seriously. And SL’s leadership can go from LLRC and find out ways to accelerate all positive proposals by them. That way you build confidence among Tamils.

And I agree with you on DJ. And I never understood his defence of Douglas Devananda as well. But, that is beside the point here I guess.

There are two dimensions to the Tamil concept. One is the Tamils who live in Sri Lanka and second is the Diaspora. I think that the Tamils in Sri Lanka have amply demonstrated that they have eschewed separation and open to ideas. Mr Gageandren Ponnampalam represents a hard line Tamil moment that has been utterly rejected by the Tamil masses; this is significant that despite military siege within N&E, the Tamil people voted using their heads. The Tamils should be open to leaning the Sinhala language and welcome any Sinhala people who want to live within the N&E. The Diaspora must not only reject the Tiger flags but also should push for eschewing separatism. This is going to be cumbersome to express though I believe that majority of the Tamils abroad do not really support separatism. The TGTE must change course or the Tamils must somehow show that it is not a true representation of the Tamil Diaspora.

Very nicely said. Yes, I believe that the SL Tamil folks on the ground are far more sensible than the diaspora ones, even though they felt the effect of Tiger rule and the war recently. I quite welcome your suggestion that Tamils learn Sinhala and Sinhalese be encouraged to learn Tamil language. As you might know, South Indians are speaking Hindi in large numbers today than any time ever before. It took 60 long years after independence, but improving gradually. In Sri Lanka too it would take a lot of time, but the good will eventually happen.

The GOSL should enact a statute law that deems racism as a criminal offence; it should clearly stipulate as to what constitute racism. The political parties must reject racism publically and exclude those who violate the rules.

I agree here too, but most of the times in South Asia, politicians, religious groups, mafias, armed gangs etc easily get away with anything they want. The pathetic state of affairs is that way, whether it is Shias in Pakistan or lower caste folks (Dalits) in India.

The GOSL must engage the Tamils in Tamil language. It should sincerely implement the Tamil Language provision nation-wide and encourage the Sinhala people to become bilingual. As you suggested, employ people from all communities within civil services and armed forces. Promote inter-racial spots activities and cultural exchange programs etc.

I was talking about the cultural exchanges between India and SL with Wijayapala earlier in this very thread. In fact, there was a trophy called Gopalan Trophy between Colombo and Madras, which was revived about 8 years ago and dropped again. The awareness of Sri Lankan culture (not just Tamils, but also Sinhala) was far better among Indian Tamils about 40 years ago than it is today. I have read in Indian novels about Buddhist culture of SL that was known so well in Tamil Nadu about 1000 years ago. Today nobody knows (except those movie directors to shoot a songs with beautiful backgrounds). Anyways, coming back to your point, yes, inter-racial harmony creation is the key for next 20-30 years.

About SL Govt’s talk with TNA, it is only a beginning. After all, a 1000-mile walk begins with the first step. Let us hope this is not an end and that more talks will continue. 🙂

best wishes
Krish

correction……;

“I don’t think the validity of the question does not decline on to my personal faults.”

It should be corrected as,

“I don’t think the validity of the question declines on to my personal faults.”

Thanks!

Dear Burning_Issue;

This was your answer to my remarks

“No matter what I would say to you, it would not make slightest of difference in you; so, let’s just say that it is better that I ignore your remarks!”

My question was,

“Are you sure this is the real reason and the only reason behind the demand for an international investigations? Can you assure that vengeance is not a factor behind the campaign?”

If you think you can justify and push forward demand for an international investigations, avoiding such a pertinent question by just pointing out my personal faults, it is fine.

I don’t think the validity of the question does not decline on to my personal faults.

On the other hand can you specifically mention a few instances where you have provided sufficient evidence to change my stance, to paste that “notorious” label on me. I think sweeping negative generalizations on me are not reasonable.

Thanks!

Dear Burning_Issue;

Thank you for giving the perfect answer to “wijayapala’s problem of Muslim ethnicity” without hurting his feelings. I am not subtle as you in writing and this is my take of it. There is s saying in Sinhala “Ingi nodanna vaheta kela molen gahanna onelu”. I used “kela mola” dealing the issue.

http://groundviews.org/2011/08/10/tna%e2%80%99s-withdrawal-from-talks-and-the-emerging-political-paralysis/#comment-35509

Thanks!

Dear Wijayapala,

It is kind of sad that OTC has gone of the rail a bit! It is very cumbersome to debate with him/her these days. I did follow your debate with him and fund it very interesting indeed.

“why do Muslims in Tamil Nadu identify themselves as Tamil, but not the Muslims in Sri Lanka?”

Sri Lanka is a small country and all three main communities suffer from chronic insecurity. The colonial masters, the British in particular, exploited this well. Unlike the Tamils, the Muslims are spread all over the island and it should be credited to them for maintaining the Tamil language nation-wide. The Tamils, the Jaffna Tamils in particular, always have been self-centered and looked down on the Muslims; there is a Tamil cliché that the Muslims should not be trusted with, a thoppy piraddy; meaning whichever the way the fringe on their hats turns, they turn that way. During the Sinhala/Muslim riots, the Tamils stayed separate; Sir Ramanathan even went London to argue in favour of the Sinhala. I do not blame the Muslims to feel sceptical about the Tamils; we have never been inclusive though great deal of tolerance existed within N&E in terms of religious practices. The quest for greater education bound all the communities together; many Muslims and Hindus attended Christian schools.

By contrast; in Tamil Nadu, such constrains played negligible part; there were no colonial interferences. The Tamil language, music, culture, movie industry and religious tolerance combined negated the need for the Muslims to identify any differently.
This is my view and am no expert on this.

Dear Krish,

I am a Sri Lankan born Tamil and consider me as an anti-racist. I do not claim that I do not suffer from entrenched prejudices but do my utmost to fight it. I am very pragmatic and know that the Tamils in Sri Lanka are better off living with the Sinhala than looking up to India. India brought nothing but miseries to the Tamils. Let India be a big brother watching over us; let’s build a nation together in Sri Lanka to the envy of many outside.

The reason I advocate and argue for an impartial War Crimes investigation is not only to seek justice for all but also to send a strong message to the politicians that, only good governance will suffice. I expect such an investigation will be the catalyst in changing the dynamics of Sri Lankan politics and will bring together communities and re-instill standards.

“1. According to you, what exactly should the Sinhala majority do, especially the moderate folks? I am not talking about the Government or the Rajapakses, but the the majority community of the island?”

The moderate Sinhala folks must eschew the paranoia that India will invade and takeover Sri Lanka. Even the likes of Dr DJ suffers from this [Edited out] paranoia; his relentless rhetorical articulation of threats to Sri Lankan Sovereignty stand as testament. They must endeavour to educate the Sinhala public that they have nothing to fear from the Tamils and only equal accommodation can lead to prosperity for all.

“2. What kind of actions from the Tamil community will foster a better understanding with the majority folks? You mentioned giving up Eelam demand earlier. Anything else?”

There are two dimensions to the Tamil concept. One is the Tamils who live in Sri Lanka and second is the Diaspora. I think that the Tamils in Sri Lanka have amply demonstrated that they have eschewed separation and open to ideas. Mr Gageandren Ponnampalam represents a hard line Tamil moment that has been utterly rejected by the Tamil masses; this is significant that despite military siege within N&E, the Tamil people voted using their heads. The Tamils should be open to leaning the Sinhala language and welcome any Sinhala people who want to live within the N&E. The Diaspora must not only reject the Tiger flags but also should push for eschewing separatism. This is going to be cumbersome to express though I believe that majority of the Tamils abroad do not really support separatism. The TGTE must change course or the Tamils must somehow show that it is not a true representation of the Tamil Diaspora.

“3. And what exactly will create a sense of belonging in the hearts of Tamils? For example, I can think of having Tamil folks in every single institution like civil services, ministries, army, education etc. That would be one way of being inclusive (although I am not really in favour of a proportional representation necessarily). That would also integrate people to some extent.”

The GOSL should enact a statute law that deems racism as a criminal offence; it should clearly stipulate as to what constitute racism. The political parties must reject racism publically and exclude those who violate the rules.

The GOSL must engage the Tamils in Tamil language. It should sincerely implement the Tamil Language provision nation-wide and encourage the Sinhala people to become bilingual. As you suggested, employ people from all communities within civil services and armed forces. Promote inter-racial spots activities and cultural exchange programs etc.

“4. To what extent do both communities comprehend that reconciliation will take a long time given what happened in Sri Lanka’s recent history? That is, starting with events from mid-forties till the end of tigers. Although LTTE is history now, the distrust might still be there. But, how exactly do we help Sinhalese, Tamil and equally importantly, Muslim folks understand that reconciliation is important, especially those folks who lost their dear ones?”

Yes, I agree that the reconciliation is a long process. It will all depend on the politicians!

http://print.dailymirror.lk/opinion1/52797.html

Nothing is possible if the MR regime conducts its politics as described in the above article.

I think ANY way would be better than “zh.”

Probably, yes. But the complaint that I heard (long ago) about using “rl” in place of “zh” is that “l” negates or brings down the effect of “r”. And if you remove “l” from “rl”, then you cannot distinguish the regular “r”. But yes, your broader point is comprehended.

And Kerala cities like Kozhikode and Alappuzha also have that “zh” as you could see. Don’t know why Malayalis are in the same situation as Tamilians are on this. 🙂

Until recent times, most Sri Lankan publications I saw would simply use “l” instead, which is fine. Even “Tamil” is spelled with an “l” at the end; only recently are people saying “Tamizh.”

You mean, when they write in English right? If so, yes! Except for a very few die-hard (mostly pro-Eelam folks) Tamilians, everyone uses “Tamil” as in “Tamil Nadu” in India as well.

Why do you think this (phonetic incompleteness) is?

From a simple phonics perspective I suppose. That is, while written in Tamil, Wijayapala can be “Wijayapala” or “Wijayabala”. And “Krish” can also be read as “Grish”. In fact, the combination of K and r cannot be expressed properly in Tamil. Moreover, you cannot distinguish “ka” from “ga”, “pa” from “ba”, “ta” from “da”. These are basic sounds for any language and a broader clarity is really required.

And the following sounds are borrowed from Sanskrit and are not used in Tamil natively:

? – sa
? – Ja
? – Ha
???? – Shri
? – Sha

And Tamil purists would substitute every one of these with ? (ca), except ? (ha) which is usually substituted by ka. These were added as part of Tamil (probabaly by Brahmins) when Grantha Basha was used by
them. Imagine the level of confusion that brings to someone who learns the language. Hope you don’t think I am mean towards Tamil or Tamilians in anyway. 🙂

Tamil also has the same order, except of course that it doesn’t have some of the same letters as you pointed out (ba, da, aspirated letters like kha etc.). This goes all the way back to Tolkappiyam itself.

You may be right, but my reference was for “Mei ezhthu” equivalent in Tamil. Tamil uses 18 “Mei” letters in place of “ka kha ga gha gna, ca cha ja jha gya….” for instance. And taking it a bit further, one syllable/letter “ka” in place of 4 equivalent syllables in all other S. Asian languages. And it goes on and on. 🙂

I don’t know either. The common claim is that Sinhala script evolved from Brahmi, and it is true there had been a fairly consistent stream of inscriptions over the centuries to show its evolution. If this is true, though, then how did it appear so similar to Kannada/Telugu which appeared later? I’ll have to look into this.

You should pardon me for I went too far when I said “Brahmic similarities”. All I meant was, similarities (how they look alike) of letters between Sinhala and Kannada/Telugu. I can read very little Kannada/Telugu myself and those were just observations from me when I saw Sinhala letters. 🙂

Burning_Issue, did you see my note to you on August 5, 2011 • 7:10 am?

In case you haven’t been following the exchange between me and OTC (for which I would not blame you at all), I posed the question: why do Muslims in Tamil Nadu identify themselves as Tamil, but not the Muslims in Sri Lanka? I think that question in part will help answer the larger question of Sri Lankan identity. What are your thoughts.