University admissions and LTTE racism

The news that no new Sinhala and Muslim undergraduates would be admitted to the three universities in the North-East, out of security considerations, comes as a shock to those championing closer links among the regions of the country and national integration.

Out of the thousands of Sinhala and Muslim students who have qualified for university entrance, none would be absorbed into the universities in the North-East, thus defeating all hopes of promoting closer, positive interaction among the young of our communities.

This is a setback for national unity and is not promotive of the worthy aim of forging a common, Lankan identity.

We are not pointing an accusing finger at the University Grants Commission, under whose purview university admissions occur.

The UGC’s position is acceptable that from a security point of view Sinhala and Muslim admissions to the universities concerned are not possible.

After all it is the LTTE which is nurturing the ethnic scourge in Sri Lanka and the group enjoys the terrible notoriety of cleansing the North-East ethnically, with all the brute force at their command. It is no secret that neither Sinhalese nor Muslims could be found in areas beyond Vavuniya. Such are the stupefying results of LTTE ethnic cleansing.

So, it does not come as a surprise that the higher educational authorities are anxious over the safety of Sinhala and Muslim students. After all, the former are responsible for the well-being of the latter.

However, it speaks volumes for the impartiality and neutrality of the Lankan State that our Tamil citizens, irrespective of status, could reside and carry on their livelihoods anywhere in Sri Lanka. Tamil students freely pursue their educational careers anywhere in Sri Lanka, including the Southern Province.

This telling fact blows the foundation off the LTTE charge that Tamil citizens are victimized on all fronts. On the contrary, they are always safe with the State but would have to brace of terror and brutal handling whenever they interact with the Tigers.

These are salient facts for the world community. It is the LTTE which is sowing the evil seeds of ethnic chauvinism in Sri Lanka and for this reason the LTTE needs to be constantly hounded by all forces of civilization and outlawed.

The differences in the way the State and the LTTE treat the students of this country, among other things, should lend credence to this policy approach to the Tigers.

However, it is a matter for regret that Sinhala and Muslim students cannot pursue a higher education in the three universities in the North-East.

If they could have done so, these universities would have been glowing examples of ethnic solidarity and brotherhood.

After all, ethnic strongholds and enclaves should never be encouraged along with the mentality that goes along with it.

The State, meanwhile, should do everything within its power, to highlight the virulence of the LTTE’s ethnic chauvinism. The world cannot tolerate such scourges, lest it encourages division.

Mangoes and Olive Branches

The Government however was not to be wrong-footed. They refused to be provoked and gradually the world began to realise that, while the Tamil cause required attention and sympathy, the Tigers were indeed terrorists who had to be restrained. Conversely, the Government did not fall into the trap of submitting tamely to all provocation, and made it clear that attacks would be countered forcefully.

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