Since I was born in Colombo and had Singhalese friends from early childhood, I had seen both sides of the coin in the Sri Lankan War.
I used to love Colombo as a child, and then 1983 (Ethnic riots) happened. To make a long story short, my family went to settle in Northern Sri Lanka. It was the best time of my life and then it was taken away from me. The war started and intensified in the North. Many atrocities happened and my family had to move back to Colombo.
I remember how naively I voted for Chandrika Kumarutunga when I first turned 18 and got voting rights, trusting her to deliver peace – Instead, a beloved cousin and her father were blown to pieces in one of many many aerial attacks by Sri lankan air force, in the intensified war under her regime. How naïve I was in hoping that a Sinhalese government would deliver peace to the Tamils.
Later on, I dared to tell a Singhalese (a university mate) in Colombo about the many Tamils deaths – including my loved ones – due to aerial bombings. (You see, Tamils living among the Singhalese in the South, are tight lipped when it comes to these things. Most of them have to maintain silence if they want to safegard their lives)
“Our forces don’t bomb civilians” The Singhalese guy (almost a friend) said firmly.
“But” I protested “But…my cousin died. She came from a poor family, studied hard and had just entered university. She died”
“No No… that wouldn’t have happened” he said again icily and changed the topic.
Now, how can one deal with people like that?
