Book on ‘The Indo-Lankans’ launched

[August 21, 2003 - 7.00 GMT]

The Indian Heritage Foundation in Colombo launched its first publication, ‘The Indo-Lankans’-Their 200-year saga yesterday at the Hilton. The Pictorial and text record of the history of Indians in Sri Lanka from 1796 is the first such publication.

“The Indo-Lankans-Their 200-year saga” authored by S. Muthiah, a well-known heritage writer has 850 pictures and 100,000 words and brings to life the aspirations, the strivings and achievements of people of Indian origin who were and still are a part of the success story of Sri Lanka. 

 President Chandrika Kumaratunga in a video message at the book launch said, “In a multi-cultural society, a nation must embrace all its ethnic groups, and respect all cultural identities. The Indian Community in Sri Lanka, I consider is our legacy…. and I strongly believe we should cherish and protect that heritage. 

The President said the two main religions of the country- Buddhism and Hinduism come from India and have co-existed for centuries. 

“Over a period of time, our people have learnt to maintain and respect the core values and cultures, unique to each religion…. and shared philosophies common to both. This is the basis for co-existence and national integration”, added the President.

Indian External Affaires Minister Yashwant Sinha who was to be the chief guest at the launch and was held up due to domestic political developments, in a message into the function welcomed the recent moves grant citizenships to disenfranchised Indians.

Constitutional Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris who was the chief guest said India is one sheet anchor, one solid bedrock and one source of strength for both the Government and the people of Sri Lanka.

The Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Nirupam Sen was very candid during his address. He said the scores of Indians who sacrificed their lives in Sri Lanka must also be remembered and he suggested a memorial for the ‘unknown Indians’. The High Commissioner observed the   ‘The Tamils of Indian origin here are more Sri Lankan than the Sri Lankan Tamils’ 

Full text of the President’s message:   

Let me begin by congratulating the Indian Heritage Foundation and others associated with the Foundation, for bringing out this impressive publication.

I now realize your Chairman Mr. Mano Selvanathan’s inventiveness extends beyond entrepreneurial skills. His personal efforts to publish this volume ‘The Indo-Lankans- their 200 year saga’ deserve high praise.

During the course of our long history Sri Lanka has been inspired by several factors in its development, foremost in our minds however are the legacies left behind by our colonial masters. Sadly we tend to attach less importance to the good influences of our great neighbour. 

One of the prime reasons for Sri Lanka being a truly multi-religious, multi-cultural society today is the Indian Community, which has lived with us for so long. The Indians who chose to settle in our island and those who were settled by our colonizers have contributed in abundance to the development of our little nation. 

Our two main religions Buddhism and Hinduism come from India and have co-existed for centuries. Over a period of time, our people have learnt to maintain and respect the core values and cultures, unique to each religion…. and shared philosophies common to both. This is the basis for co-existence and national integration.

Glancing through this extraordinary publication I realized the extent of painstaking research that has gone into the making of this book. I found the manner in which the author Mr. Subbiah Muttiah has categorized the Indian advent into four groups very interesting, the early settlers, the toilers, the early traders and the professionals.

Our citizens of Indian origin have helped in blending the unique cultural traditions of our two nations; this has made a deep impact on the Sri Lankan social fabric, its literature, art and religious practices. Over the years there has been a considerable degree of integration.

In a multi-cultural society, a nation must embrace all its ethnic groups, and respect all cultural identities. The Indian Community in Sri Lanka, I consider is our legacy…. and I strongly believe we should cherish and protect that heritage.

This volume ‘The Indo-Lankans- their 200 year saga’ does fill a long felt void. Once again, I congratulate the Indian Heritage Foundation and thank Shri Goplkrishna Gandhi the former Indian High Commissioner, for his initiative and for the continued commitment of his successor His Excellency Nirupam Sen in making this publication a reality. 

I wish you well and thank you.

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Last Updated Date: August 21, 2003  -7.00 GMT.