Tuesday, July 14, 2009 9:03 PM

The Truth - Draft 1

♥Several years passed. When he found out the truth, Vinsanda was still not able to forget the unbearable happenings. Every now and then, images of those scenes kept flashing through his mind. He just cannot release his hatred towards the Sinhalese.

Back then in the year 1930s, Vinsanda, was an adorable 5 year old Tamil boy. His parents were brought in to Sri Lanka by the British years ago. Not long after, both Jaffna and India gained their independence. The Tamils were all living happily until 1948, when the government of Sri Lanka, made up by the Sinhalese, announced the Ceylon Citizenship Act. This left Vinsanda, his family and many other Tamils to be found stateless. Many others were not able to have a proper job too. This Citizenship Act made many Tamils unhappy and it is where all the conflicts started.

Following by in 1950, the Resettlement Policy was made by the Sri Lanka Government. This caused much unhappiness among the Tamils living in Jaffna. Many poor Sinhalese peasants were also ordered by the government to be settled in Jaffna too, and this made the Tamils provoked as Sinhalese are living in the Tamils’ territories. Therefore, many Tamils including Vinsanda’s dad, Gayesh, were opposing. However, the plan of resettlement still continued.

Vinsanda and his family members were all upset with the Sinhalese. To get back what they deserved, Gayesh wants Vinsanda to study well and get into the university in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka.

“OK! I promise you, dad, I will work hard!” said Vinsanda, in a promising and confidence tone.

However, things turned from bad to worst. The Sri Lanka Government announced the Official Language Act in 1956. English, which was supposed to be the official language of Sri Lanka, changed to Sinhala. Vinsanda was very worried if he was able to manage this new official language, which was a totally ‘alien’ language to him. Moreover, his parents still continued to encourage him.

Few weeks later, something turned out unexpectedly. Vinsanda and his mum, Sivakami were totally shocked and devastated. His dad, Gayesh, was taken away by some Sinhalese soldiers. Sivakami knew that her husband will never return, however she kept truth from Vinsanda.

“Your dad wants you to study hard, so concentrate on your studies. I am sure your dad will be back...” Sivakami said, bearing her tears.

Later on in 1972, a New University Admission criteria was brought out by the Sri Lanka government. This is for the privilege of the Sinhalese, for them to have an easier entry to the University. This also sparked off much unhappiness from the Tamils, in which the government is very unfair to them. Fortunately, Vinsanda was one of the few Tamils that were able to enter the University, with their good results.

Nonetheless, all these Acts and policies made by the Sri Lankan government made the Tamils to be very angry and upset, causing them to use violence towards the Sinhalese. In 1976, there was the Formation of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Not only the Tamils, the Sinhalese also used violence towards the Tamils too. The LTTE, also known as the Tamil Tigers, were not only recruiting men, there were also women and children in this territories group.

Vinsanda knew that by formatting the Tamil Tigers was a bad idea, but what he was worrying is about his dad, Gayesh. It is almost 20 years since his dad was gone. He felt that he had the urge to ask his mum what happened.

“Mum, where is dad? It has been 20 years,” asked Vinsanda.

“Ok, I will tell you the truth, since you are a grown-up now,” Sivakami said as she weeps in tears, “Your dad is dead as The Sinhalese soldiers killed him. I cannot find his body as he is already been buried in a mass grave.”

Vinsanda was too shocked to say anything. His tears just gushed out from his eyes, also shouting for his dad to return. The Tamil Tigers still continue attacking Sri Lanka, and did not admit defeat. On the other hand, due to the wipe-out of the Tamil Tigers recently, the conflicts and riots between Tamil Tigers and Sinhalese then came to an end. However, the deaths that were lost in these riots will never be back and Vinsanda’s dad, Gayesh, will be gone forever, innocently.

(729 Words)

Labels: Sri Lanka Essay (AA)