Jul 29, 2021

 

N. Kanthar Palany (Law & Order Officer) and the

Yakka Sinhalese Hyenas in the 60s

By Engr. Kanthar Balanathan, Australia

DipEE, GradCert Rel-Eng-Monash, Dip Bus& Adm (Finance-Massey), CEng. MIEE

 

This writeup is for the honest Tamils to let know how a Tamil family suffered during the 60s and how the Tamil politicians were flourished in wealth.

Late Palany was a Tamil man from Araly North who received distinctions in Latin and English in 1927 and joined the Ceylon Royal Police in 1929. He could have done a BA(Lond); however, he lost his parents when he was quite young and grew up with his sister. He received a royal Ceylon award as the best swimmer and a sharp shooter. He served in various parts of Ceylon and was a hard-core secret supporter of the UNP. In 1960 he was posted as the OIC (Law & Order) for the area of Punduloya. (Kotmale – JD Weerasekera. Quote Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_1960_Ceylonese_parliamentary_election).


He (JDW) boasts that he follows Buddhist Ideology like the half Burmese Gotabaya Rajapakse.

In the 60 election the UNP won and lost in the thrown speech. A repeat election was programmed. During that period a procession (unauthorised) was held and Palany ordered the arrests of the organisers. When he went to the Office, he was told that the organiser was the brother of the Buddhist Hyena JD Weerasekera, former MP for Kotmale. Palany immediately ordered the release of the organiser. In the snap election SLFP won and Srimavo became the PM. After some days in a night, he received radio message that he was being transferred to the South. This order was given by a Dutch Burger DIG Leembruggen. Palany said that he has served in those places. Finally, the DIG confirmed that this order comes direct from the PM that Palany has been demoted and transferred to Batticaloa. Palany reported at Batticaloa and got him transferred to the CID and submitted his retirement papers. Palany came to his village Araly in 1961. With reduced pension his family suffered hardship and his son could not continue with his “A” level and left college. The family were eating Cassava and Sambal at times.

Palany tried to contact his MP Amirthalingham, however, Amirthalingham being a hard nut case refused. Palany contacted his cousin Dr. Kumarasamy and they decided later to throw Amirthalingham out of politics which they did in 1970.

People, now you can see the hyenas how they see Tamils as their enemy. Its like the movies. There is no Law & Order in SriLanka ever under the SLFP government.

Today Gotabaya Rajapaksa states that he will govern SL according to Buddhist ideology. Does he know what the ideologies are? The Sarath Weerasekara, is another Hyena wants to implicate and punish Tamils to suck and lick Gotabaya Rajapaksa. He may not know that eventually Buddha may punish both of them.

These two hyenas: Have they ever said  - “VANAKKAM” being a SriLankan.

The above stated Kanthar Palany is no one other than the father of Kanthar Balanathan, in Australia.

Jul 16, 2021

 

 

Analysis of Tamil’s equivocal movements

around the Planet

By Kanthar Balanathan

DipEE(UK), GradCert(Rel-Eng-Monash), DipBus&Adm (Finance-Massey), CEng. MIEE

Former Director of Power Engineering Solutions Pty Ltd.

 

I am a Sri Lankan (SL) Australian who left SL in 1967, however, I worked for seven years and left SL for good in 1977. I have lived and worked in the UK, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Australia. I have visited a few European countries, Canada, and lived in India for a few months. I am a past student of St. Thomas College and Hartley College in SL and an old boy of the current University of Staffordshire in the UK.

Being a resident of the above countries in the past, I have studied their culture in various dimensions. I am 78+ now and I can think of a “mind map”, a long list of memorable boring irregularities: constraints that restrict economic growth & employment, bribery& corruption, siphoning funds away from public services, associations, sangams, and investments, development limitation, wealth distribution pattern, taxation, lack of public confidence on investment, deterring patriotism, and increasing costs. I have also lived in SL in various cities and villages. This writeup is not against the Tamils. However, it illustrates the truth that exists among the Tami populace.

I am not against the Sinhala community, as I feel the Kandyan Sinhalese are superior to the troublesome Tamil community. Particularly the Kandyan Sinhalese are well cultured and civilised and they practice a humanistic level of love towards humans. It’s the Yakkas from the South and the Malaccans who are the racial mob with xenophobic attitudes who have a shortfall in perception and cannot live in cohesiveness with other races. The Burgers from SL are the best community to be appreciated by all around the world.

Land Area

The land area of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka is approximately 8,884 sq km with a total population of approximately 1.069 million. These data are from the web. Singapore area is 728.3 sq km, Luxenberg 2,584 sq km Pondicherry 483 sq km. Comparatively the area of the North is larger than the technologically advanced Singapore, & Luxenberg. The total population of Singapore is 5.704 million.

49% of the total Tamils in SL reside outside the North and East while only 51% are residents in the N&E.

It should not be concluded that the area of the N&E is small for humans to technologically develop the land. There are significant factors that impact the cognitive mind of the Tamils.

https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/mind. Quote: The mind is an abstract concept used to characterize thoughts, feelings, subjective states, and self-awareness that presumably arise from the brain.

https://psychology.cornell.edu/news/understanding-mind. Quote: The mind that thinks our thoughts is a pretty special place.

Ref: Cognition is a term referring to the mental processes involved in gaining knowledge and comprehension. These cognitive processes include thinking, knowing, remembering, judging, and problem-solving. 1 These are higher-level functions of the brain and encompass language, imagination, perception, and planning.

This does not mean that Tamils lack cognition in their mental process. However, significant factors in life impact their mind which may or may not limit their advancement for development and sustainability.

It cannot be judged that the land area is insufficient for farming. It is the love of people to do farming that limits farming. Even a Tamil boy with a degree in agriculture wants a government job with a pension and wants to boss around people or may want a lower caste person to get down into the farming land. Not all do that, however, some do.

Tamil’s culture and customary practice have a lot of negative bearing on their growth. Particularly the custom of educated guys demanding dowry with a combined asset in millions.

Everyone wants a white-collar job with a pension.

Absence of Water, Ponds, river etc

This is not correct. The Tamils did not make an effort to dredge ponds, and demand for new water reservoirs to be built. Since 1949, the Tamil politician’s contention is to fight for Federalism. They could have demanded federalism before independence, which did not lead the people to assess their capability.

Example: With due respect, I wish to point out that Tamils had their part self-administration given as the Northern Provincial Council who had some responsibility for development. It is regretted that no progress was made by the NPC administration within the period. It is to be pointed out that Sivajilingham (மகாநடிகன்) and a few politicians poured concrete into the Thondaimannar reservoir gate just to fool the people.  Never heard of the project if there was any, afterwards. This is the type of action by our Tamil politicians which will be described later. Ananthi Sasitharan was present with the Board etc for a dredging pond in Chulipuram, if correct, job opening and never heard of whether the pond was dredged or not. She was also on the list of corrupt politicians.

For example, Araly North has a small lake/pond and channels cut with a sluice gate to control water outflow into the Kallundai sea. The gate is rusted and the pond is dry with no maintenance work done.

Table 1 projects the distribution of Tamils in SL. What made them settle in this pattern?

Distribution of Tamil Population in Sri Lanka


Table 1

Colombo

Tamils have love towards Colombo. This generated jealousy in the minds of the Sinhalese. Anyone who has some qualifications immediately moves to Colombo, purchase land or a house and settle. Even a government services clerk receives a dowry which he uses to purchase a land/house. Tamil Overseers in the government service via their corrupt practice accumulates wealth which they invest in Colombo. Civil Engineers also via their corrupt practices invest in land/houses in Colombo. Therefore, Tamil’s goal; step one is to move to Colombo and then move overseas or join their children overseas. This movement has been going on since the 40s. It is only the 1983 riots that encouraged the Tamils to move out of SL.  Move like Kallathoni to countries. Before independence, Tamils moved to UK, USA etc. They were the relatives of Ponnambalam, Arunachalam, Naganathan, and several elite politicians. Let us question; Instead of developing the province, why would they move out of the country? Were they patriots? They were only fond of wealth. Tamil’s culture is integrated with their goal. Even GG Ponnambalam moved to Malaysia to accrue wealth. Looking at Table 1, one can question: why would these Tamils move to the areas as shown. It’s the “economy of scale” that forces them to move. The Jaffna man does not go to eating houses and have lunch/dinner, because of the culture of the dowry system. Generally, they are misers. They intend to accrue wealth to give dowry to their daughters who may have only 8th standard or up to 9th standard or have some sort of biologically deformed anatomy/physiology. This is a draconian system where the wealth dumped are not circulated. Economists and Accountants can understand the result of hoarding gold and wealth.

It is to be presumed, that at least 35% of the people whom they say are Sinhalese are originally Tamils who changed their name for benefits. Same with Tamils who changed their religion to Christianity. Even now Sinhalese carry their Portuguese names. Gunaratnam (Gunaratna), Rajaratnam (Rajaratna) Tilakaratnam (Tilakaratne) etc. SWRD Banda is of Tamil origin. Most of them were an assimilated race. Assimilated with Portuguese, Irish, Dutch, Welsh, Spanish, Scottish, English and Sinhalese etc.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_population_by_nation

Example

Malaysia has a population of 1.8 million Tamils and Myanmar has a Tamil population of one million, and Reunion Island has 120,000. How did this happen? These Tamils did not migrate after education with a degree. Most workers were taken by the Portuguese, French, Dutch, British. Tamils were taken to Myanmar by the British. What made them stay there. Why could not they come back before Independence? They were not kidnapped like slaves. They were taken of their free will.

 Example: Dr Naganathan was born, educated and was working in Madras. He was tactical enough to move to Ceylon before 1948, to enter politics which he was successfully achieved due to his caste status although he looked like an African. The same goes for SJVC, although he has a Filipino outlook. Naganathan although was a member of the FP, his daughter later, was the Secretary for SL in the German embassy. Such acts are ridiculous and cheating the Tamil proletariat. How Naganathan was able to cheat Tamils was during the 1961 satyagraha in front of the Jaffna Kacheri, an army soldier jolted Naganathan with his Rifle butt. The author participated in this satyagraha and was 18 that year. This type of clown act put by ITAK cheated the Tamils and is rooted in their minds.

References: 1) https://neuronmind.blogspot.com/, (ii) A river for Jaffna. Tamil politicians who have a basic LLB degree think that they know everything that is required for governance which may be one reason for Tamils to leave like Seagulls. Whatever it is the LLB guys lack in technology and economics. The issue is that they think that they are SUPERSTARS.

Tamil Elites have a culture of flouncing people in power.

References: 1) https://neuronmind.blogspot.com/, (ii) A river for Jaffna.

A few years ago, Gajendran an MP, while sitting in Sri Lankan parliament stated: “Our Tamil Eelam air force planes bombed SriLankan airfield”. What type of idiocy is this coming out of this statement? This happens a lot within Tamil politicians.

Further, there is no question of Tamil Eelam; But Eelam. Not all in the N&E are Tamils. The population consists of Telugu, Malabar’s, Tamil, Karnataka etc. It should be addressed as “Eelam”.

Statement by Balanathan: Quote:

Humans perceive different effects about the same state, as perceptions vary from person to person. People assign different meanings to what they perceive. Although all human males are born with ≈1.5 kg of the brain, not all perceive the same thing in the same perspective, the same way. (Balanathan)

“Perception is an active mental act. It is a dynamic, a dialectical conflict between the self-perspective transformation and external vectors of power bearing upon us. That which we perceive is a balance between these antagonists”. (Ref: Understanding Conflict and War: vol. 1: the dynamic psychological field, chapter 11, by R.J. Rummel)

Caste System

The caste system generates a significant volume of detrimental, devastating issues for the development and growth of their domiciled nation. What benefits in terms of economics and quality systems do the caste system practised by the damn Tamis generates to their race? Can the literates itemise the benefits?

Vellalar, Pandarams etc: Who are the Vellalar and Pandarams. There are various levels of Pandarams: Madaippalli, Andi, Samayal, they are not four-headed Brahma.

Vellalar: They are no Krishna’s, or Sivas. A doctor or engineer from the different castes does not possess different levels of knowledge and IQ.

Early days the Brahmins, to level them above others created the caste system. The only difference is that the Brahmins can speak Sanskrit. Anyone can learn and speak Sanskrit. Therefore, the difference in human-centred level is not controlled by the Brahmins or the people.

AVA Group: This is a group that was formed by someone powerful. Whom are they killing? It’s a belief that the AVA group is murdering people from the lower caste to force them to be submissive. A few years back, the water tank was poisoned at Mallakam College. The reason is that the students at the college were intelligent, however, they all were from the lower caste. The jealousy among the elite students made them murder the lower caste children.

“There is a saying that all people are created equal”.

Can anyone prove that the level of knowledge and IQ of an engineer from a lower caste is lower than the elite? Again, I wish to point out my statement on IQ level.

Why not have a “PATTIMANRAM” on Tamil caste issues and what volume of damage the system is generating to the Tamil populace?

மனமுண்டானால் இடமுன்று என்பார்கள். தமிழன் ஒரு கெட்ட சாதி என்று ஜி,ஜி, பொன்னம்பலம் அன்று கூறினர்.

பட்டிமன்றம் நடத்த முயற்சிக்கும் தாயே! “தம்பி” படம் பார்த்தீர்களா? தயவு செய்து பாருங்கள்.

அதிக வயோதிபர்கள், புலம் பெயர்ந்து வந்ததும் (Income Support) என்று பணம் கொடுப்பார்கள். இவர்கள், இலங்கையிலும் pension எடுத்துக்கொண்டு திமிரோடு வாழ்வார்கள். When they go to SL, they spend their SL money. They may not have paid a single dollar tax to the country in which they receive income support. இவர்கள்தான் புலம் பெயர் நாட்டிலும் சாதி வேறுபாட்டு பழக்கத்தில்  வாழ்கின்றார்கள். Well, they receive two incomes.

Options

புலம் பெயர் நாட்டில் தமிழர்கள் ஒரு மனதோடு வாழ்வதில்லை. அங்கேயும் சாதி வேறுபாடுகள் இருக்கிறது. பொது இடத்திலும் சாதி குறைந்தவர்களை பண்டாரங்கள் மதிப்பதில்லை. ஓரம் கட்டப் பார்க்கின்றார்கள். தலைவர் என்றால் பண்டாரம், அல்லது வெள்ளாளர் தான் இருக்கலாம். இவர்கள் கள்வர்கள். பல இடங்களில் பணம் களவெடுத்து இருக்கின்றார்கள்.

இதனால்தான் தமிழ் பிள்ளைகள், வெள்ளையர்களையும், வேறு இன மக்களையும் திருமணம் செய்கின்றார்கள். சில குழந்தைகள், ஆபிரிக்க நாட்டு ஆண்களையும் திருமணம் செய்கின்றார்கள்.

புலம் பெயர்ந்து ஆலயங்களை கட்டுகின்றார்கள். சண்டை பிடிக்கின்றார்கள். ஒரு கேள்வி; இவர்களுடைய வரும் காலத்து பேரன் பேத்திகள் இவ் ஆலயங்களுக்கு செல்வார்களா? நாங்களே பணத்திற்காக புலம் பெயர்ந்துவிட்டு, பின் எதற்காக, ஈழம் என்று அலட்டுவான். என் அங்கே போய் வாழ இயலாதா புலம் பெயர்ந்த பெண் பிள்ளைகள் சிலர் தற்கொலை செய்கின்றார்கள்.

இன்று சீனன் இலங்கையுள் உட்புகுந்துவிட்டான். எமது இனம் இனிமேல் சீன மக்களாடு கலப்பார்கள். கலாச்சாரம் மாறும். எங்கே வருவாய் உள்ளதோ, அங்கே தமிழன் உட்புகுந்துகொள்வான்.

Quote: Tamils in Scarborough, Canada, have been fighting using filth words. https://jvpnews.com/article/viral-fight-of-sri-lankans-in-canada-1625916253-கனடாவில் தமிழர்கள் சண்டை போடும் காட்சி.  புலம் பெயர்ந்த தமிழர்கள் மனநிம்மதியோடு வாழ்கின்றார்கள் என்பதில் அமெரிக்க தமிழர்களின் எண்ணமா? இல்லை. பேராசையும் கூடி பகுத்தறிவும் இல்லாமல் நமது தமிழ் சாதியினர் கூத்தடிக்கின்றனர்.

This is not the first or only incident. In Sydney, one Tamil was murdered. An example. Fraudulent practices occur in Scarborough.  Why is it that the so-called Pandarams and Vellalar’s get angry when a lower caste person enters politics? For the last 73 years, these Pandarams and Vellalar have been cheating the Tamil race by misleading. Politics cannot be practised on a caste basis. Democracy has been quite suitable to the Tamil Pandarams to cheat the lowest caste Tamils as their IQ is quite low.

Conclusions

1.        At my age, I have studied the behavioural pattern and cognisant of Tamils, I conclude that they will never correct themselves as Tamils are quite selfish by character and nature. Maybe the reason for the dowry system and caste system was introduced to achieve this. I have contributed my part to the Tamils and, I have served among the Tamil mob for 8 years at KKS, and a few years among the Sinhalese: I find that working among the Sinhalese is the quite healthier and friendlier environment. I was oppressed and discriminated against for the 8 years that I worked among the Tamils. As said earlier I have lived in every part of SL. I have studied the Sinhalese language at the age of seven.

2.        If Tamils are to practice vehemently the caste system extending to diaspora from SL, then the Tamils should forget getting their administration. The reason is the assimilation into the Sinhalese and races like Irish, etc. Already most Tamils have assimilated blood in their veins. Former CMs boys married Sinhalese girls. Significant Tamil boys married Irish, Scottish and even Africans. It’s a strategic vision we all should have over a 50-year horizon. Tamils are spending millions of dollars building temples and get into fights: Can they vouch that their children, grandchildren will go to these temples.

3.        The best solution is to dismantle ITAK which has been causing damage to Tamils for the last 72 years and live under a United National Scheme. Forget Tamil Eelam and bring back the GA administration.

4.        If at all the Tamils in SL will reform themselves, then it is suitable for the island to have the four states + CT administration. If Tamils are to think that their caste practice is quite important, then they are not fit to govern themselves. (Nuwara, Ruhunu, Rajarata, Yarl/Vanni, CT).

5.        A separate country like Singapore to identify as Eelam is not possible with the current Tamils caste structure and the culture and their egoism. Technically Tamils do not have the appetite for innovation, creativity and inventions. Tamils want an easy job like selling mustards and Dosa. It may take another 200-300 years for the Tamils to advance like the Singaporeans, or Luxenberg’s. The Tamil diaspora is unable to fit into the migrated society but live like the frog in the well.

6.        Therefore, please shut up and put up with what you get from the GOSL.

7.        So far, no Tamil association or even the TGTE has criticised the AVA group killing of Tamils.

8.       I am sorry that I have to write this article on this line as I find that shouting “EELAM” from overseas is like dogs barking at the MOON.

9.       Sambanthar should go to an Age Care. Most Tamil politicians should give up politics and maybe they should leave the island.

10.    What Tamils find is that the politicians in SL are incompetent nincompoops.

14th July 2021

Jul 5, 2021

 

Countering Climate Change: Maintaining Food production in Jaffna, Sri Lanka

 

Thiru Arumugam, Freelance Consulting Engineer, Sydney, Australia  

 

Kanagasabapathy Shanmugarajah, Freelance Consulting Engineer, Sydney, Australia

  

Lucius Mendis, Member, Governing Board, Institute of Fundamental Studies,

Kandy, Sri Lanka

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

The Jaffna Peninsula which is the northernmost tip of Sri Lanka, has an area of about 1000 square km and being relatively flat has no rivers and is totally dependent on the annual rainfall of about 1270 mm, of which about 87% falls during the north-east monsoon from October to December, for recharge of the water table in the underground aquifer.  In the past, water was drawn from wells for domestic and agricultural use by well sweeps, but from the 1950’s onwards pumps have been used to draw water from these wells.  There are about 100,000 wells in the Peninsula. This over pumping for agricultural use has drawn down the fresh water stored in the limestone aquifer resulting in sea water percolating into the wells through the fractured limestone, as no part of Jaffna is more than about 15 km from the sea.  

 

Of the 1000 sq km area of the Jaffna Peninsula, about 60% is occupied  by residential usage, home gardens, roads, parks, public buildings etc., about 13% (13,700 hectares) is cultivated with food and subsidiary crops and about 13% (13,000 hectares) is cultivable with rain-fed rice paddy.  4% of the land is not arable due to soil salinity and the balance 10% of the Peninsula is occupied by two lagoons, which are presently saline. (Ref. 1)  At present about 30% of the wells in the Jaffna Peninsula are saline. Recent reports from agricultural experts state that more than 4500 hectares of fertile agricultural land have turned saline and have become unsuitable for cultivation.

 

It is anticipated that due to climate change causing rising sea levels and drought the present trend of losing arable land in the Jaffna Peninsula due to soil salinity will progressively increase, causing further losses in food production.  It is therefore necessary to consider what urgent measures could be undertaken to combat climate change and maintain (and increase) food production in the Jaffna Peninsula.  An appropriate solution is to complete the ‘River for Jaffna Project’.  Construction work on this project was carried out in the 1940s and 1950s, but it was never completed due to lack of funds and now lies in a totally abandoned state. 

 

Within the Jaffna peninsula there are two large lagoons, the Vadamarachchi lagoon and the Upparu lagoon with surface areas of about 77 and 26 square km respectively.  These are large shallow lagoons and cover a significant proportion (10%) of the peninsula’s land area of 1000 square km.  These lagoons have openings to the sea and are salt water lagoons but during the north-east monsoon rain water from their catchment areas also collects in them. The total catchment area of these lagoons is about 50% of the area of the Peninsula.

 

Paddy cultivation in the Jaffna Peninsula is essentially rain-fed cultivation.  Cash crops and market garden crops are, however, irrigated using well water.  The British Colonial Secretary, Sir James Emerson Tennant in 1859 has described market gardening in Jaffna as follows and his description remains basically unchanged to this day except that pumps have, for the most part, replaced well sweeps: 

 

“In the immediate vicinity of Point Pedro (and the description applies equally well to the vicinity of Jaffna and the western division of the peninsula in general), the perfection of the village cultivation is truly remarkable; it is horticulture rather than agriculture, and reminds one of the market gardens of Fulham and Chelsea more forcibly than anything I have seen out of England.  Almost every cottage has a garden attached to it, wherein are grown fruit-trees and flowers, the latter being grown in great quantities for decoration and offering in the temples. Each is situated in a wellsecured enclosure, with one or more wells. From these night and day, but chiefly during the night, labourers are employed for raising water by means of vessels (frequently woven of palm leaves) attached to horizontal levers; something like the sakkias used by the peasants on the Nile for a similar purpose, except that in Jaffna two persons at least are required for each well, one of whom walks back and forward along the lever, whilst the other below directs the bucket in its ascent and empties its contents into a reservoir, whence by removing a clod of earth with the foot, it is admitted into conducting channels, and led to the several beds in succession.  The value of these wells is extreme in a country where rivers and even the smallest stream are unknown, and where the cultivators are entirely dependent on the rains of the two monsoons.  But such has been the indefatigable industry of the people in providing them, that they may be said to have virtually added a third harvest to the year, by the extent to which they have multiplied the means of irrigation around their principal towns and villages.”  (Ref. 2)

 

The earliest known recorded observation about improving the fresh water situation in the Jaffna Peninsula was made nearly 350 years ago in a recently translated report by the Dutch Captain Hendrile van Reede, in which he states:

 

A dike to contain the sea at Condemanaer and Navacolli, with sluices to claim the rain water and a canal to the salt pans at Nieweli would create more useful arable land.”  (Ref. 3)

 

Van Reede suggests a barrage at Thondamannaru and another at Navatkuli (Ariyalai) to convert Vadamaradchi and Upparu lagoons into freshwater lagoons, and a separate canal for salt water from the sea to the Upparu salterns. He was a remarkably perceptive man to realize this on a casual visit to Jaffna.  Only a Dutchman with their long history of land reclamation would have thought of this scheme.

 

In 1879, the Northern Province Government Agent, Twyneham, proposed that dams be constructed to prevent  salt water from entering the lagoons, but before it could be implemented there was a severe cyclone and flooding, possibly a tsunami caused by the eruption of the volcano Krakatoa in Indonesia in 1883 which caused severe flooding in Jaffna and Twyneham withdrew his proposals. He feared that if the dams had been already constructed, the flooding would have been much worse.

 

In 1916 the Government Agent, Horsberg, suggested that as an experiment the culverts where the Point Pedro – Chavakacheri road crosses the Vadamaradchi lagoon be temporarily blocked by wooden gates, thus making the upper reaches of Vadamaradchi lagoon a freshwater lagoon. The work was done in 1920 and the scheme operated successfully for four years.  Although it was decided to make the scheme permanent, this was never done, possibly due to the great depression which followed and placed the Government in serious financial difficulties.

 

In the 1930s and 1940s the Divisional Irrigation Engineer, Webb, produced detailed plans for barrages at Thondamannaru and Ariyalai.  The scheme was supported in the State Council by Balasingham who was a member of the Council, but the war intervened and construction work on the Thondamannaru Barrage commenced only in 1947 and was completed in 1953, and the Ariyalai Barrage was completed in 1955.  However these Barrages are no longer functional as the wooden gates and stop logs have perished and sea water passes through them freely.

 

If we are to increase the availability of fresh water in the Jaffna peninsula we need to look at sources alternative to rain in the peninsula.  South of the peninsula is the sea water Elephant Pass Lagoon which is relatively shallow but has a surface area of about 77 square km.  It has a catchment area of about 940 square km in the mainland Vanni, mainly consisting of the Kanakarayan Aru and three smaller streams.  During the north-east monsoon these streams discharge the surplus rain water from the Vanni into the Elephant Pass lagoon. From this lagoon this fresh water flows into the sea through the eastern end at Chundikulam and formerly also through the western end Elephant Pass bridge, and is at present being wasted.

 

During the 1960’s a scheme was proposed to utilise the monsoon rain water running to waste from the Elephant Pass lagoon, for the benefit of the Jaffna peninsula. 

 

 

 

 

KEY POINTS of the RIVER for JAFFNA Project

 

Key points of the scheme and details of the work done at that time are as follows:

 

        Close off the openings in the road and rail bridges in the Elephant Pass causeway at the western end of the Elephant Pass lagoon to prevent fresh water going to the sea from this end.  This work was completed.

 

        Build a bund at the eastern end of the Elephant Pass lagoon at Chundikulam to prevent fresh water going to the sea at that end and also provide a spillway to discharge excess flood water to the sea.  This work was completed and Elephant Pass lagoon became a fresh water lagoon for a few years but unfortunately the bund was breached by subsequent heavy floods, thus allowing sea water access since then.

 

        Excavate a 12 metre wide, 4 km long channel, called the Mulliyan Link Channel, from the northern side of the Elephant Pass lagoon to convey fresh water from the Elephant Pass lagoon to the southern end of the Vadamarachchi lagoon, including regulatory gates to control the flow. Unfortunately this work was never completed.  About 80% was completed when funds ran out and work stopped.

 

        Refurbish the existing Thondamanaru Barrage (where the northern end of Vadamarachchi lagoon joins the sea) to make it watertight, and improve the discharge gates to allow for discharge of flood water.  This will make Vadamarachchi lagoon a fresh water lagoon.  This work was carried out but the present condition of the barrage is that it is no longer watertight and allows sea water to enter the lagoon.

 

        Provide a spillway and gates at the southern end of Upparu Lagoon where it connects to the sea, near Ariyalai.  This will make Upparu lagoon a fresh water lagoon. Provide a link channel between Vadamarachchi and Upparu lagoons so that fresh water from Elephant Pass lagoon can be supplied to Upparu lagoon.  The spillway and gates were constructed but the present condition of the gates is that it is no longer watertight and allows sea water to enter Upparu lagoon.

 

It can be seen from the above that the scheme was only partially completed in the 1960’s and the main key element of the Mulliyan link channel to convey fresh water from Elephant Pass lagoon to Vadamarachchi lagoon was never completed.  In the brief period that Vadamarachchi and Upparu were fresh water lagoons the benefits to the peninsula were noticeable and many saline wells became potable water wells.  The present situation is that the barrages at Thondamanaru and Ariyalai are no longer watertight and are allowing sea water to enter these lagoons freely.

 

PROJECT BENEFITS

 

The benefits of completing this project include the following:

 

  About 13,000 hectares of land can be cultivated with paddy in the Jaffna peninsula.  The area presently cultivated is about 8000 hectares due to soil salinity and other reasons.  This cultivation is entirely rain fed unlike paddy cultivation on the mainland which is watered by irrigation channels.  As it is rain fed, the yield per acre in Jaffna is very poor and is only about one-third of the average yield per acre on the mainland.  If the

Vadamarachchi and Upparu lagoons become fresh water lakes, the water table and water quality in the wells will improve, and using lift irrigation it will be possible to irrigate these paddy fields without depending purely on the rain and the paddy land now lying fallow can also be cultivated.  The potential for improvement in yield and rice production is staggering.

 

  About 4400 hectares of land bordering the Vadamarachchi and Upparu lagoons are uncultivable at present as they are saline.  When these become fresh water lagoons, after the salt is leached out of the soil, it will be possible to cultivate this land with cash crops and paddy.

 

  There will be a dramatic improvement in the water quality of the 30% of the Jaffna wells which are now saline.  In many cases the water will become suitable for domestic use and agricultural use, increasing the acreage under agricultural cultivation.

 

  In the existing wells it will be possible to increase the amount of daily pumping without the water going saline, thus increasing agricultural cultivation and livestock production.

 

  Fresh water prawn farming can commence on the banks of the lagoons, with potential for export earnings.

 

  Converting Elephant Pass lagoon into a 77 sq km fresh water lagoon will provide fresh agricultural possibilities on both sides of the lagoon i.e.  the Jaffna peninsula side on the north, as well as the Vanni side on the south, once the salinity has been leached out of the soil. 

 

WORK NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE SCHEME

 

K Shanmugarajah who was Chief Engineer of this project in the 1970’s has written a comprehensive book on this project. (Ref. 4)  The book details the history of the project, contains detailed designs, details of the work carried out and work remaining to be done.  Detailed cost estimates have also been included. The cost figures given below are from that book.  At 1991 rates, the cost of completing the project was estimated as Rs 280 million, and projected to cost Rs 350 million in 1995.  This estimate will have to be updated to present day costs. Probable present day total costs would be of the order of US $ 10 million.

 

A project of this magnitude will require foreign aid funding for implementation.  If funds for the full project are not immediately available, phased implementation could be considered in the following steps:

 

Step 1:  Recondition Thondamanaru Barrage

 

Replace and repair perished wooden gates and lifting devices etc.  If this barrage is made watertight Vadamarachchi lagoon will become a fresh water lagoon fed with rain water from its 300 sq km catchment area.

 

Step 2 :  Recondition Ariyalai  Barrage

 

Repair and replace perished planked bays and replace with screw operated gates.  Repair breaches in separation bund between Upparu lagoon and Ariyalai saltern. Repair separation bund between Vadamarachchi and Upparu lagoons as required.  This will make Upparu lagoon a fresh water lagoon fed with rain water from its 220 sq km catchment area.

 

Step 3 :  Complete Mulliyan Link Channel

 

Complete excavation of Mulliyan Link Channel, form bund and roadway, causeway and provide control regulator. Estimated cost of this work at 1991 rates was Rs 42 million plus administration and facilities costs.  Provide link channel between Vadamarachchi and Upparu lagoons. When this work is completed there is a possibility that the water in the Elephant Pass lagoon at the height of the north east monsoon may be sufficiently low in saline content, even before the Spill cum Causeway at Chundikulam is completed, to enable it to be diverted to Vadamarchchi and Upparu lagoons as required.

 

Step 4 :  Complete Spill cum Causeway at Chundikulam

 

At the eastern end of Elephant Pass lagoon at Chundikulam, complete the spill cum Chundikulam causeway, zoned embankment, and flanked embankment with gravel road.   The spill plus causeway will be 2100 metres long and the bund 1400 metres long. Estimated cost of this work at 1991 rates was Rs 93 million plus administration and facilities costs.  When this work is completed Elephant Pass lagoon will become a fresh water lagoon.

 

Repair and improve 8 km long access road from Paranthan-Mullaitivu road to Chundikulam causeway.

 

ATTEMPTS AT SCHEME APPROVAL

 

In January 1983 a report was submitted to the President of Sri Lanka, J R Jayewardene urging the completion of the scheme.  The President convened a meeting in May 1983 at which he directed the Government officials present to implement the scheme.  He also appointed K Shanmugarajah,

a co-author of this paper, as Consultant for the Project.  Unfortunately the 1983 internal disturbances occurred shortly thereafter and the implementation did not proceed.

 

In July 2003 the then Minister for Irrigation and Water Management, Gamini Jayawickrema Perera, after visiting the project site was to submit a cabinet paper for the completion of the project.  He described it as an “all embracing solution for water problems in Jaffna”.  Due to change of Government shortly thereafter, no further progress was made on project implementation.

 

In October 2007 at the Annual Sessions of the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka, held in Colombo, a Resolution was passed by an overwhelming majority with only one dissenting vote.  The Resolution urged the Government to complete this Project. This Resolution has been conveyed to the Government. 

 

A presentation on the River for Jaffna Project was also made by the principal author of this paper,

Thiru Arumugam, in November 2007 in Colombo, Sri Lanka at the Nobel Peace Prize winning

Pugwash Organisation’s Workshop on Learning from Ancient Hydraulic Civilizations to combat

Climate Change. A resolution worded as follows was passed at this Workshop, proposed by Ambassador Jayantha Dhanapala, President, Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs and seconded by  D L O Mendis, a co-author of this paper:  

This Pugwash Workshop resolves to recommend to the Government of Sri Lanka that the project known as A River for Jaffna that was started some fifty years ago, and almost completed, but is now in a state of disuse and abandonment, should be restored without delay, as a most important step towards including Sri Lankans of the Jaffna peninsula in the development and enjoyment of the natural resources of the country, thereby contributing to early achievement of a durable peace.

This Resolution will receive global publicity when the Proceedings of the Pugwash Workshop are released in the near future.

When this project is finally completed there will be a complete transformation in the agricultural productivity of the Jaffna Peninsula and the quality of life will also be greatly improved by solving to a large extent the problem of salinity in wells. 

 

References:

 

(1)  Sanmugam Arumugam, Development of Ground Water and its exploitation in the Jaffna     Peninsula, Transactions of the Institution of Engineers, Ceylon, 1970.

 

(2)  Reproduced from D L O Mendis, Evolution and Development of Water and Soil Conservation     Ecosystems – from Ancient Dry Zone Forest Garden to Modern Jaffna Market Garden, p 88,  Sri Lanka Pugwash Group Publication, 2001.

 

(3)  Hendrile van Reede, Captain to the Dutch Governor of Ceylon, Rijckloff van Goens, A Report   of the journey from Colombo to Manaar, Jaffnapatnam and its subordinate posts and forts,  01 December 1665.

 

(4)  K Shanmugarajah, Water Resources Development Jaffna Peninsula,  Fast Books, Australia, 1993.

 

 

  12-04-2024 Engr. Kanthar Balanathan DipEE (UK), GradCert (RelEng-Monash), DipBus&Adm (Finance-Massey), C.Eng., MIEE, Former Dire...