Modi in Sri Lanka, stresses on peace & harmony in a multi-lingual society

Dickoya, May 12: In the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Tamil-domited tea plantation area in Sri Lanka, Prime Minister rendra Modi on Friday said there is no better sight than a multilingual society living in peace and harmony and exhorted that threads of unity should be strengthened and not separated.

With Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirise and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe by his side, he said diversity calls for celebration and not confrontation. Modi was addressing a strong gathering of Tamils of Indian origin, largely plantation labour.

Modi had visited Sri Lanka two years ago and had undertaken a trip to Jaff in the north at that time. He pointedly mentioned that he is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the hill areas of “this beautiful region”.

The plantation Tamils are distinct from the Tamils of North and East in the island tion, which has for over three decades faced a violent struggle in the two areas by Tamils for their rights.

In a 30-minute speech peppered with quotes from the works of Tamil saints and scholars, he also announced India’s assistance in the construction of 10,000 additiol houses in upcountry areas, where 4,000 have already been built under ownership basis for the beneficiaries.

He said that India has decided to extend the 1990 emergency ambulance service, currently operating in Western and Southern provinces, to all other provinces.

Modi expressed India’s continued commitment to the people of Sri Lanka in their journey of economic progress of the Tamils and others in Sri Lanka.

Recalling the tremendous difficulties and challenges faced by their forefathers when they came from India to settle down here about 200 years ago, he said, “Those men and women were of strong will and courage, who undertook the journey of their life from India to the then Ceylon.”

“Their journey may have been uphill and their struggles hard but they never gave up. Today, we remember and salute that spirit,” he said.

The Prime Minister told the Tamils that being the children of Tamil mother, it was a matter of pride that they also speak Sinhala.

“And language is much more than a tool for communication. It defines a culture, forges relationships, joints communities and acts as a strong unifying force. There is no better sight than a multilingual society living in peace and harmony. Diversity calls for celebration and not confrontation,” he told them.  Recalling the links between Tamils and Sinhalese, Modi said they are historically intertwined. Several Buddhist texts including Jataka tales mention Saint Agastya, whom many consider to be the father of Tamil language. (IANS)