Many of us have unique collecting habits. I know someone who amasses stamps, while another is passionate about collecting coins from various nations. My uncle takes pride in his collection of liquor bottles, ranging from DCSL Extra Special to the prestigious Johnnie Walker Blue. The extent of our collections often reflects our financial capabilities, doesn’t it? However, in Colombo, an individual’s collection went beyond the ordinary. He was not just passionate about cars, but specifically high-end Mercedes-Benz vehicles. His residence on Queens Road in Colombo was emblematic of this passion, featuring an expansive portico explicitly designed to protect and display his Mercedes-Benz collection. This selective collector was Mr. Gaasinather Gangaser Ponnambalam, commonly called Kumar Ponnambalam.
During a car exhibition at Colombo’s BMICH, the city’s elite showcased their prized vehicles. Amidst the display, a man kept returning, parking another luxurious car each time. This raised suspicions among the police. Could one person possess so many luxury cars? They speculated he might be a car thief. However, upon questioning him, they discovered he was none other than Kumar Ponnambalam.
The Ponnambalam family is renowned as one of Sri Lanka’s wealthiest, if not in Asia. Kumar’s son, Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, president and an MP from the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF), is widely considered one of the Country’s most affluent politicians. He inherited a substantial fortune from his family. Thanks to Kumar’s impressive collection of Benz cars, his son Gajendrakumar earned the nickname “Benz Gajendran.” Sources suggest that Gajendrakumar receives around ten crores monthly from rents on various properties he owns in Colombo.
I would not have felt compelled to write this if Gajendrakumar had simply focused on amassing wealth or enjoying his familial fortune. The issue arises when he begins radicalizing innocent Tamil youths for his politics. My concern deepens when he, driven by self-interest, opposes potentially beneficial solutions like the 13th amendment and, in doing so, further radicalizes a new generation. The systematic activities of him and his political party suggest a disturbing intent: a desire for further conflict. Even in the shadow of the Mullivaikkal tragedy, his thirst for blood appears unquenched. Recent actions by his party lend weight to suspicions that he might be pursuing even more sinister agendas, reminiscent of a bloodthirsty giant from mythological tales.
TNPF’s Memorial Rally: A Provocative Strategy
The Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF), under the leadership of Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, orchestrated a memorial rally in honor of Thileepan. Thileepan, once the head of the LTTE’s political wing, is remembered for his intense hunger strike, where he abstained from food and water until his passing. This commemorative event featured a dedicated vehicle and spanned from Pottuvil, a town in the eastern Ampara District of Sri Lanka, all the way to Nallur, a village in the northern Jaffna region.
The distance from Pottuvil to Nallur is approximately 477 km. This journey traverses several towns and villages with predominantly Sinhala and Muslim populations. Both communities hold deep-seated animosities towards the LTTE. While the Muslim community remained passive during the rally, tensions escalated in Kappalthurai, Trincomalee, where a Sinhala mob confronted and attacked the commemorative vehicle with stones and batons.
While Thileepan’s unyielding determination during his fast unto death might have elevated him to a heroic status among Tamils, it’s challenging to see him being revered in the same light by Sinhala and Muslim communities that have been deeply affected by the LTTE’s violent actions. The rally appears to have been meticulously planned to provoke Sinhalese and Muslims. Routing it through areas predominantly inhabited by these two communities seemed like a calculated move, possibly anticipating and capitalizing on the expected confrontational reactions. The very design of this path might reveal its intent. While the Muslim community exhibited restraint in the face of these potential provocations, a section of the Sinhalese community responded.
Subsequently, the propaganda arm of the TNPF sprang into action. Fueled by substantial financial backing from the Tamil diaspora, they launched an extensive indoctrination campaign on social media. Some Tamil-language publications and journalists, dubiously labeled as ‘neutral,’ also contributed to spreading this narrative. The propagated message rang loud and clear: ‘The Sinhalese attacked Thileepan, who sacrificed his life for the Tamils without consuming even a single drop of water. The solution to this injustice? Rally behind TNPF and support them electorally and financially,’ they proclaimed.
TNPF’s Propaganda and Echoes of LTTE
While most Tamils cautiously approached the TNPF’s propaganda, a segment of naive Tamil youths in their teens and 20s were swayed by its harmful indoctrination. Due to this skewed narrative, These young individuals believed that the entire Sinhalese community was responsible for the attack on the memorial float commemorating Thileepan. They overlooked the TNPF’s role in stoking the flames of conflict.
The concern arises from the observation that the TNPF seems to adopt the same strategies that the LTTE once employed on the Tamil population. This approach appears systematic in its intent to influence perceptions and ideologies. Instead of fostering critical thinking within the younger generation, there is a clear push to adopt certain narratives without critical examination. This can instigate conflicts with other communities, escalating violence while portraying themselves as victims. It’s crucial to note the similarities in tactics between the TNPF and LTTE, particularly in how they engage with the youth.
As a Tamil who has personally witnessed the devastating civil war, I am acutely aware of the severe consequences the LTTE’s propaganda machine had on the Sri Lankan Tamil community. The misleading narratives and tactics LTTE employed brought unimaginable suffering to our people.
Weaponizing the ‘Traitor’ Label
There’s also growing concern regarding the tendency of TNPF to label those who disagree with them politically or ethically as ‘Traitors.’ This tactic mirrors the methods of the LTTE, who accused and killed countless Tamils under the same label. During the last conflict, Tamils attempting to flee LTTE-controlled territories were labeled traitors and subsequently killed. Those challenging the force recruitments of the LTTE also faced similar fates. TNPF continues this troubling tradition of labeling. Almost every leader or individual, regardless of their political Stance, who challenges or questions the political machinations of the TNPF is deemed a traitor. Kanagaratnam Sugash, a prominent voice for TNPF, is notably quick to use this label. In the journalistic circle, there was a joke: Sugas once labeled a biryani vendor a ‘national betrayer ‘just because he failed to give him the desired leg piece.
A Dangerous Blend: Narcotics and Politics in Jaffna
Jaffna is increasingly gaining notoriety as a hub for narcotics. A range of substances, from heroin to crystal methamphetamine (commonly known as “ice”), codeine, and even cannabis (often referred to as “ganja”), can be readily found in the area. Alarmingly, a small portion of its youth, including school-going children, is succumbing to addiction due to the unchecked flow of drugs within the region. A recent report that particularly disturbed many parents in Jaffna was the arrest of schoolgirls in possession of heroin. The idea of students indulging in such substances just a few years ago would have been unthinkable.
Some experts believe this trend isn’t accidental but a deliberate targeting of the younger generation. While many drug distributors have been apprehended, their release often follows shortly after. Why? Prominent legal advocates, directly or indirectly associated with the TNPF, have represented these individuals, facilitating their escape. This questionable allegiance of some advocates who claim to champion Tamil nationalism is drawing criticism. There’s widespread talk in Jaffna about a leading TNPF-affiliated lawyer who consistently represents drug offenders. Rumors also suggest that the earnings from representing these criminals enabled him to buy prime real estate in the heart of Colombo. Numerous respected Jaffna figures have publicly pleaded with these lawyers to refrain from representing drug-related cases, but to little avail. Drug peddlers in Jaffna operate with a sense of impunity, confident that they have a solid legal support system ready to back them.
Adding another layer to the complexity of the drug issue in Jaffna is the alleged misuse of these vulnerable drug-addicted youth by certain factions within the TNPF. There are claims that these “Tamil nationalists” exploit the situation by leveraging these impressionable youths for their agendas, mainly to enforce their influence or quell dissent.
Reports suggest that those who oppose or criticize the TNPF might be at odds with these manipulated youths, who are dispatched to ‘set things straight.’ Such tactics, if true, have grave implications. In examining the surge in violent incidents, particularly the so-called “sword violence,” fingers increasingly point towards this unholy alliance. Such developments underscore a dangerous blend of narcotics and politics, further destabilizing a vulnerable community.
TNPF’s Stance on the 13th Amendment: Inconsistencies and Contradictions
The 13th Amendment in Sri Lanka has sparked varied reactions within Tamil political groups since its introduction in 1987. Intended as a remedy to address the grievances of the Tamil minority by providing some degree of autonomy to provinces, its reception has been mixed. Politicians like Douglas Devananda see the amendment as a positive step forward. On the other hand, Sampanthan, the leader of the Tamil National Alliance, had famously remarked that he wouldn’t even touch the amendment with a broomstick. As time passed, he began to acknowledge its potential importance. However, TNPF, under Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam’s leadership, staunchly opposes it, going so far as to label its supporters as “traitors.”
TNPF opposes the 13th Amendment act from its amused “Two Nations in One Country” ideology. Frankly, I don’t know if Gajendrakumar himself fully grasps its meaning. The core issue is the seeming contradiction between TNPF’s “Two Nations in One Country” ideology and its participation in general elections, which implies recognizing Sri Lanka as a singular entity. If Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam and the TNPF truly support this “Two Nations” concept, their electoral involvement within the Sri Lankan framework appears inconsistent.
An open-minded observer might think the TNPF is just clowning around, wondering if they’re even in the big league. But dismissing them as mere political jokers would be a grave oversight. Their deliberate tactics targeting the youth and provocations toward other ethnicities require thorough examination. The substantial financial backing they allegedly secure from the diaspora should not be taken lightly. Given the Tamil community’s history marred by three tumultuous decades of conflict, vigilance against emerging threats, notably the TNPF, is paramount. Equally important is the Sri Lankan government’s role in meticulously monitoring diaspora fund transfers and investigating any unsubstantiated allegations of illicit ties with the TNPF. Complacency is not an option.
