Unity of Sri Lankans

I must disagree with Rohana Wasala’s claim that Sri Lanka was communally divided at independence (The Island Opinion, 9 Mar). During the entire British period there were scarcely any instances of violence between Sinhalese and Tamils and the vast majority of the State Councillors at independence (51 out of 54) voted in favour of the Soulbury Constitution. This was the only occasion in Sri Lanka’s history that the majority of leaders of all communities agreed on the constitution of the country. If the British were intent on dividing and ruling, they were remarkably unsuccessful.

Dr R P Fernando

UK