Comments on: Black Thoughts

By: David Blacker

David Blacker — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 05:18:04 +0000

Roshan, yeah I think it was blue.

Vivi, thanks.

By: Roshan

Roshan — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 14:08:57 +0000

Hi David

I am late to read this post of yours but it really took my memories to college in grade 6 when we got caught up in this. It was a term test day as well if i remember and school closed early. I recall coming to school in the bus with the grand old “Amme” who used to take me and my younger brother to school and how the jewelery shops were ablaze that morning.

By the way i think i remember your dad’s CG125 you happen to mention. Blue colour right, with tall side mirrors?

By: Vivi

Vivi — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 03:45:52 +0000

Came across this post on groundviews, I know, really late. Just want to say it touched me deeply, and is so beautifully written. I was quite shielded from the 1983 riots because I grew up in a provincial town where the population is 99% Sinhalese Buddhist, and we went to school even though there was curfew because life seemed normal there. Saw everything only on the little black and white TV we had back then. Of course 87-89 was very different for us in terms of exposure to horror, but that is a different story…..Thank you for sharing this.

By: Rajpal

Rajpal — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:08:51 +0000

Hi David, I’m sorry to intrude on your blog — but just in case you did not know our mutual friend Dammik passed away. Had a heart attack last night.
you probably know but this is in case you don’t…because Dhammik was to himself so probably some of his friends might not know… if they were out of the loop….
I have no other way of contacting you.
Rajpal Abeynayake

By: David Blacker

David Blacker — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 06:11:29 +0000

DeeCee, no I haven’t been to “July”.

Black Knight, somehow, I find that most of the hatred is felt by Sinhalese and Tamils living outside Sri Lanka. It’s as if their experiences remain frozen in amber and untempered by the context of subsequent events. I’m sure the victims of Black July still living in SL also feel loss and bitterness, and I agree that reparations must be made, but I feel that such a move will not happen until the war itself ends.

CBK made a rather empty apology a few years ago, both to the Black July victims and those killed by the state in the second JVP insurrection.

By: Black Knight

Black Knight — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:19:27 +0000

I think the government should apologize to the Tamil people for the failure of the State to protect its own citizens in’83. The victims should be traced (wherever they are now) and compensated. What happened could not be dismissed “as if it never happened”.

The hatred is so deep-rooted, I don’t know if we will see reconciliation in my life.

By: Janet27

Janet27 — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 19:20:06 +0000

Cool. It took almost a day to find this info. Thanks! Good job.

By: DeeCee

DeeCee — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 12:32:54 +0000

The pic of the refugees were moving. I hope you had time to peruse through “JULY” by Anoma Rajakaruna. Even after 25 years, nothing much seems to have changed for these people. Sickening, sad, frustrating, shameful and disgust.

By: Shandy

Shandy — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:55:31 +0000

Very touching and well written article. I spent several happy years living in SL a few years ago and it is extremely sobering to realise what went on in the years before. I can visualise some of the places you mention which really brings it home for me. Good luck with that drink.

By: David Blacker

David Blacker — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:55:56 +0000

Thanks for all the comments, people. Annie, it’s nice to meet you.

Perhaps there won’t be another Black July, but the hatred and racism that spawned it is still there on both sides. All it takes is a spark.