National Joint Committee (NJC)
Sinhala Commission to Investigate Injustices formed
The National Joint Committee (NJC) comprises of 36 Sinhalese organisations and represents a sizeable section of the professional, Buddihist and Christian associations in Sri Lanka.
36 Sri Lankan organizations in the National Joint Committee unanimously decided to appoint a commission to examine and report the injustices suffered by Sinhala people during the colonial times and after the independence. While these injustices continued to take place no one came forward examine and rectify these. For Sri Lankan politicians, short term political gains were more important than building a united nation. They rarely accepted the fact the Sinhala majority had grievances which in turn afflicted political stability. Further, a powerful lobby constituting of racialist Tamil politicians, church groups, foreign funded non-government organizations and the Marxist politicians misguided the Sri Lankan public opinion by tarnishing the image of the Sinhala people and always propagating the injustices suffered by the Tamils. In short, denigration of Sinhala people and their culture became a fashionable item among the "intellectuals".
The myth of the present Northern and the Eastern provinces being traditional homelands of Tamils was "legitimized" by interested parties who either desired the creation of a separate country or who refused to examine fully the ramifications of accepting territories based on racial groups.
The Sinhala people who were faced with such a dangerous situation needed the subject to be studied methodically and hence the Sinhala Commission
Mr Raja Wanasundara (retired Judge of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka) is the president of the NJC. Sevan eminent persons with wide ranging disciplines and experiences have been appointed to the Commission to conduct a fully inquirey and make recommendations.
The members of the Sinhala Commission are:
The Sinhala Commission issued its interim report to the Nation on 17 September 1997 at a historic meeting. Click here to read the Interim Report
The interim reported mainly discussed the "the injustices that may be caused to Sinhala people if the proposed Draft Constitution of the PA Government is made the supreme law of the Land".
The Commission intends to issue its final report by June 1998. To meet the expenditure involved in the preparation and issue of the report to the Nation the National Joint Council has made an appeal to the patriotic Sri Lankans. The donations can be addressed to the National Joint Committee, Y.M.B.A Building, 70 , D.S.Senanayake Mawatha, Colombo 8. Sri Lanka.
(Cheques are payable to AC no 1650093211 –Colombo Young Men’s Buddhist Association)
ALL SRI LANKAN PATRIOTS ARE REQUESTED TO LEND THEIR SUPPORT TO THIS IMPORATNT PROJECT. LET US HELP TO UNEARTH THE TRUTH BEHIND THE CONFLICT IN SRI LANKA.
For further information, please contact :
The Secretary, Joint National Committee (JNC) YMBA Building 70, D S Senanayake Mawatha Colombo 8 Sri Lanka
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