COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan Tamil scholar, Prof Karthigesu Sivathamby, has categorically stated that he has nothing to do with the World Tamil Writers’ Forum (Sarvadesa Tamizh Ezhuthaalar Manram) to be held in Colombo in December this year.
He was reacting to a report from Tamil Nadu that a group of writers there had named him as being one of the moving spirits of the controversial conference.
Sources close to Sivathamby said here on Friday that he had sent a word to the organiser of the event, Australia-based Lankan Tamil writer Murugabhoopathi, that the time was not opportune for such a conference to be held in Lanka.
Sivathamby said that there could be a political dimension to the event, with the Sri Lankan government making use of it. That could make it controversial, he pointed out.
He, therefore, told the organisers, in no uncertain terms, that he would have nothing to do with the event if it was held in Sri Lanka. He suggested holding it in Chennai instead, where, he said, everybody could gather and discuss issues freely.
Earlier, a forum of writers and artistes in TN had condemned the Colombo conference, saying that it was yet another attempt, to whitewash the war crimes. The forum alleged that the participants had been told to keep the Tamil issue out of the discussions. The forum had threatened to boycott writers who attend the conference.
TN artistes seem to be opposing participation in any meet in Sri Lanka which smacks of involvement of the Lankan government. But artistes from the state, who go to the island nation at the invitation of private parties, are allowed to go.
Noted singer Dr Sirkazhi G Sivachidambaram is now in the island performing in Colombo, Jaffna and in the up-country. His concerts are part of the 80th anniversary celebrations of popular Tamil daily Virakesari.
Tamil films are shown in all the theatres in the Tamil-speaking North and East, besides Colombo.