Why is the ancient history of the Tamils of Northern Sri Lanka shrouded in mystery?
Why is the ancient history of the Tamils of Northern Sri Lanka shrouded in mystery?
Although Sri Lanka is a country with a continuous historical record in South Asia, there is neither literature nor archaeological evidence to confirm a continuous history for the Tamils. This is because Tamil history has been systematically hidden and denied. In contrast, although the history of the Sinhalese emerged after that of the Tamils in Sri Lanka, their history has been refined and constructed through literature and archaeological evidence. This discrepancy can be attributed to political influence.
When literature mentions the Tamils, they are often portrayed as settlers who arrived with South Indian invaders, while asserting that the Sinhalese are the island’s original inhabitants. However, epigraphic evidence shows that the term Sinhala only began to be used after the 4th century AD, whereas the term Tamil has been in use since the pre-Christian era. Thus, archaeological evidence becomes crucial in uncovering the truth.
The history of the Tamil-dominated regions, particularly in the north, was regarded as obscure until the 13th century AD. Relevant evidence has been deliberately concealed or denied to support the claim that Tamils did not historically live or rule in these areas and that the Sinhalese ruled southern Sri Lanka from ancient times. However, since the 13th century AD, the history of Northern Sri Lanka has been brought to light through archaeological research. For instance, discoveries at Iranaimadu have confirmed that Stone Age people lived in the region as early as 125,000 years ago.
Additionally, archaeological studies at sites like Anaikottai, Katukkarai, Nagapattuvan, Poonagari, Satti, and Kandarodai have revealed evidence of Tamil habitation. Despite these findings, much more research is needed to fully reconstruct the Tamil history of Northern Sri Lanka. Political challenges and other factors have hindered such efforts.
One issue is that when archaeological evidence is found on private land, landowners often conceal it for fear of losing their property. Additionally, lack of awareness leads some individuals to damage these artifacts, while treasure-hunting groups also contribute to the destruction of valuable evidence. Even when artifacts are discovered, there are significant challenges in publicizing them, resulting in further concealment.
These numerous obstacles have prevented the revelation of Tamil history in Northern Sri Lanka. However, there is no doubt that where research can proceed without impediment, the Tamil history of Northern Sri Lanka will be reconstructed.
—Nedunkerni Sanujan
Translation by Hari
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