Proclamation of Eelam Day by Edward J.King,
Governor of Commonwealth of Massachusetts

16 May 1979

[see also
Human Rights for Tamils in Sri Lanka - Hon. Mario Baggio of New York in the US House of Representatives, 8 May 1980
Proclamation by Mayor of Somerville, Sister City of Trincomalee, Eelam (Naval Base), 22 June 1981
Resolution of US Massachusetts House of Representatives Calling for the Restoration of the Separate Sovereign State of Tamil Eelam, 18 June 1981 ]

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

By His Excellency
EDWARD J. KING
Governor

A PROCLAMATION
1979

WHEREAS: The Tamils of Eelam live as an oppressed minority in Sri Lanka: and

WHEREAS: From ancient times Sri Lanka has had two nations. The Sinhalese and the Tamils with distinct languages, religions. cultures and clearly demarcated geographic territories: and

WHEREAS: In 1948 the two nations were left under a unitary governmental structure: and

WHEREAS Immediately after independence. one million Tamils in the tea and rubber plantation were disenfranchised and made stateless. These Tamils prior to independence had enjoyed similar rights as other Sri Lankans: and

WHEREAS: In 1956 the Official Language Act made Sinhalese the only official language throughout the entire island, causing severe hardship to several thousands of Tamil public servants and migration to foreign lands: and

WHEREAS: In 1964 the government decided to compulsorily repatriate Plantation Tamils to India. These Tamils were the descendants of Indians brought more than 100 years ago as plantation workers, most of who were born in Sri Lanka and never had any relationship with India: and

WHEREAS: A new constitution was unilaterally adopted without any cooperation or consultation with the majority of the Tamil  representatives in parliament: and

WHEREAS: The Tamil people were again not party to the constitution of 1978, which replaced its predecessor of 1972

NOW, THEREFORE. I. EDWARD J. KING, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts do hereby proclaim May 22, 1979, as EELAM TAMILS DAY and urge the citizens of the Commonwealth to take cognizance of this day and to participate fittingly in its observance.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston, this sixteenth day of May in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and seventy-nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the two hundred and third.

By His Excellency the Governor Edward J.King

Michael Joseph Connolly
Secretary the Commonwealth