English Translation of Award Citation..
" The Tamil people have lost today a highly principled man who
deeply loved them and the Tamil Nation. A voice that echoed the
freedom of the Tamil people and their homeland, Tamil Eelam had been
silenced today. An eminent Tamil journalist had fallen victim to the
enemy’s act of cowardice.
Humble and honest, Mr.Dharmaratnam
Sivaram is a unique person. He is knowledgeable and is an expert in
the field of journalism. As an internationally renowned journalist,
Sivaram does not need any introduction.
Through
his writings, he brought out the Tamil National question in the
international arena with clarity and cohesion. Diligently and
cleverly, he exposed to the international and diplomatic community,
the false propaganda undertaken by the Sinhala regime. Positioning
him in the Sinhala stronghold, Sivaram forthrightly told the outer
world the injustices and the atrocities perpetrated by the Sinhala
ruling elite on the Tamil Nation. Although facing danger and
threats, Sivaram fought against injustice fearlessly with courage.
Above all, he relentlessly worked to keep the Tamil people
politically vigilant. The yeoman service rendered by him is
eternally praiseworthy.
Respecting his love of the Nation and
his love for freedom, I am proud to confer posthumously on
Mr.Dharmaratnam Sivaram, the noble National Award of “Great Man”.
Death never destroys great men who have lived for lofty ideals. They
have an everlasting place in the history of our Nation.
