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.