Asian postmaster bans non-English speakers

[ronnieraygun]

An Asian postmaster has provoked the ire of race equality campaigners by banning customers from his branch who cannot speak English.
Deva Kumarasiri claims all immigrants in Britain should learn the language so they can communicate properly with others here and embrace British culture.
'If you come to Britain you have got to speak English,' said the father-of-two, who moved here himself 18 years ago.
'I am from a different country but when I came here I became British. My job is to give a service. I cannot give a service if they cannot tell me what they want.'
Mr Kumarasiri, 40, said he had banned about half a dozen customers from Sneinton Boulevard Post Office in Nottingham.
'Some of them say, "You are not British,"' he said. 'I keep telling them, "Don't come here or I am not going to help you."
'One of the Asian ladies said, "You have a different language, why can you not speak that?"
'I said "When I am in Britain I speak English."'

Race equality campaigners today dismissed his stance as unrealistic and said it was wrong to deny people the post office's services just because they cannot speak English.
Afzal Sadiq, chief executive of the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Racial Equality Council, said: 'You are denying somebody a service that is there for everybody. In an ideal world these people would speak English ... but learning to speak English is going to take time.'
But Mr Kumarasiri, who is also a Liberal Democrat councillor on Gedling Borough Council, said adjusting to a new country meant adjusting your language too.
'Ethnic minorities came to this country to change their lives. They have to take pride in the country where they live. It shows that they care,' he said.

Banned customers who have returned to his post office with interpreters have been served.
Mr Kumarasiri, of Carlton, Nottingham is campaigning for people of all races to feel proud about being British and has started a website, www.britishnessforever.co.uk (http://www.britishnessforever.co.uk).
He said: 'This is about unity among the people in this country who are proud to live here, whether they are Asian, black or white.
'Ninety-five per cent of people are proud to be British but they are scared to show it.
'It is being put into people's heads that you cannot say things to upset the minorities.
'The white person cannot stand up and say anything because they automatically become a racist.'
Mr Kumarasiri, who helped raise thousands of pounds after the tsunami hit his native Sri Lanka, said people there were proud to be associated with Britain because of the country's former days as part of the British Empire.
'Still we have the pride that Britain left behind,' he said. 'The laws are still there, the schools are still there. The kids have courtesy. They have discipline.
'Here all that is gone. Let's bring back all this.'



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1162957/Asian-postmaster-takes-immigration-stand-banning-customers-speak-English.html?ITO=1490

[cbreedon]

Good for him.

We need more people like him.

[ando]

dam right !!! I have to deal with it day it day out in my business !!!

Well done deva !! Now have a brew

[Infanteer Two Seven]

he is Sri lankan himself

[ando]

he is Sri lankan himself


It does say that :roll:


Good for him !!! Theres some sanity woot

[wotsnext]

One swallow does not a summer make :)

[<Gypsum Fantastic>]

Maybe these immigrants are just acting British themselves. There's nothing more British than going to a foreign nation and expecting them to speak your language.

[Infanteer Two Seven]

Look at Canada for example we embrace multi-culturism but at the same time we are very patriotic and proud of where we live.
This guy on the other hand sounds like a typical redneck.

Just for your info I'm Sri lankan-canadian and i love Canada as much as any canadian. That doesn't mean I have to act like a redneck nationalist to prove I'm patriotic.

[gaz]

Look at Canada for example we embrace multi-culturism but at the same time we are very patriotic and proud of where we live.
This guy on the other hand sounds like a typical redneck.

Just for your info I'm Sri lankan-canadian and i love Canada as much as any canadian. That doesn't mean I have to act like a redneck nationalist to prove I'm patriotic.

Racist.

.........

[Vehemence]

Good for him.

We need more people like him.

No. We have enough Asians.

[MichaelF]

There's nothing more British than going to a foreign nation and expecting them to speak your language.

Except shooting them when they don't...

[Arfah]

My sister has bought a place in Normandy which will take alot of modernising. She is British but is re-learning French. There are many ex-pat Brits doing the same, it is only when we are on vacation that we shout at the natives until they understand. The customer is always right !

As for the Brit of Sri Lankan origin. Quite right too ! Many people immigrate into the U.K. for a better life. It isn't too much to expect them to learn our language. This is the same for every country across the globe that has immigration.
Our current Government is just too weak at enforcing sensible rules and regulations.

[scrybe]

Except shooting them when they don't...

...Then putting in place your own puppet government, taking control of the economy and channeling all desirable raw goods directly back to England while marginalizing the native citizens.

[gaijinsamurai]

If I could, I'd buy that postmaster a pint of ale.

[seraosha]

...Then putting in place your own puppet government, taking control of the economy and channeling all desirable raw goods directly back to England while marginalizing the native citizens.

You say that like it's a bad thing.

[Laworkerbee]

...Then putting in place your own puppet government, taking control of the economy and channeling all desirable raw goods directly back to England while marginalizing the native citizens.

Don't forget a nice sprinkling of Christianity p-)

[Bombtrack]

Maybe these immigrants are just acting British themselves. There's nothing more British than going to a foreign nation and expecting them to speak your language.

Gypsum is right, they are just assimilating.

[deagle]

thats not the best nor smartest way to solve a problem.

he seems like a jerk, and ANY other SERVICE-providing occupation should deny him service.

immigrants come to a country voluntarily to improve their previous life b/c of the new country's appeal. just give them some time to adjust, as theyre willing.

shoot, we use slang and jargon everyday thats not "proper" , so we natives don't even know our own language that well. and heck, my post is filled with grammatical errors in punctuation, etc...

[ando]

thats not the best nor smartest way to solve a problem.

he seems like a jerk, and ANY other SERVICE-providing occupation should deny him service.

immigrants come to a country voluntarily to improve their previous life b/c of the new country's appeal. just give them some time to adjust, as theyre willing.

shoot, we use slang and jargon everyday thats not "proper" , so we natives don't even know our own language that well. and heck, my post is filled with grammatical errors in punctuation, etc...

Deagle theyve had time to adjust since the 60's,Unfortunatly my work being as it is im constantly speaking to asian importers /exporters suppliers/whosalers and i have to say the majority cannot speak english to a level you can understand.These people have been here since the 70's 80's starting there businesses and they still are not understandable.This guy isnt a redneck as posted by someone else.He simply bring attention to an issue that has been around for a long time.

[Tokamak]

I agree, people should learn English once they are here, but banning costumers is way too much in my opinion.

[ronnieraygun]

Don't forget a nice sprinkling of Christianity p-)

Chachi was rumored to be a good Christian before he plundered Joni's taboo hole.

[cmabone]

Look at Canada for example we embrace multi-culturism but at the same time we are very patriotic and proud of where we live.
This guy on the other hand sounds like a typical redneck.

Just for your info I'm Sri lankan-canadian and i love Canada as much as any canadian. That doesn't mean I have to act like a redneck nationalist to prove I'm patriotic.

We embrace multiculturalism.But, when you want a service particularly public services, it's either French or English. The law guarantees that individuals can be served publically in both language if possible.

I'm from the province of Quebec, and here we speak French. I find it ridicule that some people do not want to learn French. I also find ridicule the francophones that do not want to learn English, as we are in Canada.

[domokun]

This guy is an example of how things should be handled towards immigrants normally. When you move to another country you adjust to local customs and language as well as you can. Of course there is flip side of coin as tourists and others should be given service on other "common" languages if clerk just speaks said language.

[Evolv5]

Maybe these immigrants are just acting British themselves. There's nothing more British than going to a foreign nation and expecting them to speak your language.

True.

But he does make a good point though.

[kramer]

I agree with him.

[Hispeed1]

I thought this thread said: "Asian ****master..." wtfX?

[Thumpsquid]

...Then putting in place your own puppet government, taking control of the economy and channeling all desirable raw goods directly back to England while marginalizing the native citizens.

Well of course we do that, we are British after all!

[Laworkerbee]

Chachi was rumored to be a good Christian before he plundered Joni's taboo hole.

That's how it works p-)

[Ordie]

There's nothing more British than going to a foreign nation and expecting them to speak your language.


Does this mean Welsh or Manx Speakers are banned from using the Royal Mail post office? Afterall, they are the original Britons before the Anglo-Saxons arrived.

[Thumpsquid]

no, only Scots Gaelic and Cornish are Verboten

[wotsnext]

Does this mean Welsh or Manx Speakers are banned from using the Royal Mail post office?
Only if they can't speak English. :)

[Ordie]

no, only Scots Gaelic and Cornish are Verboten

I like to see this guy deal with a Glaswegian.

[NuckmasterJ]

Look at Canada for example we embrace multi-culturism but at the same time we are very patriotic and proud of where we live.
This guy on the other hand sounds like a typical redneck.

Just for your info I'm Sri lankan-canadian and i love Canada as much as any canadian. That doesn't mean I have to act like a redneck nationalist to prove I'm patriotic.

I'm with the Brit Post Master. If your in the country, take the time to learn and speak the language. Living in Toronto really makes me wonder how much money the Canadian or British government for that matter have to spend on Terps just to provide basic services? I would really love to know one day.

I'm not a Racist. I'm a Canadian who believes multiculturalism has failed due to living around people who've been in the country anywhere from 1 - 20 years and have yet to get the basics of the English language except for a few choice swear words.

[Macs.]

I am against all opinions presented in this thread.

[cbreedon]

No. We have enough Asians.

My point was that we need more immigrants to think like he does... not more immigrants

[Gleipnir]

What a prick.
His job is to serve the public, maybe he should be transferred to a job in Immigration.

[scrybe]

I am against all opinions presented in this thread.

You're German, I know you're not against marginalizing the natives.

[redhawk_six]

Good on him. No where does it say that he HAS to serve people in their native tounge. It's up to him if he want's to serve people in anything other then english. And he's right, when you move to a new country you should learn that country's official language. I see it all the time here, people who can't speak english demanding that they be served in their language. And now they're demanding that we change our laws to fit the laws and customs of their country of birth, unacceptable. If they wanted to live in a place where everyone spoke their native tounge, and lived by their laws and customs, maybe they should've stayed in their home country. You move to a country, you accept it's laws, it's customs, it's language, and if you can't handle that, then don't move there. It'd be the same way if I moved to say, India.

[Gleipnir]

Buddy, I wish you could go back in time and tell that to all the old colonial powers.

[Infanteer Two Seven]

We embrace multiculturalism.But, when you want a service particularly public services, it's either French or English. The law guarantees that individuals can be served publically in both language if possible.

I'm from the province of Quebec, and here we speak French. I find it ridicule that some people do not want to learn French. I also find ridicule the francophones that do not want to learn English, as we are in Canada.

yes thats true to a certain level.
i mean if you want to be a Canadian citizen you have to take a test which requires pretty good English or French skill. i had to take Canadian Forces aptitude test in English. which really make sense because i need to know English to communicate to my fellow comrades and only fluent english speakers can join. but this guy on the other takes it to a whole new retarded level.
again its not really necessary to learn two languages unless its essential. for example a senior officer in CF is expected to know both because he might be commanding troops battalion level. but regular citizens or especially new immigrants learning both languages is ridiculous.
honestly i wouldn't want to learn French at all but learning it will open the doors for new opportunities and no one can force me to learn what i don't want to. thats why we live in a democracy and thats exactly why immigrants come here



I'm with the Brit Post Master. If your in the country, take the time to learn and speak the language. Living in Toronto really makes me wonder how much money the Canadian or British government for that matter have to spend on Terps just to provide basic services? I would really love to know one day.

I'm not a Racist. I'm a Canadian who believes multiculturalism has failed due to living around people who've been in the country anywhere from 1 - 20 years and have yet to get the basics of the English language except for a few choice swear words.

just because they have difficulty speaking the language doesn't mean they are less Canadians. i know bunch of people who cant speak English but loves Canada more than your average Canadian. I know a Reservist Filipino corporal who served in Afghanistan but he can rarely speak english.
Our whole country is build upon immigrants from different ethnicities and be proud of what we are. btw when was the last time we saw race riots ?

[junglejim]

I know a Reservist Filipino corporal who served in Afghanistan but he can rarely speak english.
Our whole country is build upon immigrants from different ethnicities and be proud of what we are. btw when was the last time we saw race riots ?


Serious? Cause English is the second language here in the Philippines.

[Infanteer Two Seven]

Serious? Cause English is the second language here in the Philippines.

yes I'm serious he speak with a really heavy accent and bad grammar

[Bohemoth]

Right so, people who don't like to speak English should not choose to live in an English speaking country. Simple as that.

[junglejim]

yes I'm serious he speak with a really heavy accent and bad grammar


Ah, but speaks english right? i just wondered.

[Infanteer Two Seven]

Right so, people who don't like to speak English should not choose to live in an English speaking country. Simple as that.

bitching isn't going to help why don't you make that a prerequisite for immigration.
if they really hated the country they wouldn't be here in the first place. its rednecks likes you make them want to hate it.

[Ordie]

The irony here is that I as an American visiting the UK would not comprehend the English being spoken locally and vice versa.

[Bohemoth]

bitching isn't going to help why don't you make that a prerequisite for immigration.
if they really hated the country they wouldn't be here in the first place. its rednecks likes you make them want to hate it.
We both can agree that language is the very core of every culture.
If you choose to live in a certain country, you should like that country's culture and make it a good part of your own personality.

If I chose to live in let's say Japan, you would see me prepping up with all kinds of courses and stuff before I even plan on buying the flight ticket. Upon arrival in that foreign country I would be at least able to verbally communicate in all standard situations (Restaurant, Public Transportation, Shopping, Hotel, Navigation ... aaand also Post Office). That shouldn't be difficult, I am sure you can do that with most languages.

[donllano]

We both can agree that language is the very core of every culture.
If you choose to live in a certain country, you should like that country's culture and make it a good part of your own personality.

If I chose to live in let's say Japan, you would see me prepping up with all kinds of courses and stuff before I even plan on buying the flight ticket. Upon arrival in that foreign country I would be at least able to verbally communicate in all standard situations (Restaurant, Public Transportation, Shopping, Hotel, Navigation ... aaand also Post Office). That shouldn't be difficult, I am sure you can do that with most languages.

Sure, but too bad many British don't bother to do that when they choose to come and live or visit Spain. Many fights have happened where I lived because of that...

[wotsnext]

Foreign ban postmaster leaves job


http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45580000/jpg/_45580617_postban226.jpg Mr Kumarasiri said he could not serve people if he did not understand them


A postmaster from Nottingham who refused to serve customers who could not speak English has left his job.
Sri-Lankan born Deva Kumarasiri, who worked at the sub office on Sneinton Boulevard, made the national news after announcing his policy.
He had claimed non-English speakers frustrated other customers and made it difficult to do his job properly.
But managers at the Post Office said the service was for all and they were concerned about the impact on trade.
There were also reports that Polish migrants had been boycotting the branch.
Mr Kumarasami's policy had also been criticised by the Racial Equality Council and MP for Nottingham East, John Heppell. http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gifhttp://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/start_quote_rb.gif I suspect people in this country would be offended by what this man was doing http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/end_quote_rb.gif


John Heppell MP


Mr Heppell said: "This was a little bit strange. What do you do with tourists?
"If I was abroad and if someone refused to sell me a stamp because my French or German was not good enough, I think I would have every right to be offended and I suspect people in this country would be offended by what this man was doing."
Mr Kumarasiri had told the BBC he had turned away about six customers who had wasted his time and annoyed other customers by not being able to understand English.
He had said: "I am part of a service but how can I serve them if I don't understand what they are asking for? "When I came to England I obeyed the British way of life, I got into the British way of life. "That is what I ask everyone else to do - respect the country where you are working and living."

[cbreedon]

Yet another win for the pc brigade

[Geezah]

A postmaster from Nottingham who refused to serve customers who could not speak English has left his job.

Sri-Lankan born Deva Kumarasiri, who worked at the sub office on Sneinton Boulevard, made the national news after announcing his policy.

He had claimed non-English speakers frustrated other customers and made it difficult to do his job properly.

But managers at the Post Office said the service was for all and they were concerned about the impact on trade.

There were also reports that Polish migrants had been boycotting the branch.

Abida Raja, whose family runs the branch, said they had to take action. He said: "It was my brother's decision because obviously he was very upset by those comments, because we're losing customers because of it.

"He had to do something about it, because obviously we don't feel that way about anyone else, we don't discriminate against any customer coming in, because obviously the customers keep the business going."

Mr Kumarasami's policy had also been criticised by the Racial Equality Council and MP for Nottingham East, John Heppell.

Mr Heppell said: "This was a little bit strange. What do you do with tourists?

"If I was abroad and if someone refused to sell me a stamp because my French or German was not good enough, I think I would have every right to be offended and I suspect people in this country would be offended by what this man was doing."

Mr Kumarasiri had told the BBC he had turned away about six customers who had wasted his time and annoyed other customers by not being able to understand English.

He had said: "I am part of a service but how can I serve them if I don't understand what they are asking for?

"When I came to England I obeyed the British way of life, I got into the British way of life.

"That is what I ask everyone else to do - respect the country where you are working and living."

Link (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/nottinghamshire/7956570.stm)

I think his last comment is fair enough........

[PeterRJG]

Does this mean Welsh or Manx Speakers are banned from using the Royal Mail post office? Afterall, they are the original Britons before the Anglo-Saxons arrived.

They may be "original Britons" but the Celts arrived from somewhere else as well.

[Bia]

Man of principles... admirable.

[Fargin]

As a part of the PC brigade, I say this: Thanks for serving the community and your excellent discrimination. In case we never hear from you again, FU and good luck.

[cavtroop4]

"If I was abroad and if someone refused to sell me a stamp because my French or German was not good enough, I think I would have every right to be offended and I suspect people in this country would be offended by what this man was doing."

Either learn the host country's language (which if your a tourist you should know something) or ask someone who does... And besides it's not hurting business... somewhere, someone always needs to send something.