Letters to the Editor
View(s):Sustainable reconciliation a must to safeguard the rights of majority as well as minorities
The latest incident was the demolition of the war memorial at Jaffna University premises, citing it as an unauthorized structure. This created a tense situation in the ‘once war torn’ Jaffna’ Peninsula. As a result, communal differences seem to widen day by day, pushing Sri Lanka to another bitter conflict sooner or later in the future.
Sri Lanka has a very good lesson to learn from South Africa on reconciliation. South Africa having suffered with apartheid, made way for a smooth transition of power to the majority blacks in 1996. Nelson Mandela, incarcerated for 27 years came out strong to lead the nation thereafter. Despite that fact that he was once a rebel leader who led a fierce struggle against the white-dominated South African Government, Mandela was a statesman of the highest calibre and is still remembered for his courage to bring about an absolute peace in South Africa. As President, he was never vindictive nor on a witch hunt to punish those who were responsible for years of mayhem.
Mandela convened the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 1996 to figure out the circumstances that led to the conflict and what national level measures should be taken to bring about a sustainable peace in the country. South Africa lives in peace and harmony today. But, we missed this bus in the aftermath of 2009
From a psychological perspective, as long as the Government attempts to prohibit memorial services in the North and East, Tamils led by Tamil politicians will continue to commemorate their fallen heroes by hook or crook to secure political mileage. It is no doubt that the Government vanquished the world’s most ruthless terrorist organization in 2009. Therefore, the Forces have every right to celebrate their victory. But it is high time that we revisited this euphoric moment in the name of reconciliation. The moment, the Forces stop this practice of celebrating the war victory, the celebrations in North and East will die a natural death. If the Forces really need to celebrate, they can do it at regimental level on a low key, maybe without publicity.
Sri Lanka has a cosmopolitan society in which many minorities live. But, the Government has no right to suppress any community by use of force.
In reality, it is the power hungry politicians who create this divide to fulfil their sinister motives to be in power eternally. Today, it is a known fact that majority Sinhala race is dwindling. If we don’t understand the gravity of this situation, the Sinhalese will be a minority soon. It is the need of the hour that we look at this issue thorough a thorough self-criticism and make amends wisely, to sustain communal harmony. If not, Sri Lanka’s chances of facing dire consequences in the future are inevitable. In the event of UN imposing embargoes, it is the general public who will suffer.
Therefore, a sustainable reconciliation process is a must to safeguard the rights of majority as well as minorities.
Lasitha Mendis Via email
Stop ‘political looting’ if country is to recover from overwhelming national debt
The purpose of this short note is to introduce the term ‘political-looting’ with a unique definition applicable to Sri Lanka’s political environment. It will enable us, the public, to point our fingers at sinister and suspicious ‘political-looting’ activities. These activities have to stop to ensure that we recover from the current misery of overwhelming national debt without selling our precious national assets to foreign countries. Selling assets is not foreign investment.
In the past, foreign invaders did engage in stealing. At Independence in 1948, our country was still with a surplus. After 72 years of self-governance, in 2021 we are now in serious debt, with 90% of our income going to repay national debt and at a juncture of selling our own assets to stay afloat. Our economic performance has been dismal when compared to other countries, especially during the last 50 years. See our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the graph above.
Looting refers to an act of ‘stealing’ during a ‘general disturbance’. Sri Lanka has been in a constant environment of ‘disturbance’ due to political war mongering, disasters and now COVID.
Politicians are public representatives. The decisions they make should be transparent and benefit the public. Any political activity that involves public money, that is not transparent, not feasibility assessed and predicts no clear benefits should be considered as an activity suspicious of ‘political-looting’. This includes politicised promotion of national disunity and disturbances. Such activities help shrewd politicians accrue covert and overt benefits as commissions and omissions and lame benefits at the expense of public money. National sales and loans that lack transparency is at high risk of ‘political looting’.
What is most essential at this juncture is an economic rescue and repair plan for our country. Reducing waste of public money should take priority and enhancing national income is next though public skill development to enhance productivity. Controlling the pandemic should be foremost as all other sensible nations are doing.
Finally, no ‘political-looting’.
Chula Goonasekera Ex Academic, University of Peradeniya