Letters to the Editor
View(s):Getting our act together for the sake of our national security
It is obvious that our national security is currently at stake.
National security refers to ensuring the security of the nation-state which includes its citizens, economy, and institutions. This is usually regarded as the duty of the government. However, there are many examples in the world where the ‘national security force’ turned against all above and worked against the nation whilst protecting and safeguarding power greedy politicians or ‘individuals’ to maintain power, as we see in Myanmar.
The original perception of national security as protection against a military attack is now outdated. This includes non-military dimensions and is evolving: security from terrorism, minimization of crime, economic security, emergency security, environmental security, food security, cyber-security, border security, action by violent non-state actors, narcotic cartels, multi-national corporations and also effects of man-made and natural disasters are some.
National governments rely on a range of measures, including political, economic and military power and diplomacy to safeguard the security of a nation-state. They also help build the conditions of security regionally and internationally by reducing transnational causes of insecurity, such as climate change, economic inequality, political exclusion and nuclear proliferation. Increasingly, governments organise their security policies into long term, short term and contingency national security plans.
Therefore, national security is not a subject area that can depend on a ‘single commander-in-chief’ but a larger committed professional network of people and experts whilst maintaining the influences of the voice of people via a democratic political leader such as the prime minister. An efficient national security system needs a consistent approach to distinguish transnational threats while maintaining friendships and collaboration without impacting civil liberties and human rights. This needs an independent national security infrastructure with accountability to democracy and peoples voice.
National security preserves the nation’s physical integrity and territory, maintains its economic relations with the rest of the world on reasonable terms, safeguards its nature, institutions, and governance from disruption from outside and controls its borders. This should match the public opinion of a given community to enjoy its own self-determination or autonomy, prosperity, and wellbeing and live without fear in dignity. We need protective systems in cyberspace, space and psychological operations to maintain our security.
Sri Lanka needs a complex National security establishment sufficiently equipped with the highest professional inputs and networking with neighbouring countries to ensure the region is also protected. National security is not about protecting politicians from the nation or depending on another to offer it for us.
Chula Goonasekera Via email
Online education: Use the state-run TV stations
When the government has two TV stations, why cannot they be utilised to have proper courses of education for all students. Various ministers talk about providing Wi-Fi and tablets to students in the island. They will never do it and they themselves know it.
In the print and electronic media many knowledgeable people had suggested this idea to utilize the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) and ITN for this purpose. Even if they assign their entire airtime for these educational programmes, it will benefit the country thousand times more than what they do now.
S. K. Muthukumara Via email
This kind of behaviour will not be tolerated in any other organisation
We the citizens of Sri Lanka are ashamed of the disorderly behaviour of our Members of Parliament. This has happened not just recently but also during previous Parliaments. This type of nonsense which will not be tolerated in any respectable organization, seems to have become acceptable in our Parliament.
Parliament should be a place for respectable persons to discuss important national issues seriously. It should not be disturbed by unruly mobs consisting of members.
We request the Speaker to end this shame by punishing the members who misbehave.
We look forward to seeing peaceful Parliament with well mannered members.
Nimala Jayasuriya Rajagiriya