Funday Times

Speech delivered at the school Assembly of Hillwood College, Kandy on February 3, 2005

Is this a meaningful Independence?
By Shavera Seneviratne
We celebrate our 57th Independence this year and it is good to take a hard look at what we have really achieved and what we are yet to achieve in the post-Independence period.

In 1948, on February 4, Ceylon gained her independence from the British Colonial government. We did not carry out a major struggle for independence as our neighbours in India did through their national movement. It is with a sense of gratitude that we must remember some individuals such as F.R. Senanayake, E.W. Perera, Sir Razik Fareed and Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan, who contributed towards our independence along with many others.

Looking back at the past 57 years we must ponder upon the question, whether we have made full use of our independence. Since then we did become a sovereign nation, no longer under the control of a colonial government. We possess a national anthem, flag and a democratically elected government responsible to the people and not to the Queen. Sri Lanka is in possession of her own military, is a free member state in the United Nations, mints its own currency and is free to contract treaties with other countries.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, independence means “not dependent or controlled by another person or thing”. But are we really free? Is ‘independence’ only a nominal term? Are we or are we not under the control of numerous individuals, institutions and sources situated within and outside Sri Lanka?

May I pose the following questions?
Firstly, do we really enjoy economic freedom? By this I mean have we eradicated poverty and unemployment? No! Do not powerful economic bodies outside Sri Lanka control our economy as well? Millions of poor and homeless people are a visible and tangible reality.

Secondly, are we socially free? I doubt it very much! We are yet to reach a period when one’s caste, race, religion or language does not cause a problem. Conflicts in this island, especially those in the north and east, were caused by discrimination and misunderstanding. What was the end result? A disastrous war that left the country in despair for over twenty years. Should it make a difference if one is born to an affluent family or a particular religion or ethnic group? To belong to a particular race or religion does not make a person less human. Nor does it provide any individual with an excuse to deprive another of his or her basic human and fundamental rights. In fact women’s and children’s rights are yet to be fully realised.

Finally, do we enjoy the freedom of expression in total terms? Not really. Many reporters and human rights activists have been conveniently removed simply because they were not afraid to express their ideas. Since when is it wrong to say and do the right thing? People are afraid to speak and act because one word or one opinion too many could cost them their jobs, social positions or even their lives. This is not freedom. This is oppression.

I believe that complete freedom can be achieved only when the dignity of our fellow humans is respected and the cultural diversity of our beautiful Motherland is celebrated.

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