It was with avid interest that I read the article ‘After the victory…’ which appeared in The Sunday Times of January 18. One thing that struck me was the statement ‘this victory should not be lost in the peace’. This should provide the key to the future wellbeing and progress of this country.
The writer, Dr. Goonetilleke, asserts that Sri Lankans should be free to settle anywhere as are the Tamils in Colombo and its vicinity and that the mono-ethnic nature of the North should be dismantled. The truth of this is beyond question. Ideally that is the way it should be but certainly we should create the atmosphere for everyone including the Tamils to eagerly accept such a thought.
We should be mindful of the happenings, notably of 1958 and again of 1983, prompting those at the receiving end to feel a sense of insecurity and not belonging, evoking a reason to separate and exist elsewhere. The Tamils, more particularly their youth, gave thought to separation fuelled by the Indian involvement under the hegemonistic figure of Indira Gandhi fresh with her successful fracturing of neighbour Pakistan in the 1970’s. The thoughts high in the minds of the Northern youth was another Bangladesh (separate state), though this was not to be subsequently.
Rajiv Gandhi followed, receiving a blow on the head from a Sri Lankan naval rating and subsequent assassination by the self-created Frankenstein monster in the form of the LTTE. Awakening dawned on India and President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s task was made relatively easy with the Central Government not quite responding to the antics of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi. It is worth recalling to those fancying the Balkanisation of this tiny island that Tamil Nadu itself was contemplating separation from India. However, with India showing marked progress it has dawned on the state’s leadership the benefit of remaining within a wider unit. This should provide an eye-opener to our own leadership of the wisdom of improving our own polity instead of quibbling on superficialities.
Finally, as an ordinary citizen of this land, an octogenarian, who has followed events over a long period of time, read widely on their progression, having addressed my mind to the unfolding scenario and not being possessed of the profoundest credentials of Dr. Goonetilleke which I respect, my appeal to the leadership of this country and the public at large is for sobriety at this moment of impending success without any gung-ho at the courageous success of our esteemed army and worthy accommodation in consensual decision making within the state polity.
G.K.W. Weeraratne,
Hokandara |
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