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Election-linked communal violence has destabilised the economy many times. One of the main rea-sons for the country’s postindependence economic underperformance has been ethnic violence from time to time since 1958. Will the upcoming elections provoke ethnic violence?

Election ploy

Far too often, elections have evoked communalism, which has led to violence and distraction from national development. Since 1956, several parties have provoked Sinhala Buddhist communalism to gain support from the majority community. The 1956 election promise of “Sinhala Only” and subsequent policies led to protests from the Tamil community and the ethnic violence of 1958.

There have been several ethnic disturbances since then. These bursts of ethnic violence have had a serious setback on the country’s economic development. There was a diversion of expenditure from investment to defence expenditure. The government’s focus shifted from developmental activities to security concerns. The adverse economic consequences of this shift were a severe setback to tourism, the inability to attract foreign investment, the destruction of infrastructure, and a setback to agriculture and fisheries.

Expenditure

The large size of the armed forces in the country continues to be a financial burden. Reducing defence expenditure, though important for fiscal consolidation, is difficult to implement.

Development capacity

The weakening of the country’s development capacity by the continuous exodus of skilled personnel is one of the serious setbacks to the economy and the country’s social development. Since 1956, there have been several waves of outward migration of skilled personnel, such as doctors, engineers, scientists, academics, and other skilled personnel. This has been one of the most serious drawbacks to the economy.

However, the current large outflow of skilled personnel is due to the dire economic conditions and the view that there is no future for the younger generation.

Hope

Although the current developments in the country lend hope that most political parties will not evoke communal feelings, there is a prospect of those facing unpopularity in the forthcoming elections evoking communalism to divert the people from other issues to communal issues. This has been a ploy in recent elections.

Communal emotions

One must be mindful of the possibility of evoking Sinhala-Buddhist emotions, despite the main political parties pursuing policies for national unity. There is no assurance that ethnic and religious hatred would not be evoked to garner support for a party that fears defeat. An upsurge of communalism and violence would spell the death knell of the fragile economy.

Parties

It is to the credit of the three main parties that they have sought the support of the minorities and espoused national unity. They have pledged to resolve the inequities of the current situation and develop the North and East. Undoubtedly, this is an election ploy to get as many votes as possible from the minority communities. Yet it is a good development.

Peace Council

The National Peace Council (NPC) has noted with much satisfaction that the JVP, the SJB and the President have attempted to forge harmony and national unity. In its press release of June 12th, the NPC said it was pleased to note the intent and promise of the President, the SJB and the JVP/NPP to resolve the national issue by ensuring equality for all communities.

Hailing the commitment of the JVP, the SJB and the President, the NPC said: “The National Peace Council appreciates the stance taken by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa that he will support the full implementation of the 13th amendment. The devolution of police and land powers has not taken place since the adoption of the 13th Amendment in 1987, on the grounds that this would pose a threat to national unity and sovereignty.

The NPC holds that such fears have no basis 15 years after the end of the civil war, and the non-implementation, indeed violation, of the constitution should cease. A rational analysis of the powers devolved under the 13th Amendment, such as that undertaken by independent scholars such as Prof. Arulanantham Sarveswaran, would make this clear.”

Community efforts

Besides these political developments, there have been community efforts to forge social and national harmony. There have been many community efforts for religious and ethnic unity. Many recent events have been favourable to building religious and ethnic harmony.

Vesak

The community efforts to bring about harmony recently included the Vesak celebrations this year as a national celebration rather than one confined to Buddhists. Some temples had Tamils, Muslims and Christians participating in the celebrations and even performing their cultural songs and dances. They participated in cycle races, games and community singing.

Churches

Some Christian churches, too, celebrated the New Year in various ways that united all communities. Many churches are feeding the poor, irrespective of religious affinities. These are indeed favourable developments for peace and the nation’s economic recovery and development.

Conclusion

In spite of these favourable developments for national unity, it is imperative for people of all communities to be vigilant of efforts to rouse communal emotions to steer their party to victory. Another spell of violence would ruin the economy to the point of no return.

However much the current electoral politics may be devoid of communalism and promise equality and social harmony, groups sensing defeat may provoke ethnic and religious emotions to win the elections, as happened before. It is important to remind the electorate that the future of the country depends on social harmony and national unity.