Editorial

1st February 1998

Reflections on hard facts at Independence

Velupillai Prabhakaran somewhere in the jungles of Mullaitivu or wher- ever he is must be chuckling away with his buddies on how four men in one Elf Van laden with explosives could get the rest of the country to dance the merry devil.

The sad spectacle that followed that despicable bombing of the palladium of the Nation was as much a disgrace, as the stark reality of how divided not only the Nation-State is, but also her people, as it was one of the most serious security lapses in modern times.

On the eve of 50 years of Independence, UNPers burning Ratwatte's effigy and PAers burning Ranil's and neither burning Prabhakaran's clearly demonstrates how we have missed the wood for the trees.

The bombing of the Maligawa is not a matter on who should be forced to resign. If at all anyone should resign it's the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces - the President of the Republic who ought to do so. The relation between the Head of State of Independent Lanka and the Maligawa is a tradition that dates from time immemorial when we were a free Nation prior to colonialisation.

This attack on the Maligawa cannot be compared to the attacks at the Sri Maha Bodhiya and Aranthalawa (under the UNP) or even Dimbulagala (under the PA) because here was a situation where even a schoolgirl would tell you (not necessarily the great NIB) that the LTTE was going to strike - at this particular time - to damage the golden jubilee celebrations in Kandy which they did, much to the embarrassment of National pride.

The government first tried to ban the LTTE. It was a cosmetic exercise. It looked funny not because we banned them even after the US did - but even after we had banned ragging three weeks ago.

Gen. Ratwatte for himself has effectively done a diversionary tactic, to use military parlance, on the political flank. He has taken nation-wide criticism aimed at the President and her Government, for not being able to protect the Dalada Maligawa, and gone on to encash his savings certificate (in the form of the good he has done on the war front). He must now realise he has no cash left in the Bank. He cannot use the 'resignation card' again. But then again, in Sri Lankan politics anything is possible.

In this disheartening backdrop do we Sri Lankans prepare to celebrate 50 years of regaining Independence? The Government may have cancelled the fireworks display due to the Maligawa bombing, but what fireworks the LTTE has in store for us, only time will tell.

As our Special Souvenir to mark the occasion points out, despite 50 years we still have clubs in the hills where Sri Lankans are unwanted, and casinos in the heart of the city that display boards saying, "Only for Foreigners'.

Prince Charles is due here. The Queen who was originally the one invited did not feel Sri Lanka deserved a visit - so she sends Charles as if we are one of Her Majesty's poor relations. And we hope Charles will not pontificate about political solutions here when his nation's troops are in North Ireland and successive British Governments haven't yet tackled the IRA problem. On the other hand it might be good if he says why his Government is not closing down LTTE offices in London.

But we must also realise that during these 50 years there have been great strides and achievements. If you look at the back of our souvenir and in our Business Section the graphs show marked improvements in certain sections of our socio-economic indicators. It is population, pollution and politicians (not necessarily in that order) we must look out for in the future.

Mr. Thondaman who leads the estate workers and who frequently berates Sinhala leaders must offer flowers to them for leading a people who were transported from South India like cattle, and made to live in virtual cattle sheds. by the British for a life better than most miserable Sinhala peasants, who are either facing droughts, floods, bank officials or LTTE gunmen.

We are now at a very decisive moment in the history of our land. We feel there is no future for Sri Lanka if we continue to think on purely communal lines. To divide this little island on those grounds is a recipe for disaster. February 4 was a day when all Sri Lankans got Independence. It will be a day for all Sri Lankans to consider themselves Sri Lankans first and say to themselves;

Sri Lanka, whatever she will, with all her faults, she's my country still.

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