Sri Lanka: What could have been, what it is

Sun Feb 3 17:53:57 UTC 2008

What could have been, what it is
By Dhananjani Silva and Madhushala Senaratne, Pix by Saman
Kariyawasam, Berty Mendis and Athula Devapriya

As schoolboys we didn't have much feeling towards change. But we were
aware that with the expected departure of the British, who were
occupying several high positions, there would be more job
opportunities for Sri Lankans. My father was a senior public officer
at the time and so we got tickets to go for the ceremony at
Independence Square hall which was a hangar at that time where the
Royal Air Force had its planes parked. This was beautifully converted
for the occasion. It was a matter of pride to see D. S. Senanayake
unveiling the flag of Ceylon. S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike and Sir Oliver
Goonetilleke made speeches on the occasion.

The country was a pleasant place to live in then and there was no
violence, except for a few incidents during World War II. We were
hoping that all of us would have a great future. Hopefully we can have
peace very soon.

Deloraine Brohier, former President of the Dutch Burgher Union, writer
and broadcaster:

I had just got into university in 1947. My father was a very senior
public servant at that time and was at the height of his career. So we
were invited for various functions in connection with Independence. We
went for the celebrations and I remember watching the four runners
representing the four communities who handed over their torches to
Duncan White who lit the ceremonial flame.

At the time we had grown up not conscious of ethnic differences. We
all studied in English and whether my friends were Sinhalese, Muslims,
Malays or Bohras made little difference to me. That was the spirit at
that time.

Looking back, one of the saddest things is the ethnic division that
came with the compartmentalization at schools. People often talk of
the exodus of the Burghers. During that time many people consulted my
dad about leaving Ceylon because in jobs we had to pass exams in
Sinhala and if we couldn't pass we were denied opportunities of
promotion. So for future prospects many Burghers went to countries
such as Australia.

Prof. Bertram Bastianpillai, lecturer and former Ombudsman who was
just 17 at the time of Independence:

I can remember the great expectations we had. I had just left school
then and was a temporary clerk at the Food Control Department in
Barnes Place. I was boarded in Kotahena and my friend had a car and he
took us around Pettah, Maradana, Hulftsdorp, Grandpass and Fort to see
the decorations. The roads were brightly lit and like us there were
many people coming to see the decorations.

The general opinion at that time was that we were in for a new
beginning. The future looked bright. The first disillusionment came
with the disenfranchisement of the Tamil community. People were
getting bitter with the language policy, where Sinhala became
compulsory for public servants along with other legislation which was
introduced. These changes were not immediate but gradually everyone
foresaw that the day would dawn on a divided Sri Lanka. When English
was the mode of administration many were left out of the race. This
needed to be rectified but it should have been done in a gradual
systematic way.

Veteran actress Iranganie Serasinghe who had just entered university
when Independence dawned had vivid recollections of the celebrations:

I was around 20 at that time. They had a huge event called the Pageant
of Lanka where Chitrasena did an item on Ramayanaya. I played the part
of Seetha along with him and Vajira. We all waited for Independence.
We didn't want to be under British rule. We were delighted when this
came in 1948. Unlike in India there was not much bloodshed here, so
Independence was a great step forward. We were hoping for a socialist
government, but that didn't happen and as years went by the country
faced problem after problem. It is such a shame because we had the
chance to make the country better. So in a way we have failed, we have
lost a lot of things and now, the people don't have anyone they can
turn to.

Vajira Chitrasena, veteran dancer was just 15 at the time of
Independence and had just come to Colombo from her hometown in
Kalutara:

There was a huge Independence Day celebration at Independence Square
with a structure put up for the 'Pageant of Lanka'. Chitrasena was
given an episode to perform the prehistoric times such as Ramayana and
the landing of Vijaya. All communities took part in this.

I remember Chitrasena's house was like a factory with hundreds of
sesaths, breast-bands and various other dance items. It was a huge
pageant with a lot of decorations. Elephants and horses were brought
on to the stage. The palanquins of Vihara Maha Devi were done at our
home. I was new to all this, but as it was all happening in my house
we got to meet different people.

Dr. Tissa Abeyesekera, veteran film-maker and writer:

I was only 8 years old and didn't feel anything special even though it
was Independence. But I remember the elders used to talk about it
quite a lot and my mother was trying to teach me to sing the national
anthem. Over the years, when I gradually began to understand the
meaning of Independence I realized that it was just an incomplete
thing which didn't mean much to the common man. I was pretty excited
about the 1956 political changeover. During this time in school I took
part in a debate where my team said Sri Lanka should be a republic and
we were declared a republic later in 1972, which to me, was a
significant move.

However, in reality I wonder if anything has changed at all. Have we
lived up to the expectations of a republic? There are whole sections
of our countrymen who feel they are second-class citizens.

Prof. Ashley Halpe, Emeritus Professor of English, University of Peradeniya:

I was just 14 years old and was given a ticket by one of my uncles to
the Independence event. The ceremony and the pageant were full of
splendour - halls were elaborately decorated. Also, on one side of the
stage was a foreign artist who was present to paint the whole ceremony
on canvas and this impressed me very much.

At that time however, I was not very conscious about policies but was
rather interested in cricket. It was much later that I became
interested in social events and the political future of the country.
We had lots of hopes for a better future. But unfortunately, we were
challenged by shortsighted, timorous leadership that emerged after the
'60s and '70s- that is the time that we began to feel that we were
going wrong. The failure to preserve harmony by various groups, lack
of commitment and corruption created the world we are in now. Yet we
need not give up hope. I believe that we have to deal with the
situation even at this stage.

Prof. M. T. A. Furkhan, former Professor of Management Accounting at
Sri Jayewardenepura University was around 13 at the time of
Independence:

I was small then, but I remember being part of Independence because
there were a lot of events at school; it was always discussed by our
elders and featured in the newspapers. There was this feeling of glory
in all of us. This was a peaceful country at that time. There was
communal harmony, a robust economy and above all, there was law and
order. We felt that a new dawn had come and there was to be a
significant change.

Sharm Fernando, 35, Attorney-At-Law and CEO:

We have to promote a Sri Lankan identity. When we approach the
international community as Sri Lankans we will win.

Zahrah Cader, 19, student:

To me Independence means being free and safe in your own country. But
this is not so. No one is free or secure. So what's the point of
celebrating?

I have come to realize the meaning of peace. Whenever someone dies,
that person is one of our own kind — he's a Sri Lankan. Youths get
along fine in this country. I have friends of other ethnic groups.
Change should come from the top. Perhaps someone from up there can
soon bring Independence to this country.

Jake Oorloff, 27, artiste/actor:

Sri Lanka's Independence should be a time of celebration; a
celebration of its people, its cultures, its identities, its diversity
and its heritage. Freedom of expression, freedom of movement, a
society free of racial prejudice, these are things that Sri Lankan
society is still to experience. As in previous years, I anticipate
that it will be a privileged few celebrating their own small
victories, as opposed to a celebration of a people of one nation; we
are yet to know and understand what a collective identity is.

Madugasthalawe Upananda Thero, 26, student at the University of
Colombo, Arts Faculty:

We gained Independence in 1948 but this was not the Independence we
enjoyed before the arrival of the European powers. Even now we are
being controlled to a certain level by unseen forces.

The Ceylon Parliament
When we take the university students, for instance, the minority
communities such as Tamils are being discriminated against. Sometimes
they are unable to attend lectures because they would have to go to
the police for registration if they have changed their location
whereas for Sinhalese this is not so. We need common policies or one
policy that would respect the rights of everyone.

T. Arul, 34, journalist:

Who has Independence today? The war has been going on for around 25
years out of the 60 years of Independence, during which time we have
also seen many things that we were not supposed to see as an
independent nation. In 1948, Sinhala and Tamil leaders played a key
role in gaining Independence. Why can't we do it now? We should aim
for peace. All communities should work as one nation, one country.
It's not too late to do this.

C. Hewage, student, University of Colombo, Faculty of Computer Science:.

"We still don't have Independence. Independence for me means having
the freedom to express one's ideas without intervention but at the
same time in a way it would not affect the freedom of another person.
We have this freedom of expression to a certain degree only.

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