[lg policy] Sri Lankan Independence Day; Growing pains continue

Fri Feb 4 14:48:48 UTC 2011

Sri Lankan Independence Day; Growing pains continue
Fri, 2011-02-04 05:45

By Raj Gonsalkorale

Sri Lanka is yet to realize its full potential as a free nation.
Whatever one might say, the ethnic discord that the country has
experienced for a considerable period of time seems to be one of the
principal reasons for the country to suffer from growing pains even at
the ripe old age of 63.
As to whether this ethnic discord is a genuine discord between the two
major communities is a debatable issue, as many are of the opinion
that the discord is more a manufactured one, where some genuine but
relatively minor issues have been exploited and magnified by
opportunistic elements within both major communities.

Now, for the first time since independence, the leader of a government
and the government itself has embarked on a clear and unambiguous
policy to shape Sri Lanka as one country, with equal opportunities and
equal rights for all irrespective of their ethnicity, irrespective of
who they are in the social structure and irrespective of where they
live. Whatever disagreements one might have with President Mahinda
Rajapaksa, he has demonstrated that he has a vision for the country; a
vision that is based on the over arching policy of one country for all
people.

His vision is not mere words. He has walked a tight rope to introduce
a language policy at all levels of the society, in schools and in
government offices. Non Sinhala citizens are being recruited to the
Police and Armed Forces, and government offices have taken vital steps
to address communication needs of all major communities in the
country. No doubt more needs to be done, but a substantial amount of
work to promote inclusiveness has begun. It is now the responsibility
of all politicians and government officials to ensure government
policy is implemented, and done so in full. It is not possible for one
person to supervise everything that is going on. Even if that were
possible, that one person would then run the risk of being labeled an
authoritarian ruler.

Economic development, primarily infrastructure development is going on
at a fast pace. Again, the government maybe criticized for aspects of
their economic development policy, but the fact remains that the
country is growing, and visibly so. What perhaps needs to be
encouraged is more and more private sector participation and
investment, with some areas of economic development clearly identified
for private sector involvement, and quarantined from interfering
politicians, and unnecessary red tape.

What has been a thorn in the flesh for Sri Lanka, the ethnic discord,
continues outside Sri Lanka than within, thanks to the Tamil Diaspora.
These elements and their proxies in Sri Lanka still continue to take a
racially divisive line when it comes to looking for ways and means of
ending whatever remnants of discord within the country. If Tamil
politicians in Sri Lanka were genuine in their desire to help Tamil
people, they could now change their tactics and encourage their
Diaspora friends to take part in the country’s development activity,
and also engage in political activities to promote the entire country
as the homeland of all citizens, including theirs.

This is the only way they can help their fellow Tamils, if indeed it
is their intention. It would be nice if they could think of members of
other communities that live in Sri Lanka, and help them as well.
Surely, problems faced by many Tamils are faced by many Sinhala and
Muslim people as well. It might be opportune for Sinhala and Muslim
politicians to stand for election in these areas, and change the
mindset of Tamil people in areas where they are predominant.

If challenges faced by the leaders of the country leading to
independence in 1948 were substantial, then the challenges faced by
the current President and his government are monumental. While the pre
independence leadership had only one adversary to fight against,
politically of course, today’s leadership has to fight many
adversaries and do so from several fronts. President Rajapaksa has
managed to win one major battle, that against the military might of
the LTTE. He has many other battles to fight and win.

On the one hand, there is the influential and powerful Tamil Diaspora
which continues to spread disinformation and falsehoods, and which has
engaged mercenaries like Bruce Fein to take legal action against the
President. The Tamil Diaspora is fighting from many fronts and there
is no indication they are genuinely interested in helping Tamils
living in Sri Lanka. Their interest seems to be totally focused on
themselves, and the sustenance and growth of their black economy.

They have derived their power by bribing leading politicians and
opinion makers in powerful countries like the USA, UK and the EU. They
have also bribed their way to leading media outlets, and even hitherto
honorable institutions like the BBC and CNN have succumbed to the
machinations of the Tamil Diaspora.

Challenges that President Rajapaksa has to face come from these
Diaspora elements, and all those who they have maneuvered to believe
their falsehoods. Some foreign governments, trade bodies,
international organisations and leading media organizations are
amongst those who are continuously working against the President and
Sri Lanka. In this era of duplicity, “abudassa kale”, as some might
call it, democratic countries that have fought unwelcome, unnecessary
and unpopular wars in distant lands, and killed millions of innocent
people in these countries are lecturing to Sri Lanka about human
rights and deaths of civilians. What they call collateral damage, are
human right violations in Sri Lanka.

The list goes on. The Sri Lankan President is not welcome in these so
called democracies, and he has relied on true friends to support the
country’s development effort. Countries that Sri Lanka thought were
her friends have become indifferent and cold.

This is the climate that the country faces in its 63rd year as an
independent nation. It has learnt bitter lessons, and learnt who its
true friends are. Amidst all these challenges, Sri Lanka is emerging
as a strong nation. Adversities faced have resulted in a greater
degree of self confidence and national pride, and a desire to be truly
free from dependence and to become self reliant as soon as possible.
In five years time the per capita income in the country is targeted to
reach USD 4000 and on the road to further improvements. The country’s
GDP is growing at around 7.5%, and food security has improved to the
extent that self sufficiency in many staple foods is a reality and not
a dream anymore.

Sri Lanka is finally freeing itself from the shackles of dependency,
and standing tall despite all the insults and innuendos it continues
to face from those who the country thought were her friends.

Despite all these adversities, there is no doubt Sri Lanka will prevail.

http://www.asiantribune.com/news/2011/02/03/sri-lankan-independence-day-growing-pains-continue

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