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| Sunday, 17 August 2003 |
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Editor, Sunday Observer. E-mail: [email protected] Snail mail : Sunday Observer, 35, D.R.Wijewardana Mawatha, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Telephone : 94 1 429239 / 331181 Fax : 94 1 429230 Thailand The honour bestowed on the Prime Minister of Thailand, Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra, of the opportunity to address Parliament, is a fitting gesture this country has made in acknowledgment of the tremendous spiritual debt owed by us to that South-east Asian Buddhist nation. It is that nation which responded to the need of this island's people for a revival of their principal religion, Buddhism. After centuries of institutional collapse due to internecine war and invasions, our island society suffered from a serious decline of the Buddha dhamma due to the lack of institutions to sustain the Sangha. Responding to our appeal, the Kingdom of Siam, as Thailand was known at the time, sent a delegation of senior monks to bestow the Higher Ordination and thereby revive the Sasana on this 'dharma dveepa'. It is this spiritual strength, also nurtured by similar support from Myanmar, which now sustains this island nation in its endeavours to overcome its greatest crisis in centuries. In close trade ties, cooperation in tourism, technology, investment and security, as well as Buddhist pilgrimages and philanthropy, Thailand remains a steadfast friend of Sri Lanka. This country stands to benefit from an even closer relationship. India Although his visit has been delayed due to sudden official commitments at home, Sri Lanka eagerly awaits the arrival of India's Minister of External Affairs, Mr. Yaswant Sinha. It is to be hoped that Mr. Sinha will visit here in the near future without further delay. Subsequent to the Indian Foreign Minister's visit, the Indian Minister of Defence, Mr. George Fernandes is also understood to be preparing to visit Sri Lanka in the near future. This revived interest by Delhi in affairs south of the Palk Strait is most welcome and must be seen as a positive response to the sustained overtures to India made by the United National Front Government since it came to power. In a significant departure from the Westward-leaning foreign policy of the United National Party of old, the UNP under the current leadership has acknowledged the supreme importance of India in our immediate geo-strategic environment. In fact, the posture adopted by Delhi toward the latest round of peace initiatives, begun by President Chandrika Kumaratunga and now continued with major success by the Ranil Wickremesinghe Government, has seemed rather detached, given the vital interest India, the regional power, should have in the stability of its neighbourhood. Given, also, the intimate cultural and socio-political ramifications to affairs and developments on both sides of Palk Straits, and, furthermore, India's previous direct role in both peace-making and peace-keeping, progress in any peace project has never been seen as viable without some active role by Delhi. Equally importantly, more than at any time in the recent past, there is a growing consensus in this country that India should return to a more active role in bringing about a settlement of the conflict. The main protagonists in the war, the Sri Lankan State and the LTTE both see an important role for India. At a popular level too, people of all ethnic communities now see the need for Delhi's support in the search for a resolution of the conflict. At the same time, certain political forces previously hostile to an Indian role have now changed tack and also call for India's involvement in some form. In all, there seems to be a growing consensus in the country that the long-sought settlement needs help from the regional power, seen as our 'Mother Country' in more ways than one. The numerous visits already made by Sri Lankan leaders in recent times, including a visit by the President, and several visits by the Prime Minister, are likely to have made Delhi aware of Sri Lanka's need. Delhi's own perception of the regional strategic situation would also indicate the importance of an active policy vis-a-vis Sri Lanka. If the reasons are clear and clear to all concerned, then, action is next. |
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