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| Sunday, 23 November 2003 |
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Editorial |  |
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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 Rain-no play? 'Rain - no play' was the outcome of last Thursday's much-awaited cricket fixture between the British Lions and the Sri Lankan Lions. Hopefully, 'Rivalry - no peace process' will not be the outcome of the latest attempt at shared national leadership between the country's two principal political parties. The two parties, the UNP and PA, that respectively control the Government and Presidency, have begun a series of negotiations to work out the parameters of sharing the responsibility of leading the country out of the mire of war, ethnic conflict and economic doldrums. True, both parties have made categorical pronouncements that they were firmly committed to peace-making and to the political collaboration so necessary to bring about peace. True, both parties seem to have begun a process towards that end. True, they are apparently determined, at last, to fulfil what has been the clear, popular mandate for cohabitation in State power. But just as much as cricket teams can come out to play but then fail to complete the match because of inclement weather, political parties too can make promises, can even be seen to get things going but, ultimately not go very far. Usually, things fold up amid a welter of excuses and a smokescreen of charges and counter-charges so that citizens cannot say who was responsible for which aspect of the debacle. The Sri Lankan civil war has seen many such debacles of peace-making initiatives over the past twenty-five years. This week the LTTE commemorates its cadres who have died in twenty-five years of insurgency and secessionist war. Earlier this month, the Sri Lankan armed forces too remembered its dead from several wars. the Eelam War, currently in suspense due to the cease-fire, accounts for the highest number of casualties. Neither the Sri Lankan forces nor the LTTE can afford a prolongation of this bloodshed. Nor can Sri Lankan society, economy and environment. Nor can the country's international donor community wait much longer with funds that could easily go to more deserving countries if leaderships here are unable to get their act together. These are all very good reasons for those leaders, currently engaged in the promising process of consultations, to ensure that no selfish motives or manoeuvres will obstruct things. There has to be the political will to transcend these compulsions for exclusive power and political gain in the larger interests of nationhood and social stability. The failure to make this transition from short-sighted politicking to a genuinely creative political enterprise will be their measure of our civilisation. Inter-Coolers The road to Parliament these days is crowded with turbo inter-cooler luxury wagons and other expensive vehicles as legislators rush to the House to fulfil their electoral obligations to improve the country's economic management by participating in the Budget debate. Community leaders and activist representatives of this country's teeming millions of the poor may not have much crow about this year's Budget. There is little offered to ease the growing economic burden on the low-income and middle income social sectors. But what can one expect from economic managers who are under pressure to conform to the rigorous strictures imposed by all-powerful international institutions and foreign governments on whom the country depends for development aid? However, true to its commitment to expansion of economic growth, the Budget has once again offered some incentives to those who may be attracted to the possibilities for further investment and entrepreneurship, which, in turn, will boost the economy. It is certainly not enough to rely on the initiative and outlook of big business. There are millions of Sri Lankans waiting for both opportunities to make good economically and also facilities to overcome their current predicament in poverty, malnutrition and social apathy. They are not going to stand by for long and watch the histrionics in Parliament or at the President's House. |
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