Commentary:

Towards a Sri Lankan renaissance...

by Prasad GUNEWARDENE

The dawn of a new spring to the North this year was predicted by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on the eve of 2009. The “Future Minds of Jaffna” exhibition organized by the Sri Lanka Army in Jaffna last week witnessed the enthusiasm of the crowds to move freely in the peninsula as they flocked in thousands to view the exhibition over the three day duration. The people in the North yearn to see the day that democracy will triumph over terrorism.

The sun continues to shine bright from the East after it was liberated and democracy restored. All those positive developments mentioned above certainly conveys a sentimental message to all our politicians, be they in the Government or Opposition as peoples representatives. Those who represent the people owe their being to this country. Sri Lanka, three decades ago was a land of hope. It was LTTE terrorism that introduced a period of despair. The nation yet battles to defeat the menace of terrorism. However, during the past two years, the journey to eliminate terrorism has been a success and the liberation of the eastern theatre is a testimony. At present the success story continues in the Northern theatre.

Journey towards renaissance

The indications on the battlefront makes us believe that the country is now on a journey towards a renaissance. In that context, politicians must conduct themselves as physicians. They must possess calm minds that display benevolence. We yet see the ill wind caused by terrorism blowing across the country and tensions running high at times. It’s unfortunate that our politicians stand divided at this critical juncture, battling to gain power, while the masses are yet caught in the ill wind blowing across the country. Therefore, it looks obvious that political greed has divided the people.

As positive signs appear, the need is a better understanding, trust and confidence in the centre stage of the country’s politics. Politicians and Members of Parliament on both sides of the House need no education about the yawning and unacceptable social inequalities in our country, be it race, distribution of wealth, income and other opportunities. Therefore, the peoples representatives must accept the corollary that they represent the disadvantaged segment of our society.

The responsibility of these honourable men and women who represent the people is to mobilise their constituencies, to understand and accept the legitimacy and justice of the demands of the deprived.

These elected representatives together as a unit should work towards the achievement of that goal, to change the present sad situation, to prevent the people being imprisoned by a status quo whose perpetuation could only lead to another disaster in time to come.

In the hallowed Chamber from Colombo Fort to Sri Jayewardenepura, Kotte, Members of Parliament for six long decades have raised, debated and argued questions and issues on matters pertaining to National Policies, Language, Ethnicity, Grievances and even on new draft constitutions. Have we achieved anything fruitful is a question that needs an answer. Those are areas that need to be handled with care and due sensitivity, to ensure that they do not exacerbate tensions that prepare the ground for renewed conflict among all sections of the people.

Fostering national unity

If we evaluate our achievements of the past, one cannot be happy, as most of our elected members have contributed in a manner quite contrary to those tasks. The people expect from their representatives, a wider and enduring national objective of resolving issues that have caused racial, ethnic and other social inequalities. There is also the need to foster national unity and reconciliation among sections irrespective of race, religion and political colour. That is why the people have elected them to embark upon a viable process to transform the society. It would be deceitful to pretend that such tasks would be easy as politicians cannot tell lies to the people all the time to claim easy victories.

Politicians must realize that, in this South Asian Region, Sri Lanka has the highest literacy rate and, that her people cannot be fooled all the while and all the time. Politicians in Opposition ranks must also realize the fact that the country they represent is the dear heritage of the people. Therefore, it is the bounden duty of all Opposition politicians, to protect this country from the danger of fragmentation. Hence, they have a duty to help those in power to free this country from the menace of terrorism. The wish of the people is to live in Sri Lanka devoid of racial conflict, corruption and abuse of power. The dream of all, is also to live a better life in a democratic and peaceful atmosphere. For that, the country needs the spirit of national reconciliation. The 225 Members of Parliament elected by the people should take the lead towards the reality of that noble dream.People expect elected representatives to maintain the highest level of discipline and decorum in the hallowed Chambers of the House. Over the years, the standard of conduct of some of our Parliamentarians have not reached expected levels. They shall be judged by the people for their good and bad and not merely by their eloquence within the Chamber. Also not by their agility in parliamentary debate, nor by the skill they outsmart their opponents. They shall be judged by how they use their position and power to improve the quality of life of the people.

Best comedians

The year 2009 could be a resourceful beginning for our parliamentarians to embark on such a noble task. People judge the parliamentarians by their integrity and honesty by what they do and not by what they preach. Opposition parliamentarians should not act in a manner that would sacrifice the future of this country to the vanities of short term political games. The country and its people are at a crucial juncture. The powerless at the moment must back the powerful to soon rid the nation of the ill wind that blows across our beloved land. Political greed for power will only make the world laugh that Sri Lankan politicians are the best comedians in the world.

Therefore, politicians must place the nation before them and not fall into the category of `unconscious’ comedians.

Debating, arguing, examining, cross-examining or re-examining the causes of the past that led to the current crisis shall never bring resolutions for the better. Now with troops gaining momentum and ground in liberating the last bastion of the enemy, we could witness a turn for the better. The Opposition must not act in a manner that would further divide the people. In the battle to eradicate terrorism, the role of the Opposition is to stand with the Government to achieve success. The security forces which fight to save the nation should not be ridiculed even during parliamentary debates by Opposition members. The Security Forces do not belong to any political party. They belong to the people and the country. Our Opposition parliamentarians should take serious note of that fact to educate themselves on the reality, that war and politics are two different entities as defined by Sir Winston Churchill of Great Britain during the second World War.

Let Sri Lanka of Today, be a Sri Lanka of Hope again, out of a period of despair. It shall make the daffodils bloom in this month of January heralding the path to a Sri Lankan renaissance.