Reconciliation, the need of the hour

Sri Lanka will celebrate the first anniversary of the liberation of the North and the East from the clutches of LTTE terrorism on May 18.

We remember with profound gratitude the great sacrifices made by Sri Lanka's valiant Security Forces to liberate the country and restore peace. It is due to those sacrifices that all Sri Lankans are today enjoying normalcy and peace.

It was reported that President Mahinda Rajapaksa will shortly appoint a Commission to report on the lessons learnt and reconciliation with regard to the difficulties and troubled times that Sri Lanka had to undergo due to the terrorist-inspired, manoeuvred and created conflict situation in recent years.

The current situation and developments should make us reflect on the conflict and the sufferings the country has been through - in keeping with the common aspirations of people from every strata of society in their resolve to have an assured era of peace, harmony and prosperity.

The findings of the Commission would undoubtedly take Sri Lanka towards the common goals of a multi-ethnic polity, in a spirit of camaraderie. It would also help us to learn lessons from recent history to ensure that there will be no recurrence whatsoever of such tragic conflict in the future. We must ensure that we have eradicated terrorism from our soil once and for all.

The seven-member Commission on Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation will comprise eminent Sri Lankans both here and abroad. Its terms of reference are to be gazetted shortly.

As highlighted by Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne in Parliament last week, the proposed Commission will be an effective tool to build mutual trust among all communities in Sri Lanka. In the event there had been any breach of trust among the communities due to the conflict that prevailed in the country, proposals could be made to the Commission to seek compensation. Those aggrieved would be granted relief to meet the losses incurred during the conflict period.

Though the LTTE leaders had been vanquished, some of its members are still active in the international arena under three main organisations with the ultimate objective of establishing their dream state in Sri Lanka. Though the Security Forces eliminated terrorism from Sri Lanka's soil, the real benefits could be realised only if lasting peace is achieved.

A few remaining LTTE activists, who are active internationally, have attempted to use the innocent Tamils, ex-LTTEers and those rehabilitated and those in custody as a cat's-paw in their vicious endeavour to regroup.

Despite such flagrant LTTE acts abroad, the Government has already taken steps to relax the Emergency Regulations by repealing certain laws.

It was indeed heartening to note the Government's decision as the country has gradually returned to normalcy.

The need of the hour is reconciliation, respecting each other's ethnic and religious backgrounds - as a large number of clauses in the Emergency Laws is to be repealed. In doing so, the Government has analysed the situation to effect social welfare measures, enabling people to go about their daily chores.

On May Day, President Rajapaksa invited all political parties, including the Tamil National Alliance which had been a Tiger-proxy in the past, to join hands with the Government. His invitation at the UPFA May Day rally is of special significance. Such a move would dispel whatever doubts of the minorities and convince all communities in Sri Lanka that they could unite in peace.

Now that the general election and the presidential polls are over, we need to overcome petty political differences and work for the greater good of the country and its people.

A new era has dawned in the North and the East as those living in the two provinces are gradually reaping the benefits of peace. Those who suffered untold privations for almost three decades due to LTTE terror are today contributing to the national economy.

The positive developments would be enjoyed not only by people in the North and the East, but also by those living across the length and breadth of the island. The contribution of the farmers in the North and the East, no doubt, plays a significant role in the country's economic development.

Though the scars of the damage caused by the LTTE through various bomb explosions over the past 30 years are visible, the most serious was the stagnation of the country's economic development.

Though the world has advanced technologically, Sri Lanka could not enjoy this advantage as national attention was focused on combatting terror. In the past, most foreign investors were reluctant to set up business ventures here. This too is understandable as prospective foreign businessmen were more concerned about the safety of their investments. During the past five years, many leading foreign business personalities put their investment plans on hold, as they were uncertain whether Sri Lanka could ever defeat terror. Now that our gallant Security Forces have accomplished this Herculean task, investors are gradually coming into the country, opening a new era in Sri Lanka's economy.

This could already be witnessed with the new business ventures springing up in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Such projects would provide numerous employment opportunities for the masses in those provinces, ensuring a brighter future for the youth who had witnessed only stark LTTE terror. The inspiring political leadership of the President has put an end to that black era and Sri Lanka is gradually advancing towards new economic horizons with renewed hope in the country's endeavour to become the Wonder of Asia.