Ranil, a reliable ally when times are tough

By Ashley Weerasooriya

Sri Lanka (SL) looks forward to blaze a new path after the tumultuous end of President Mahinda Rajapaksa's rule which lasted nearly 10 years.

SL's life wheel now turns a few notches different to what it used to be and the new government got into business quickly and as a result a new era is dawning to weave fortunes for SL lives. Towards the end of the war, people had to trust their inner judgments and make a choice regarding the political direction they are going to make.

They were concerned about the ethics they most admired, the masses easily understood the realities despite the most vulgar election campaign carried out by the State media. The former government failed to see realities that the electorate mood was changing.

The masses felt that they were not quite free to spread their wings unhindered and were ready to explore new beginnings.

People realised that the long awaited expectations could have been given to them by 'that government' after the war ended and realised that 'Maithri and Ranil' are reliable people and could be depended on when times are tough.

SL, the West, EU and UNHRC

The Government needs to remove the entanglement created with the West by the Rajapaksa administration and needs to show the present one's position that SL is not at loggerheads with the UNHRC and has no plans sparking furious debates and Mangala Samaraweera is quite capable of reassuring to provide space from the harshest critics, he is also a person who could establish a personal touch with them and talk to them directly.

Kamalesh Sharma, Director General of the Commonwealth Secretariat, never spoke highly of the SL officials in the past until recently when he praised and lauded our Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera.

During the Rajapaksa administration we had a thorny and protracted relationship with the US and the West.

We need to get along with every nation and this government has to show the world that SL is a responsible member of the international community and efforts should be made to win the hearts of all nations.

SL needs to have a better understanding and survival tactics on the world stage despite difficulties. SL should stand tall and 'get on' with the West and work towards achieving a solution compatible to both SL as well as the West.

It is of no use telling other countries to learn from SL on how to crush terrorism. Besides the terrorism here and elsewhere are different.

Milestone

Sure, no one can condone the ferocity of the LTTE and their style of revolting against a sovereign country such as SL. We passed a tumultuous milestone which is now history and need to move on and get on with our traditional partners such as the USA, UK, Canada and all European countries including Australia.

For instance, the West had been our common and historical partners in many ways. Its true our traditional common relationship plummeted due to set backs created due to the 'one China' policy and over the impeachment of the former Chief Justice.

But our historical links that binds with issues at the present juncture, points out SL cannot afford to be alienated but confront burning issues and win the confidence of Western countries.

Even though we are a ‘dot’ in the South Asian region our strategic importance in this part of the world. Comes into calculation by world powers.

Of the Western countries, the Rajapaksa government got on well with Canberra as Australia wanted SL's cooperation to put an end to illegal immigration. Illegal migration became a public debate in Australia and any Government whether Labor or any other party’s political survival depended on the success of that important issue. This was the reason why Australia refrained from voting with the West at the UNHRC in Geneva.

Sri Lankan societies

SL should dispel various diabolical myths created by politicians. It is the people of this country who decide if and when a new regime change should come into effect and the prerogative of that process rests with the will of the public and the will of the masses ultimately prevailed.

The mood of our society changed like a pendulum close to the election. It is the society's responsibility to maintain impartiality and social order in day to day affairs.

In the past, 'that government' wanted the world to know that great efforts had been made to promote human welfare and reduce suffering of the masses. However, the system itself has been a stumbling block to achieve any social progress in this regard.

The grounds on which impartiality and social order based on beliefs, passed on from generation to generation to give the greatest salient features of such a society that they think and act to show the world that they are more civilised or that they do the right thing by one another and they are proud of everything they do to achieve those objectives.

We live in an ever changing world and we all go through various contortions.

Although things went on well pretty much the regime way on the surface, they failed look into the future.

In SL the law, which always lags behind social development in our society has to be brought up to date.

It may be our society which accepted these values and beliefs are an intrinsically better society and there is no doubt that many of these values and beliefs are still held by many people who will no doubt live their lives according to them.