64th anniversary of Independence:

Freedom and peace: Lanka on track to reach greater horizons

By Pramod DE SILVA

Independence. Depending on how you look at it, the word can have many interpretations. But it usually means that we are not under anyone, that we are free. It can apply to a person or indeed, to a nation. It is in this context that we will be analysing the word and the concept of Independence.

For thousands of years, following the arrival of Prince Vijaya from India, Sri Lanka was an independent nation. Many kings of yore had to battle invading armies from India from time to time. They emerged victorious on most occasions, though the seat of power was shifted to various cities such as Anuradhapura, Yapahuwa, Polonnaruwa, Dambadeniya and Kandy, depending on strategic imperatives.

The compact island of Sri Lanka was (and is) strategically placed on the East-West shipping route. Even before world maps came into existence, Sri Lanka was known as a serendipitous island, which earned it the name Serendib.

Trading hub

There is ample archaeological and written evidence that Sri Lanka was reputed as a trading hub for centuries. Though it was not strictly a part of the Silk Route, Sri Lanka was more or less a free port on the East-West trade shipping routes and known for its spices, gems and other goods. The fabled explorers of yesteryear such as Fa Hsien and Ibn Batuta could not find enough superlatives to describe the beauty of the island and its rich cultural and religious legacy.

The 14th, 15th and 16th centuries were a period when even the farthest corners of the world were being discovered by intrepid explorers and the naval powers of the day – Portuguese, Dutch and somewhat later, the English.

Sri Lanka naturally came to their attention due to its location on the world’s crossroads. Although trade was the first objective, colonial ambitions soon took over. The Portuguese were the first to stake a claim to this resplendent isle, in 1505. It was not long before the Dutch came to the scene and the English followed.

By 1815, Sri Lanka was completely and firmly under British rule, a status that would remain until 1948 - just 64 years ago. However, it was only in 1972 that Sri Lanka shed its Dominion status by opting to become a Republic.

Colonial rule

More than 400 years of colonial rule in one form or the other had both good and bad effects on the country and its people. Vestiges of Portuguese and Dutch languages were infused to Sinhala and Tamil, the two vernacular languages. Thus, if you see a signboard announcing a ‘Vendesi’ in Italy (the word is found in most Western European languages), you know it is an auction or a sale. There are numerous other examples for this enrichment of the vernacular languages, from Istoppuwa to Kamisa.

Many people also took on Portuguese and Dutch surnames, which is why one can find so many Silvas, Pereras and Fernandos in this country.

The colonial rulers also propagated their religions here - there are many centuries-old churches that bear testimony to this fact, although certain methods by which they sometimes collected adherents remain controversial to this day. Many elements of our laws are derived from the Dutch.

But it was the British rule that caused many profound changes, good and bad. English was firmly entrenched as the third language. The British introduced crops such as tea which is still a top foreign exchange earner. Many roads and the railway network were built.

Many other infrastructure facilities were initiated. But none of these could suppress the fact that Sri Lankans were denied their freedom, their rightful place in the local society. The locals became second class citizens in their own country.

It is the yearning for freedom from colonial rule that led to several rebellions against the British. Although most of these were violently crushed and the heroes executed, it could not extinguish the flame of freedom in the minds of Sri Lankans. By the early part of the 20th century, the freedom movement was gaining ground rapidly, with many leading religious figures, intellectuals and politicians joining the fray. This was a movement the British could not ignore.

The freedom struggle, coupled with geopolitical realities of the day, made independence inevitable for countries such as Sri Lanka (then known as Ceylon) and India. Thus, on February 4, 1948, Sri Lanka gained Independence from Britain. It was a proud and free nation once more, after more than 400 years of colonial subjugation.

There is a wrong notion that post-independent Sri Lankan governments have done little to improve the country. On the contrary, vast strides have been made in almost every sphere. The concept of free education and free health has been one pillar of strength to a country that emerged from foreign domination. Thanks to this far-reaching policy, Sri Lanka is almost on par with developed nations in terms of health and education indices.

Democracy

The country has also remained a steadfast, vibrant democracy unlike several regional neighbours which saw military takeovers. Many programs have been undertaken to end poverty. Infrastructure development was a priority for most governments.

But the rulers did make mistakes. Perhaps the biggest failure on the part of many post-independence governments was their inability to protect and nurture the country’s multi-ethnic, multi-religious character.

Polarisation along ethnic lines was to cause a massive conflict later – a conflict that dragged on for 30 long years and drained the country socially and economically. It was ended only in 2009, an occasion which many rightly regard as a second independence.

The rancour and discord that plunged the country into despair could have been avoided if the rulers were more pragmatic in their approach to uphold the aspirations of various communities in the country. Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim or Burgher, we are all equal citizens of this beautiful country - a fact that many chose to ignore, with disastrous consequences.

Grievances and aspirations

Another factor was the over-reliance on politics. There were many instances where one government would undo even the good things done by its predecessor, solely due to political reasons. The failure to address the genuine grievances and aspirations of youth also led to two insurgencies in the South.

Now in peacetime, we have a golden opportunity to put things right on all these counts. Lasting peace and reconciliation must be given priority in this noble exercise.

The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, in its much-acclaimed report, has laid a firm foundation for a process of reconciliation across the country, cutting across all man-made boundaries.

It was just last week that one of the most significant moves in this direction was taken. The Tri-lingual Sri Lanka initiative is laudable for its breadth and scope - this is what Sri Lanka should have done many decades ago.

If every Sri Lankan, irrespective of community, can speak Sinhala and Tamil fluently (in addition to English), that is the biggest impetus for peace and reconciliation one can think of.

We must begin from the beginning and schoolchildren, who have not been tainted with any pre-conceived notions on race, religion or caste, are the ideal candidates for the tri-lingual program. Youth must be given their due place and their aspirations met.

These initiatives will also pave the way for a Sri Lankan identity. Ask an Indian who he is and he will not say I am a Gujarati, Keralite or a Tamil.

A Singaporean will not say he is Chinese, Malay or Indian. Similarly, we should all learn to say we are Sri Lankan, instead of identifying ourselves as Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims or Burghers. Sri Lanka is firmly on the path of development as well, with a staggering growth rate surpassed only by a few other countries. The people-centric development drive is essential if we are to become a leading economy in the region.

Sixty-four years after obtaining Independence, we are indeed poised on the threshold of an exciting journey into the future. All Sri Lankans must join hands, shedding petty differences, to ensure a bright future for the Pearl of the Indian Ocean.