Welcome stress on united Sri Lanka

Whatever the trials Sri Lanka may be forced at present to confront on account of the controversial Darusman Report, and the divisive impact it may have had in some quarters, there is one huge positive in the area of collective attitudes that the whole of Sri Lanka could be happy over. That is, the increasingly popular view that Sri Lanka must forge ahead as one, united nation and country.

It may have taken some time in coming, but the idea has taken hold that we, as a country, cannot afford to be divided and at loggerheads with each other any more. Thanks to the clear pronouncements coming from particularly our top political leadership to this effect, Sri Lankans are more accustomed to the idea that this country belongs to all our communities. Even yesterday, President Mahinda Rajapaksa emphasized the necessity of Sri Lanka advancing into the future as one, united country, while engaging in events related to the Sambuddhathva Jayanthi celebrations. Whereas, pernicious moves from external quarters could have divisive consequences for Sri Lanka, and the Report seems to be aimed at this, a united Sri Lanka where communal amity is the high note, could easily defuse these possibilities.

These positive developments need to be underscored because communal amity and equality was not always favoured and openly, unambiguously and unreservedly endorsed by all sections of our political community. The 'communal card' was frequently resorted to over the decades, by opportunistic political elements and this factor played a significant role in keeping Sri Lanka 'on the boil'. These divisive political positions were readily availed of by some politicians in both the South and North-East of Sri Lanka, and it is our hope that a collective realization would now dawn on the entirety of our political community of the futility and extremely costly nature of such narrow, parochial attitudes.

As pointed out by some, one of the most disturbing results to flow from the Report could be a re-opening of healing and 'old wounds'. This risk will be present to the degree to which the Report is discussed and debated hotly in the public domain. Therefore, the government in particular is obliged to ensure that any unsettling consequences of this kind do not befall this country. We have it on the authority of External Affairs Minister Professor G.L. Peiris that a letter detailing Sri Lanka's achievements by way of nation re-building and rejuvenation would be sent presently to the UN Secretary General.

While there is no denying the advisability of this measure and other initiatives of the same kind that would go a long way in disabusing minds of erroneous notions they may have formed as a result of the Report, local arrangements should also be in place to ensure that communal and cultural amity and togetherness are speeded up and sustained. In other words, the nation-building process must be fast-tracked and advanced.

It is not always realized that nation-building has really very little to do with measures that are aimed at spreading material advancement countrywide. While material progress is a goal which should be always pursued because it is synonymous with a country's prosperity, nation-building would be a reality only when the ethnic groups of a country are united and relate to each other in a spirit of togetherness, on equal terms. This is nation-building in the truest sense of the phrase and this is the goal post-conflict Sri Lanka must set for itself.

Nevertheless, it is heartening that the need for nation-building in this very vital sense is being increasingly felt. Perhaps, the years of bloodshed and turmoil have driven home the truth everywhere in this country that narrow-mindedness does not pay any longer. There is no getting away from the need to live unitedly, in brotherhood.

However, some concrete measures need to be taken by the Lankan state in the short and medium terms to facilitate this process of nation-building. Hopefully, the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission has taken cognizance of them already. For instance, we need to look into the possibility of making the use of racist slogans by politicians and other public figures a principal offence. Initiatives also need to be in place to promote peaceful communal co-existence. Likewise, we also need to see an end to the inciting of religious tensions and ill-feeling.

These are just a few basic nation-building measures post-conflict Sri Lanka must consider initiating. Now that terrorism has been quashed the possibilities are really boundless for this country. They must be explored to make national rejuvenation a resplendent reality.