The country is still picking up the pieces and coming to grips with the nightmare exactly one month after Islamist fanatics blew up three places of Christian worship and three upmarket tourist hotels that killed nearly 300 people and injured more than 500. An uneasy calm still pervades the landscape, while fear and suspicion still abound despite the commendable job performed by the police and Tri-forces in all but dismantling the local Jihadist terror network and the assurance given by the authorities to the general public to go about their business without fear. In fact this assurance was buttressed by the low key but yet impressive Vesak celebrations throughout the country that also saw the active participation of members of the Muslim and Christian communities in a sign that rancour and distrust have been set aside. Towards this end, it is but due to the timely intervention and sober counselling to his flock by His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith that prevented a major backlash by the Catholics in the aftermath of the first ISIS terror strike in the sub-continent. Indeed, calls for the Nobel Peace Prize to be bestowed on His Eminence cannot be a misplaced one, for this signal act where he not only enjoined his community to maintain peace but also invoked the act of Christ on the cross who forgave His tormentors.
The support and solidarity extended by the Maha Sangha towards the stricken Catholic community too needs special mention. Never had there been such an abundance of empathy shown by the Buddhist clergy towards their Christian brethren in their hour of peril than that shown during and in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday carnage. In a way, the calamity went a long way towards cementing the fraternal bonds between the Catholic and Buddhist communities which had been on a healthy footing at all times.
However, the scars left behind will take a long time to heal. Terrorism in the name of religion was something that a small and insignificant country (from the point of view of the ISIS) like Sri Lanka never bargained for. One would have hardly thought that Sri Lanka will get into the ISIS radar, to expect something like this sprung on us out of the blues. The Easter Sunday attacks have now added a new dimension to the country’s security preparedness. Whereas the Tri-forces were only hitherto accustomed to guerrilla and conventional warfare, from the days of the LTTE, they will now have to deal with a new dimension on par with the defence forces of the western countries which have been the prime targets of the Jihadists. There is little doubt though that our men would be equal to the task which was also alluded to by the President in no uncertain terms.
Addressing the “Uttama Pranama” 10th state memorial service of war heroes at Parliament Grounds on Sunday, President Sirisena said just like they wiped out 26 years of LTTE terrorism, a task that even defeated the 100,000 strong IPKF, he was supremely confident that the country’s heroic soldiers and intelligence officers would break the back of religious extremism. He said; “I am determined that I will not let this happen once again in our Motherland, I will never let religious extremists to put this country once again in that predicament. We have almost won the war against religious fundamentalist terrorism. Our intelligence services, the STF and the Police have exposed and apprehended those involved”.
Still, it is important that we don’t let our guard down. Indeed, this is exactly what happened even in the days of the LTTE. The prevailing security arrangements should not be relaxed even if the worst is behind us. As mentioned, the element of fear still exists chiefly due to the suddenness and the magnitude of the attacks from a least expected quarter. It is always best to be alert to the lurking danger. True, assurances have been given by the Army Commander to the public, and, to the parents, to send their children to school. In fact attendance in schools is witnessing a gradual increase and the signs are things will return to normal before long. Yet, a fear psychosis is unavoidable for the reasons mentioned.
Be that as it may, no stone should be left unturned by the authorities to make life comfortable for the dependants of the victims of the Easter Sunday church bombings - both the dead and the injured. This is bearing in mind that most of them were the breadwinners of their families. Most importantly, the education of their children must be ensured and care provided in a sustained form making sure they are not left in want. It is gratifying to note that, in addition to the state assistance, private contributions too are pouring in, mostly from the Buddhists and Muslim donors. This was markedly seen during Vesak where some donated money earmarked for dansal, pandols and other activities connected to the Vesak festival, on behalf of the Easter Sunday bomb victims. One should always bear in mind that it is their blood sacrifice that saw the unraveling of the entire local Jihadi network that, no doubt, resulted in averting a much larger catastrophe.
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