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MAKE PEACE WITH THE TAMIL DIASPORA IN THE NEW YEAR

Details: Created on 04 January 2011

The importance of forgiveness, reconciliation and renewal were recurring themes at religious services on New Year’s Day. It is unlikely that those sermons by religious clergy and prayers of the faithful were motivated by considerations of national politics alone. It is more likely that these religious sentiments reflected the wisdom that has come down through the ages to make human life on Earth more sustainable and bearable. There is a reason why religious scriptures give the message that even a human being who has murdered 999 others can be redeemed and that societies that ethnically cleansed others can be a chosen people.

GOVERNMENT’S INVITATION TO UN PANEL MAY REFLECT A LESSON LEARNT

Details: Created on 20 December 2010

The government has announced it is purchasing sophisticated new armoured vehicles from Russia to bolster the strength of the country’s security forces. A justification given is that this will permit the Sri Lankan military to obtain assignments on peacekeeping mission abroad. Government spokespersons have referred to the high expenditures on defence as being in the nature of investments in the country’s long term security and stability, which are key to economic development. The budget allocation for defence this year was an increase over last year, which in turn made it the second year in succession that Sri Lanka’s defence budget increased after the end of the war.

COUNTERPRODUCTIVE CONFRONTATION OR POSITIVE TRANSFORMATION?

Details: Created on 13 December 2010

The Oxford Union may have dealt the government an unexpected blow by unilaterally withdrawing the invitation it had extended to the President to speak at the university. There was the possibility of a mass protest campaign against the President’s visit escalating due to action by the Tamil Diaspora as well as some Sinhalese expatriate supporters of imprisoned former Army Commander and Presidential candidate former General Sarath Fonseka. But the government once again demonstrated its political skill in turning around the torrid time experienced by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his entourage in the United Kingdom into political advantage back in Sri Lanka.

PRESIDENT HOLDS KEY TO TURNING WORLD OPINION AROUND

Details: Created on 06 December 2010

The events that occurred during President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s recent visit to the United Kingdom ought to serve as an early warning to the Sri Lankan government. There is a negative portrayal about the situation in Sri Lanka that is growing especially in the Western world as well as other parts of the world that have access to Western media. This is a problem that needs to be addressed or else there is a danger that what happened at Heathrow airport, at Oxford University and at the Dorchester Hotel in London where the President was staying can happen again. In particular, the ability of members of the Tamil Diaspora to prevent the President from addressing the prestigious Oxford Union could encourage anti government groups in other parts of the world to do repeat performances.

BUDGET’S ECONOMIC THRUST NEEDS NON-ECONOMIC SUPPORTS

Details: Created on 29 November 2010

The government has proposed a budget that has won plaudits as being pro-development by the business community. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been firm in declaring that Sri Lanka would surely double its per capita income to USD 4000 in a five year period. The massive development scheme such as the show piece Hambantota port, the Norochcholai power station and the vast improvements to the road network are visible indications of the government’s commitment to economic development and to the foundations being laid for future growth. These investments would be the basis of the 8 percent growth rate experienced by the country in the last year and anticipated in the present and coming years.

ENLIGHTENED LEADERSHIP FOR A RESURGENT SRI LANKA

Details: Created on 22 November 2010

The state media described President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s oath taking ceremony for his second term in office that took place on November 19 as a simple, solemn and dignified one. The President’s demeanour on the occasion was indeed simple, solemn and dignified. Historians of Asian practices have noted that the old traditions, especially those influenced by Buddhist teachings, give prominence to the ascetic ideal which fits well with the practice of simplicity that is both solemn and dignified. However, the build up to the president’s taking of oaths, and everything else about the ceremony, was ostentatious, lavish and would have been costly. The government declared November 15 to 22 a commemorative week and organized activities country-wide to celebrate the president’s swearing-in with government buildings lit up and large posters of the president erected around the country. It appears that those who organized the various ceremonies wished to make a different connection to the past.

THE CHALLENGE OF PRESIDENT RAJAPAKSA’S SECOND TERM

Details: Created on 16 November 2010

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will take his oaths for his second term of presidential office on November 19. He will be doing so nearly ten months after winning the Presidential election that was held on January 26 this year. The delay in taking oaths is on account of the 3rd Amendment to the Constitution of 1982. This Amendment permits a sitting President to call for early elections and also to gain extra time by making the second term start at a later point of time. The first person to hold the position of Executive President of Sri Lanka, J R Jayewardene saw to the enactment of this constitutional amendment to ensure that he could hold early elections before his political popularity dropped to the point of no-return. Just like President Jayewardene, President Rajapaksa called for early elections and made use of the constitutional provision to take his oaths as late as possible, to gain extra time.

A WAY TO GAIN FULLER INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

Details: Created on 08 November 2010

Sri Lanka has won its war against terrorism. There has been no terrorist attack since the end of the war last year. It is now a safer and more peaceful country than most in the world. This is reflected in its relatively high human development ranking as reflected in UN calculations, ahead of India, Thailand, Philippines and Indonesia. But a spectre haunts the country. It is the spectre of war crimes that could lead to criminal charges in international courts against the government leadership. There are reports that Tamil diaspora groups are planning legal challenges in their present countries of domicile against Sri Lankan leaders. The worst case scenario of an international arrest of government leaders is unlikely to materialize but the very possibility can act as a deterrent on the travel plans of government leaders.

STILL AWAITING THE BREAK WITH THE PAST

Details: Created on 31 October 2010

Last week there were two important events organized by civil society organizations. One was the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Families of the Disappeared. This organization was formed during the period of the JVP insurrection in 1988-89. During that period tens of thousands died, with many thousands simply disappearing. Nearly all of them were Sinhalese people. Along with the killings and disappearances associated with the JVP insurrection, the separatist campaign of the LTTE led to other killings and disappearances, also in their tens of thousands which continued in large numbers until the end of the war last year. The other event that was organized was by the Erukkalampiddy Renaissance Society and the All Ceylon Muslim League Youth Front. They were commemorating the 20th anniversary of the expulsion of the Muslim population of the North by the LTTE.

CHALLENGE TO GOOD GOVERNANCE POSED BY BUDGET

Details: Created on 25 October 2010

The government’s second budget after the end of the war has seen proposed appropriations that give the first place to the defence, and that by a very wide margin. By way of comparison, the defence appropriation of Rs 215 billion dwarfs the resettlement appropriation of Rs 1.7 billion. It also dwarfs the second largest component of the budget which is Economic Development which obtained Rs 75 billion. This was the case in the last budget as well. On the last occasion it was Rs 201 to defence versus Rs 3 billion for resettlement with the amount allocated to Economic Development about the same. The budget appropriation bill demonstrates how the government’s priorities have got consolidated in favour of defence and a national security state.

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