Sri Lanka at Sixty: The unfinished task of nation building

February 5th, 2008

by D.B.S. Jeyaraj

President Mahinda Rajapakse in his address to the nation on our 60th independence day observed thus

” Our challenge today is to be true to the nation”.

He also stated ” our resolve will take us to the creation of a truly free and independent nation in our motherland”

Brave words indeed!

But what is this nation that we are being challenged to be “true” towards?

What is this “truly free and independent nation” that we are resolved to create?

Sri Lanka is a modern state with an ancient civilization. Unfortunately the attempt to define Sri Lanka as a modern nation state has led to conflict and strife.

The idea of a single Sri Lankan nation is under severe threat. In reality we are a divided nation today.

Power is concentrated with the majority ethnicity leaving other ethnicities out in the cold.

It is a case of “Maha Jathiyata Kiri, Sulu Jathiwalata Kekiri”.

If we are to resolve these divisions and create a strong nation on the basis of equitable power - sharing , the structure of the state needs to be radically transformed. There is no consensus so far on that.

Meanwhile political differences have assumed proportions of a cruel, destructive war. The war is only a consequence resulting from political causes.

The conflict cannot be resolved by military means alone and requires a settlement that would address those underlying causes. This political solution cannot be dictated or imposed upon through military might alone.

In terms of political independence we are a young nation at sixty. The idea of Ceylon was a colonial construct.The British unified the Country into a single administration.

Sri Lanka was not the only one in this respect. Most Countries ruled by the British were their creations in a modern sense.

Ethnic conflict and strife erupted in many Countries after the British left. From the Indian sub - continent to Fiji Islands and from Nigeria to Malaysia there are many instances.

Sri Lanka too can be classified as an example of post - independence conflict within pre - independence boundaries.

Some ex - colonies have reduced and managed ethnic tensions by evolving new forms of power sharing. They have re- invented themselves as “new” nations on the basis of equality and forged a strong sense of common identity.

Ultimately the unity and integrity of a nation does not depend on its military strength or structures of governance but in the will of of its people. The nation state is essentially a state of mind.

The tragedy of Independent Sri Lanka has been majoritarian hegemony. Majority rule is a democratic principle. Here it has been interpreted as the Majority of the numerically largest ethnicity.

The years after independence has seen the Sri Lankan Tamils resisting this injustice and imposition. At first through non - violent struggle and later through an armed struggle.

The Tamils first thought of themselves as a founding people of Sri Lanka on par with the Sinhalese; They later shed this majority concept and perceived themselves as the principal yet All - Island minority.

Tamils did not demand a separate state or even federalism from the British. What they wanted then was a scheme of balanced representation where the Sinhala majority could be “balanced”through enhanced representation for the minority communities.

This failed and in a pragmatic approach the dominant Tamil leadership opted for responsive cooperation after Independence. The Tamil Congress joined the UNP Government.

New forces emerged. As Sinhala hegemonism assumed great stridency Newton’s third law came into play. Tamil nationalism also grew. Both re-inforced each other.

Under the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi (Federal party) the Tamils began perceiving themselves as a territorial minority. The Northern and Eastern Provinces were referred to as their traditional homelands.

Initially there was non - violent agitation for a federal form of government. Compromises were made and pacts signed. These were observed in the breach by the Prime ministers of the day. Satyagraha campaigns were suppressed through military force.

This led to the cry for Tamil Eelam. Secessionism brought forth violence and an armed struggle began. In the 1977 general elections Tamils voted overwhelmingly for the TULF contesting on a separatist platform.

Instead of redressing Tamil grievances and trying to accommodate legitimate aspirations the Sinhala dominated state came down heavily. It was thought that might could eradicate right.

This was not to be so and with the passage of time the LTTE established control over a substantial portion of the North and East. Territorial integrity and Sovereignty of the country was endangered and eroded.

The Tamil struggle for equality too underwent change. It lost its moral high ground and deteriorated drastically. Militarism ruled and authoritarianism reigned.

The LTTE’s “tigersism” became a mirror image of Sinhala hegemonism. Fascism is in the air.

Currently the Rajapakse regime has embarked on a military campaign to defeat the LTTE while paying lip service to the political solution concept.

The Country at large is being assailed with propaganda that the LTTE is on the verge of defeat. Any contrary opinion is dismissed as anti - national and anti - patriotic.

It is a moot point as to whether the LTTE can be defeated or destroyed through a military campaign alone

The important point is to note that the eradication of the LTTE will not automatically result in the problem being resolved. The LTTE is only a virulent symptom of the malady. Getting rid of the LTTE -even if possible - is no durable remedy.

What is required now is the creation of a just, egalitarian and plural society. There must be equitable power - sharing based on principles of the federal idea.

Broadly, three schools of thought are clashing. The ideas at conflict are hegemonism, secessionism and pluralism.

The Sinhala hardliners want Sinhala - Buddhist domination. They see this country as their’s alone . Others are excluded in this “chinthana”.

The Tamil hardliners want a separate state for the North - East known as Tamil Eelam.Just as Sinhala hawks say Sri Lanka is for the Sinhalese these Tamil hawks say Tamil Eelam is for the Tamils.

A state for the dominant ethnicity within ,excludes by definition, other ethnicities living within these real or imaginary borders

Both these ideas have brought about disunity, violence and destruction. The nation bleeds and the Country diminishes.

The third idea is that of establishing an egalitarian and plural society where all children of this country can live tigether in amity and fraternity.

It incorporates a vision where no one will claim superior rights on the basis of belonging to the majority race/religion or claim exclusive rights to their historic habitat.

Power will not be confined to Colombo but shared with the periphery. All people regardless of race, religion, caste or creed will have their say and a role to play.

Sri Lanka will belong to its people from Paruthithurai to Devinuwara and Mannar to Mullaitheevu.

At present this “vision” seems Utopian!

This is the vision shared by this writer. “Visionaries” of this nature are an endangered species. They are under attack by hawks on either side of the ethnic divide. They are dubbed derisively as ” jokers” and “traitors”.

It is this vision that will ultimately salvage Sri Lanka. Hegemonic and secessionist dreams are turning into nightmares.

The call for the third option between the hegemonistic one state and secessionist two - state schools of thought is a voice of sanity and sensibility. It is presently inaudible amidst the raucous battle - cries.

This writer however firmly believes that it will be heard and heard effectively one day. Sri Lanka will then be alive with the sound of concord.

In the clash of idea it is the superior one that will triumph Dialogue and discussion not bloodshed and destruction will prove to be final arbiters of our destiny.

When India gained freedom at midnight Jawarhalal Nehru spoke of its “tryst with destiny”. India’s Southern neighbour has been awaiting its true destiny for sixty years.

The Sri Lankan state needs to be re-structured and the Sri Lankan nation re- invented for its tryst with destiny.

Sri Lanka at sixty faces the unfinished yet challenging task of building a NEW nation!

Entry Filed under: Federalidea, by D.B.S. Jeyaraj