Sobitha Proposals, Ranil, Mahinda And The BBS – Post Script
Lakshan Wanigasooriya
Dear Friends,
As the author of the article ‘Sobitha Proposals, Ranil, Mahinda And The BBS‘ let me please add some in ….. post script.
Firstly thanks for all of you in taking the time to comment both in agreement and disagreement I thank you to you all equally. Of course I don’t agree with some of the views expressed here I agree to disagree and would on to my death protect the right you have to hold to express and promote these views. There is a saying that your rights end where my nose beings!
Through your comments I now see further points/issues related to this subject and I am working towards my second article on the subject also looking at the sudden change of heart by the UNP to now agree to abolish the executive presidency (a point I made that if we the sovereign of the country demand the government and opposition at some point reluctantly will have to heed to us)
World history has shown at some point all dictators, tyrants, deports will be overcome by the will of the people this is a universal truth we cannot escape.
While in my next article I will try to deal with some of the issues and points noted in your comments in detail and engage with you in more dialog about the UNP and Sobitha proposals; unlike the question about the chicken and the egg at least we know what came first! but here just like to make three important points before I move on to the next article ;-
Firstly – let us not mix constitution change with regime change these are two different things I think the constitution change is more important to Sri Lanka than regime change, of course if the current regime refuse to heed to this growing demand from the masses this will come about on them rather than being brought about. What is a constitution of country, what should it be? The best definition I believe comes from Patrick Henry, a symbol of American struggle for liberty “The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government – lest it come to dominate our lives and interests.” Please look around you can you see this in our constitution? If not it is time to change.
Second – the notion that Buddhism is under threat from the Muslim and Christianity religions. Even as a student of Buddhism I can say this argument does not hold water for one Buddhism is not a religion it is a philosophy or a way of life as I understand, so how can it become a threatened by a religion thinking about it isn’t this argument as ridicules as saying “that increase in the number of cars on the road will increase congestion on runways at Airports”. Secondly the principal of Buddhism my learned friend’s is it not to break down the cycle of “Sansara”. Does this not mean one needing to get rid of the shadow – the dark side of one’s culture, race, caste, tribe, etc. So indeed a secular society contributes towards the development of the Buddhist rather than being an obstacle to it. That is also the reason learned friends that even after the rule of over 300 years by the Portuguese, Dutch and English Sri Lanka still maintained a Buddhist majority then and to date. I think the real corner stone’s of Buddhism Metta, Muditha, Kuruna and Upekka can never be de valued as long as the ability to reason remains with the human race (which makes us different from animals).
However like in the time of the colonist rule what has got effected / threatened over the last 20 years in Sri Lanka is the Buddhist establishment this is different from Buddhism. Likewise the traditional church establishment has also been under more severe threat from the new business churches who’s main aim is help foreign business get tax relief this is a completely different subject. In my opinion best way to tackle this is through a inter religious approach.
The third and final point which I do Like to note is that many of you which saying the NMSJ proposals to be good have pointed if ever can become reality or be implemented …….the good signs are that the UNP has now come out with a new constitution would this have ever happen if not for the NMSJ proposals? I doubt it very much. The beauty of these proposals are that once implemented the function of the democracy under this would not be in the hand of one individual like today it will be a system which will move any issue to the next step which will make it impossible for one person to put a spoke in the wheel of justice, freedoms and rights, much like the UK system. History gives us many examples where the impossible has been achieved by the collective strength of the sovereign the people…… I am sure when Dr King made his famous speech “I have a dream….” many would have said it will always be a dream……but today we all agree this dream has come through not all of it…..the fight for freedom , rights and justices is a evolving continues process. Fitting that on the headstone of Dr King is marked,
“Free Free Free at last thank god almighty I am free at last”
Thank you all.
