The Land Like No Other: Why Did Mahinda And Sanghamitta Come Here For?
Constitutional obligations of the state to protect and foster all religion and thereby maintain peace and harmony among all
There was a time when Sri Lanka was a paradise and a pearl in the Indian ocean. There was a time when all the superlatives used to describe the country were found to be insufficient. There was a time when peace and happiness, love and friendship were the essence of life in Sri Lanka reflected in the joy and serenity of all Sri Lankans.
Can we not regain that Paradise? Can we not all be pearls for the whole earth to admire? Yes, we can.
Photo courtesy AFP’s Ishara Kodikara/ Foreign Correspondents’ Association of Sri Lanka Facebook page
The State which, we Sri Lankans have chosen as our means to that end, has first and foremost to understand its obligations cast on it by us the Sri Lankan citizens. Their obligations are spelt out in simple easy to understand language in Article 9. The essence of our living and enjoyment of life springs from Article 9. This is the source from which all our rights, be they fundamental or common, arise.
These are the solemn words of that supreme law called the constitution.
“THE PEOPLE OF SRI LANKA……..having solemnly resolved by the grant of such a Mandate and the confidence reposed in their said representatives who were elected by an overwhelming majority to constitute SRI LANKA into a DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC ………and assuring to all peoples FREEDOM, EQUALITY, JUSTICE, FUNDAMANETAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY as the intangible heritage that guarantees the dignity and well being of succeeding generations of the PEOPLE OF SRI LANKA and of all the people of the world. ……..”
Where do these high sounding words and lofty ideals and utopian dreams come from? From the Preamble to the Constitution of Sri Lanka-Paradise of the world and the land like no other.
What is of special interest here is the declaration that the INTANGBLE HERITAGE THAT GUARANTEES THE DIGNITY AND WELL BEING OF SUCCEEDING GENERATIONS OF SRI LANKANS AND ALL THE PEOPLES OF THE WORLD. Read More
