An Opportunity For Amity In Sri Lanka
By G K Nathan -January 24, 2015
Dr. G. K. Nathan
President Maithripala Sirisena delivered his inaugural address to the people of Sri Lanka from Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic) in Kandy, a place well venerated by past Sinhala and Tamil Kings who ruled the Kandyan Kingdom and by all the people of Sri Lanka who visits the temple, the most appropriate place to deliver a speech seeking unity in diversity in the Island. President Sirisena “called on all political parties and members of Parliament to co-operate with him in setting up a National Unity Government to build a new Sri Lanka, where there would be multi-religious and multi-racial unity in diversity”. Probably, this is the first time, since Independence on 4 February 1948, a head of the Government of Sri Lanka has delivered such an all encompassing speech, openly acknowledging the differences among the people and the need to find unity in diversity. Not surprisingly many world leaders,
taking note of the deteriorating political situation in Sri Lanka under the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and who was heading towards authoritarianism, have called upon the new President Sirisena and emphasized the importance of accountability and reconciliation to build a strong and democratic country. World leaders conveyed their message, prior to his inaugural address and also called on the new President of Sri Lanka to cooperate with the International Inquiry on Sri Lanka, to bring all people together. Knowing the truth about what happened during the military conflict would help to heal the wounds of all people to come together. To complement the calls from world leaders, Pope Francis visiting Sri Lanka, immediately after the Presidential election and at the interfaith meeting said ‘We must be forthright in interfaith dialogue’ and added on “for too many years the men and women of this country (Sri Lanka) have been victims of civil strife and violence. What (is) needed now is healing and unity, not further conflict and division. Surely the fostering of healing and unity is a noble task which is incumbent upon all who have at heart the good of the nation, and indeed the whole human family.” Similar messages of Amity between Sinhala and Tamil peoples have been repeated in other Public functions by Pope Francis. After six decades of communal politics which was exploited by a number of politicians in the past to gain power, a new President “a country boy” has emerged with humility, compared to past presidents most of them belonged to legendary political dynastic families in our short history, post independence. He has stressed the need for unity in diversity, good governance and democracy; hopefully he will call upon his countrymen to respect and follow the path set-out in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Sri Lanka is a signatory. President Sirisena has declared that he would be only a one term President, something unique and contrary to history of Sri Lankan politicians to date. No doubt that President Sirisena is best placed to achieve his goal in finding unity in diversity compared to past Presidents who were more interested in themselves, the last one, worst of all wanting to establish a family dynasty, like in present North Korea. Sri Lankans under the new leadership of President Sirisena, supported by all, should make use of the opportunity and become one of the mature democratic countries in the World that respect human rights of fellow human beings and equals, irrespective of differences among the people and turn a new leaf in the history of Sri Lanka.Read More
A Letter Of Appreciation To Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka
By V. Kanthaiya -January 24, 2015
Dear Dr.Dayan Jayatillake (Dr.D J),
Dayan Jayatilleka
I have requested Colombo Telegraph to publish this letter on their website with the hope you would read it. This is because I was not able to get your present address and also I was not sure whether these days you are staying there.
Dr.D J, you are great. In fact, I could have started, “I write this letter in appreciation of the great service rendered by you for…” etc. But it would look like the letter is drafted by a personal secretary of a Managing Director/CEO and I am not a secretary.
I tell you why I write this letter. A couple of days ago, when I was using the men’s rest room, I overheard two gentlemen discussing an article you had written on the Election Day (Trust me! people really discuss your articles in restrooms). I don’t know much about the content of your article but I am sure it must be very powerful, as one of those gentlemen commented that you are not a political scientist but merely a political stripper whose job is to please the pay masters. At this point I was tantalized to interrupt them and argue that you are an intellectual of immeasurable scale. To my greatest disappointment, before I pulled my trousers on and came out of the toilet cabin, both had left.Read More
