Dealing with two Asian superpowers: President Sirisena’s visit to China
Ayathuray Rajasingam
The recent visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Sri Lanka and his advice raises an issue whether Sri Lankan politicians receive such advice with spiritual mind. His advice is based on healing of the past wounds, resulted from the internal war, and beginning of a fresh life for all, in a democratic manner. This advice in no way amounted to an interference into the domestic affairs of Sri Lanka, especially when democracy was at its peril during the previous regime.
Though he was an ardent Hindu nationalist, his speech sent signals of spiritual aspect for the unity of Sri Lanka. As he hails from a country of several religions where there are community of believers with specific dogmas and practices which helped shape and form India’s rich spirituality, his motive is that all religious people should live happily in an atmosphere of friendship and mutual understanding. His speech is concerned with the basic human good qualities such as love, compassion, patience, tolerance, forgiveness, a sense of harmony. The consequence of the absence of spiritual mind among the Sri Lankan political and religious leaders is seen as a threat to cultural and ethical values of the people who have faith in democracy.
Religion should not be confused with spirituality. Religion can help an individual to be spiritual, but spirituality is not dependent upon religion. Spirituality helps to abandon ego. An individual is said to be spiritual if any action or thought that alters his or her state of mind. He shows love and compassion towards others irrespective of any differences whatsoever. Non-violence is central to spirituality. Gandhi had no problem in blending spirituality and politics together. The issue whether Sri Lanka politicians possessed such qualities involving an implicit concern for others’ well-being is questionable, when they were reluctant to implement the13th Amendment. This was evident when the Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran said that he was unaware of the re-settlement activities in Valikamam North and East and that he was not officially invited, all of which sends the signal of reluctance of complying with the 13th Amendment. Had the Chief Minister been officially invited that would have amounted to a new way of giving voice to the 13th Amendment. Though PresidentMaithipala Sirisena asserts that he has an agreement of humanity with the Tamils, the issue is whether he will face the issue of implementation of the 13th A which has Federal features. The Prime Minister of India had asserted that the 13th Amendment or even further would pave for unity of all communities.
If spirituality and politics do not co-exist, then politicians are bound to be corrupt. The reluctance of the ruling politicians to share powers with the Provincial Councils conveys the message that the ruling politicians do not possess a broader vision of life. The manner of their reluctance to share power demonstrated that they are not spiritual. At this juncture, attention should be drawn that the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, Justin Trudeau demonstrated his spiritual mind when he spoke of the significance of Canadian liberty. His vision was a smooth co-ordination between the Federal and the Provincial governments in the best interests of the Canadians. Justin Trudeau talk of solutions and attending the problems. Moreover, his approach has and still been to unite the entire communities which is the aspect of spirituality. His speech sent the signal that Canada is a democratic country of diversity and secularism, in spite of the threats from the Islamic terrorism. As such Canadians are proud to belong to a country where the political leaders taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance by exposing their spiritual mind remarkably when expressing the Canadian liberty, but never allowed room for sectarianism or fanaticism to use violence drenched with human blood and sent the entire nation to despair. Sri Lankan politicians do not have that spiritual mind and failed to realize that no room should be allowed to dictatorial attitude which is diametrically opposed to democratic feelings.Read More