As the Sri Lanka celebrate its 66 th year of Independence, its time to reflect back on how does this independence reflects on the individuals lives. One question I ask here is Why am I not feeling part of this independence ?
The answer would be simple. As a nation Sri Lanka has failed to integrate its communities under one flag. 30 years of ethnic conflict was the direct result of this failure. Even after 5 plus years of military suppression of the ethic conflict. Still Sri Lanka as a nation struggling to make the minor communities feel they are citizens of this country, Sri Lanka has failed to make the minority community individual to feel proud of the independence.
Hoisting flags, singing National anthem and delivering speeches is not independence. Real independence is to make each and every individual feel proud of being the citizen of the country. This belongingness cannot be manufactured. It comes with feeling that I am being treated equal in the country, my human rights are respected and valued, and rule of law enforced.
To wake up everyday to feel you are a second citizen in the country will not help in the process of national integration. Every individual should feel that I be treated not based on my ethnicity or religious belief but because of being a citizen of this country.
Just because there are few minority ministers in the government, who sided with the ruling part for their own personal reasons, does not make that minority communities are treated equal. The minority politicians raise their voice in solidarity with their master and defend the second class treatment of their own community, or just turn blind eye on the way the minority community is treated.
Unless people accountable for the ill deeds committed against the minority community being brought before the law and punished, national integration will not be possible. It will remain only as a fanciful slogan to be used at a political podium.
Healing the wounds of a brutally molested community cannot be done over night. But then repeating that every time is not going to make any difference either. What is needed is positive, concrete steps taken towards the healing process.
Its not going to be a walk on a flower garden. Majority fundamentalism will always be the biggest hurdle to jump over. But, with right determined leadership this obstacle can be over come. Not all the majority community people are racist, its just a very small proportion. With right leadership and guidance one can win the confidence of this individuals too.
Sri Lanka witnessed this trend in 2003/ 2005 time period. Majority community were willing to let in the minority community to be the past of the country. But, with the military suppression of the ethnic conflict in 2009 has turned the tables. What I try ti highlight here is if the politicians are willing to educate the majority community in the right way by enlightening them with the necessity of national integration, it is never an impossible task. But what is really happening is the politicians are promoting racial hateredness and intolerance for their own petty benefits.
If this trend is not going to change we will be writing on the same theme in another 66 years from now on too.
The answer would be simple. As a nation Sri Lanka has failed to integrate its communities under one flag. 30 years of ethnic conflict was the direct result of this failure. Even after 5 plus years of military suppression of the ethic conflict. Still Sri Lanka as a nation struggling to make the minor communities feel they are citizens of this country, Sri Lanka has failed to make the minority community individual to feel proud of the independence.
Hoisting flags, singing National anthem and delivering speeches is not independence. Real independence is to make each and every individual feel proud of being the citizen of the country. This belongingness cannot be manufactured. It comes with feeling that I am being treated equal in the country, my human rights are respected and valued, and rule of law enforced.
To wake up everyday to feel you are a second citizen in the country will not help in the process of national integration. Every individual should feel that I be treated not based on my ethnicity or religious belief but because of being a citizen of this country.
Just because there are few minority ministers in the government, who sided with the ruling part for their own personal reasons, does not make that minority communities are treated equal. The minority politicians raise their voice in solidarity with their master and defend the second class treatment of their own community, or just turn blind eye on the way the minority community is treated.
Unless people accountable for the ill deeds committed against the minority community being brought before the law and punished, national integration will not be possible. It will remain only as a fanciful slogan to be used at a political podium.
Healing the wounds of a brutally molested community cannot be done over night. But then repeating that every time is not going to make any difference either. What is needed is positive, concrete steps taken towards the healing process.
Its not going to be a walk on a flower garden. Majority fundamentalism will always be the biggest hurdle to jump over. But, with right determined leadership this obstacle can be over come. Not all the majority community people are racist, its just a very small proportion. With right leadership and guidance one can win the confidence of this individuals too.
Sri Lanka witnessed this trend in 2003/ 2005 time period. Majority community were willing to let in the minority community to be the past of the country. But, with the military suppression of the ethnic conflict in 2009 has turned the tables. What I try ti highlight here is if the politicians are willing to educate the majority community in the right way by enlightening them with the necessity of national integration, it is never an impossible task. But what is really happening is the politicians are promoting racial hateredness and intolerance for their own petty benefits.
If this trend is not going to change we will be writing on the same theme in another 66 years from now on too.
