Chattering Class Diaries

Sri Lanka’s President Mahinda Rajapaksa made an opening speech to Sri

Lanka’s parliament on 19th May where he commemorated the victory over the

LTTE.  In the early part of his speech, he spoke specifically to the Tamil

people in the Tamil language (Sinhala and Tamil are related, but different

languages. It should be noted that for people of Mr Rajapaksa’s background, an

ability to communicate in Tamil, is not uncommon). An adaptation of the Tamil

language portion is as follows:

 

This is our motherland. We should live in this country as children of one

mother. No differences of race, caste and religion should prevail here　. . .　All

the people of this country should live in safety without fear and suspicion. All

should live with equal rights. That is my aim. Let us all get together and build

up this nation

Meanwhile, the latter part of his speech made in the Sinhala language, invokes

names of ancient Sinhala kings, Chola kings who established kingdoms in Sri

Lanka are written away as invaders, and a notion that the only division in Sri

Lanka is that between patriots and non-patriots is introduced together with a

concept that the solution to the nation's reconstruction needs must be home

grown, based on Buddhist qualities.

 

For the words of entreatment made earlier in his speech to move the Tamil

population, the Sinhala population will have to give substantially.  For the

Tamil population have traditionally considered themselves to have maintained

a separate history and culture in the Northern part of Sri Lanka.

 

The Sinhala part of his speech does not give this kind of assurance.  Here a

strong sense of the Sinhala view of history that the island of Sri Lanka had

been ruled under Buddhist traditions pervades, with little regard to the Tamil

heritage. I sincerely hope that Mr Rajapaksa, deep in his heart, realises that

now is not the time to foment Sinhala chauvinism.

 

There are circa three hundred thousand Tamil refugees now living in camps

guarded by soldiers and surrounded by barbed wire. Facilities at the camps are

not necessarily adequate, due in part to the fact that the Sri Lankan government

grossly underestimated the number of civilians held by the LTTE.  Despite

such shortcomings, those refugees who have come across are probably, for the

time being, enjoying their moment of respite from the life-threatening

uncertainty and bombardment that they have so far endured. 

 

However, for the time being does not mean eternally.  For from within a camp

surrounded by barbed wire, from an environment where the military arbitrarily

takes people away for "questioning", ostensibly to weed out guerrilla fighters,

no sense of "Sri Lanka is one" will emerge.

 

In order that posterity would not record Mr Rajapaksa's speech as political

pleasantries, and to ensure the prevention of future insurrection by Tamils who

feel left out of Mr Rajapaksa's single Sri Lanka, the President must have the

resolve to introduce policies that transcend the limits set by Sri Lanka's

Buddhist clergy.  Now, when the President has the centripetal force derived

from his victory, is the most opportune time for him to act.  Let us hope he

does.