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State's proactive role

A positive development in the country since the signing of the ceasefire agreement between the Government and the LTTE, which needs to be repeatedly highlighted, is the increasing presence of the state and its agencies in the North-East. It could be said that after more than two decades earnest efforts are under way by the state to integrate the North-East with the rest of the country through the provision of common amenities and services and the expansion and enhancement of North-South economic links.

These developments need to be met with favourable comment because they constitute almost a drastic change from the situation which existed in the North-East earlier. Over the sad years of war and conflict, the only principal evidence of the presence of the Lankan State in the North-East were the armed forces and the police. State institutions, in those days, performed mechanically and reactively in the conflict-hit areas and, generally speaking, kept a very low profile. The bare essentials for living were provided to the North-East populace by the Lankan State through the respective Government Agents.

Southern politicians were, of course, conspicuous by their absence in the North-East in the days of war. Given these factors, it is small wonder that sections of the Tamil people believed they were marginalised and completely ignored by the State. It need hardly be said that this neglect, to a considerable degree, nourished a sense of grievance among these disaffected sections and kept the flames of war burning.

We are glad to observe that this black scenario has changed for the better. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's visit to the North and the active involvement of other ministers in the life of the North-East people has opened a new chapter in North-South relations. The State seems to have moved from a mainly passive presence to an assertive, proactive one. The services and amenities being provided by the State to the people of the North were outlined recently by Mass Communication Minister Imthiaz Bakeer Markar, on the occasion of the launching of a branch of ANCL in Jaffna. They range from post and telecommunication facilities to resettlement and rehabilitation. It should be noted that E-mail has also now gone to the North.

It is encouraging to note that the State is at last endeavouring to measure up to the standards expected of it. But we are only at the beginning of the road to normalisation in the North-East. A whole gamut of issues remains to be resolved, including, of course, those pertaining to peace. The spirit of cooperation thus shown by the State should continue until peace is won.

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