Friday, 30 May 2003  
The widest coverage in Sri Lanka.
Editorial
News

Business

Features

Security

Politics

World

Letters

Sports

Obituaries

Archives

Government - Gazette

Silumina  on-line Edition

Sunday Observer

Budusarana On-line Edition





Please forward your comments to the Editor, Daily News.
Email : [email protected]
Snail mail : Daily News, 35, D.R. Wijewardana Mawatha, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Telephone : 94 1 429429 / 331181
Fax : 94 1 429210

Forging ahead with the peace effort

Current attempts by some sections critical of the peace process to stir age-old phobic fears among the more credulous in the body politic, on issues being taken up by the Government and the LTTE, are likely to remind seasoned political observers of the recurring destructive trends in local politics which have time and again defeated many a well-meaning attempt at bringing peace.

Unfortunately, some responsible sections also deem it fit to take up these populist positions which appeal more to emotion rather than reason, on account of the temporary political gains which could be garnered. This is the price we have to pay for deeply entrenching adversarial, bipolar politics at the expense of healthy, democratic contention which invigorates rather than harms democratic governance.

The Government, through its spokesman, Minister Professor G. L. Peiris has clarified the nature of the development mechanism it intends introducing in the North-East with the concurrence of the LTTE, but it needs to do more in the days ahead in terms of information dissemination if the attempts at foisting disinformation on the people are to be defeated. Contrary to claims by these critics, the development structure intended for the North-East, we now learn on the authority of Minister Professor G. L. Peiris, would be in perfect conformity with the country's legal framework.

It is hoped that the intended body would speed up resettlement, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

The recurring resortion to the inflaming of primordial fears and sentiments, on the part of some sections of the body politic, however, constitutes a challenge.

Needless to say, this cynical exercise could have very destructive consequences for the country. The alluring appeal of short-term political gain could lead the country on a path of misery, as has often happened in the past.

We have, over the months, in the pages of this newspaper gone into almost all the vital aspects of the peace-process. We have published articles and commentaries by a wide cross section of the public, including those of authoritative and expert opinion, on how the peace process should be taken forward.

The time's ripe for the authorities to take stock of this body of opinion at this crucial juncture of the peace endeavour. One idea which has been repeatedly emphasised is that all relevant parties in the peace process be made stakeholders in it. It is difficult to visualise a forward journey to peace without unity of purpose and commonality of vision in particularly Southern Sri Lanka.

The Government needs to build on the commonalities it has with the Opposition on the National Question.

On the other hand, those stirring the cauldron of division and strife need to realise that another tragic failure to bring peace would benefit no one.

They also need to realise that certain cardinal principles in the peace effort just cannot be compromised or jettisoned. One of these is power-sharing and equality among communities. Another is a degree of self-determination for the North-East within a united Sri Lanka.

www.peaceinsrilanka.org

www.singersl.com

www.srilankaapartments.com

www.2000plaza.lk

www.eagle.com.lk

www.helpheroes.lk


News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |


Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager


Hosted by Lanka Com Services