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An example to be emulated

While the future modalities of Government-LTTE cooperation in re-building the North-East remain to be worked out, there shouldn't be any dispute on the need for the Lankan State to steadily and vibrantly forge ahead with the task of bringing these regions back to shape, on its own initiative and on the basis of its constitutional duties.

Accordingly, we laud the efforts of some line Ministries, under their respective Central Government Ministers and Deputy Ministers, to bring relief and succour to the people of the North-East.

Some of these Central State institutions are the Ports and Aviation Ministry, the Cultural and National Heritage Ministry and the Consumer Protection Authority, to name just three of these agencies.

Besides the resuscitation of basic infrastructure facilities, it is vitally important that cultural symbols and religious institutions, such as damaged temples, kovils, mosques and churches are rebuilt on account of the vital role they play in the spiritual and emotional well-being of the people.

It is highly encouraging to note that the Lankan State is losing no time in putting these institutions back in shape on the basis of the principle of equality.

Besides meeting important needs of the people, the Lankan State is establishing its presence in the North-East and underscoring its constitutional obligation to serve everyone on this land equally. Well done.

This is the correct thing to do and we urge the State to continue on this course, thereby emphasizing its role as care-giver to all.

In fact, there are fewer better means to consolidate national integration than for the Lankan State to live up to its constitutional duty of serving all its citizens, irrespective of regional, ethnic and language differences.

We do not believe much purpose would be served now by probing whether the Lankan State has been doing this consistently over the years, but the recent tragedy could be considered as giving the Lankan State an invaluable opportunity to put things right on this score and to re-emphasize and highlight its all-embracing and egalitarian character.

Much has been spoken and written about the reservoir of goodwill and humanity the tsunami devastation helped build-up among our ethnic and cultural groups. Now is the time for the State in particular, to tap this abundance of fraternal goodwill to rebuild Sri Lanka on truly humanistic and secular foundations.

Some Ministers, Deputy Ministers and their institutions, along with other Government officials, have immersed themselves in this laudable enterprise. We hope others would follow suit.

It is relevant to point out that it is a sense of alienation from the Lankan State, among sections of our citizenry, which helped sow seeds of discontent and ethnic rebellion. We now need to acknowledge that the State in the past, on occasion, gave cause for such disaffection.

So, why not wipe the slate clean and rebuild Sri Lanka on new fraternal foundations which pave the way for stepped-up national integration?

The tsunami should be viewed as giving us this grand opportunity to rebuild Sri Lanka on new, ethical foundations. Our plea is that love, compassion and understanding should be given a big chance to prosper in this land.

It just wouldn't do to wastefully split-hairs and wrangle over petty, inconsequential issues. If the State takes the lead in nourishing a spirit of humanity, tolerance and equality in Sri Lanka, there is no doubt that the claims of separatists could be shown to have no basis. In fact their campaign would fall by the wayside.

At this juncture it should not be the task of the Lankan polity to debate bitterly on which social or ethnic group "comes first". This has led to our ruin. Suffice it to know that "the way up, is the way down". If the ethnic groups of this country relate to each other in a spirit of self-effacement and humility, national rejuvenation would be won.

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