Unity in diversity

THE Nation has just celebrated the dawn of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. Many have gone back to their roots, so to speak, to spend time with family over the New Year season. However, celebrations at many places were muted, out of respect for those who perished in the December 26 tsunami disaster.

Indeed, the tsunami disaster helped unite all sections of society. The tidal waves did not care as to who was dragged into the sea. Nationalities, ethnicities, religious, castes did not matter. Likewise, those who toiled to help the victims did not care as to who was at the receiving end. Suddenly, humanity maltered, not man-made differences.

These few months have changed our lives - for the better. As the Nation rises as one to emerge from this unprecedented disaster, everyone has realised the need to work together, to be together, shedding all differences. A casual glance at the calendar for these few months will also show beyond any doubt that ours is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious country.

Just last month, the Medin Full Poya Day and Good Friday, a holy day for Christians, fell on the same day. Next week, Muslims throughout the island will celebrate the Holy Prophet's Birthday. The very next day (April 23), Buddhists will observe Bak Poya. Vesak, the most important day in the Buddhist calendar falls next month.

May Day, though not a religious-oriented holiday, gives an opportunity for working people from all communities and faiths to express solidarity with one another. And the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, whose dawn we just witnessed, has more or less become a national event, transcending the Sinhala-Buddhist and Tamil-Nadu origins.

Unfortunately, some misguided elements among us are trying to ignore this reality and worse, striving to create religious and communal tensions. That is the last thing that our country, battered by war for over two decades and devastated by an unprecedented natural calamity, needs at the moment.

Such attempts, including false propaganda against the peace process, will only help to drag our country into a dark abyss. This country needs permanent peace, which should enable people from all walks of life to live in harmony. Right now, efforts are being made to turn the present 'no-war' situation into a more tangible, long-lasting peace. All right thinking citizens would hope for the success of those moves.

There are many who believe that Sri Lanka would not have been in this position if religious and communal tolerance was rightly practised. Recent history is replete with examples of great leaders who tried in vain to achieve equality and peace for all. Their efforts were sabotaged at every turn.

Such sordid acts must be stopped at least now for the sake of the country and our future generations. The question before us is rather simple-what kind of country do we want them to inherit - a lawless land or a peaceful one? The very diversity of our people should be our strength as we seek the latter.

Tourism - on the right track

Despite fears that the tsunami would be a severe blot on the tourism sector, tourist arrivals have not dipped to alarming levels. Almost all the affected hotels are back in operation at least partially and tourists are streaming in. Inland hotels, which were not affected anyway, are crowded as usual.

Now comes the good news that the Sri Lanka Tourist Board (SLTB) will be elevated to a Tourism Development Authority to handle the development of the tourist sector in an even more effective manner. Minister of Industries, Investment Promotion and Tourism Anura Bandaranaike, speaking at the Sri Lanka-America Society Business Forum at the Galle Face Hotel last Friday said that the SLTB in future would exercise enforcement of regulations, tourism development, research and international affairs.

A new private sector bureau which would be set up soon, will undertake tourism, marketing and promotion in a professional manner. This function is now being handled by the SLTB. A new tourism law would be brought to Parliament very soon to strengthen the administrative mechanism of the tourism industry.

These are welcome moves, as tourism seeks to regain its top spot. We have reported today that tourist arrivals have topped 100,000 for the three months from January to March. This is a good omen as the figure is only marginally lower than the corresponding figure for 2004. Indians have topped the list, with Britishers and Germans coming second and third.

It appears that we could be heading for another record year for tourism. Sri lanka hopes to achieve the target of one million tourist arrivals a year in the not too distant future. It is not an impossible target, given that some of our smaller neighbours attract several million visitors annually.

The right marketing strategy is very essential in this regard. The SLTB has opted for a professional campaign to market Sri Lanka to the world. We must look for new markets while raising the momentum in existing markets. For example, thousands more Indians would come to Sri Lanka if they get the right accommodation and travel options. After all, some Indians already do find that holidaying in Sri Lanka is cheaper than going to a far-flung destination in their own country.

The response to the 'Bounce Back Sri Lanka' campaign has been nothing short of tremendous. More tourists are rediscovering paradise. It may have been battered by the waves, but it is back on the tourist map for the long term.