Inspiration from a master builder

PEACE TALKS: The talks in Geneva over the Ceasefire Agreement had ended with some hopes towards preventing the clashes in the war-torn North-East in future.

The so-called paramilitary groups were accused of massacring Kausalyan in February last year by the LTTE hierarchy in Killinochchi.

Kausalyan played a key role in the LTTE's political wing and also accompanied S.P. Thamilselvan on one of his foreign tours when the LTTE engaged in the peace talks with the Ranil Wickremesinghe Government.

With the completion of four years of the CFA this year, the delegation which represented the Government of President Mahinda Rajapakse was very tactful in conducting the talks with the LTTE delegates in Geneva on the stability of the CFA.

Whatever the outcome may be it is important to note that both sides have not given room for any sort of animosity and ended the talks with a positive approach towards beginning the peace process in the future.

The sigh of relief over the outcome of the Geneva talks was evident during the Maha Sivarathri observances throughout the North and East region on Sunday.

The Hindu devotees were even permitted to enter one of the ancient shrines in the North, Naguleswaram, which is situated deep in the High Security Zone in the northern tip of the Peninsula.

Thousands of Hindu devotees also gathered at another Hindu shrine in Thiruketheeswaram, Mannar, from various parts of the island to observe Maha Sivarathri.

Mannar was the region where several Navy personnel were killed in claymore mine attacks when the CFA was in terrible danger in December last year.

Hectic religious activities in Thirukkoneswaram, another abode of Siva in Trincomalee were also witnessed on Maha Sivarathri day. A fast attack naval craft was destroyed along with fifteen sailors in the seas off Trinco harbour, when the CFA violations heightened a month ago.

So Maha Sivarathri day which appeared on the Hindu calendar soon after the talks in Geneva had highlighted the ardent desire of the majority of the people in the North and East in leading a trouble-free life in the North and East.

It was when the Geneva talks were in progress, that the death of Lankan born former Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, Sinnathamby Rajaratnam occurred last week.

The life and politics of late Rajaratnam remained an excellent example of building a nation free of racial, language and religious differences.

Rajaratnam was born in Jaffna and migrated to Singapore when it was under British rule. Beginning his career as a journalist Rajaratnam played a key role along with Lee Kuan Yew in moulding Singapore into an exemplary country in South-East Asia.

Singapore which is geographically only a little bigger than the Jaffna Peninsula, thrives economically not due to its resources but due to the farsightedness of Lee Kuan Yew and Rajaratnam who had succeeded in destroying petty political differences when they laid the foundation to build the Singapore they dreamt of.

With the introduction of the Executive Presidency in Sri Lanka late J.R. Jayewardene even pledged that he would make Sri Lanka another Singapore in the Asian region.

But even with enormous powers JRJ could not stop the communal violence which had terrorised thousands of innocent Tamils in Colombo in 1983.

So with the outbreak of `Black July' in 1983, the Singapore dream of JRJ too was shattered with Sri Lanka turning into a land of ruthless civil war.

The talks which commenced in Geneva underline the importance of reaching a total cessation of hostilities between the LTTE and the Government.

Violence not in action but even in thoughts should be rooted out of every Sri Lankan irrespective of their race and religion to reach meaningful solutions politically.

When Sri Lankans are struggling to get rid of the communal virus a comment made by a Singaporean journal on the demise of Rajaratnam is noteworthy to read. It said: "Rajaratnam's belief in justice and equality was instrumental in the institutionalisation of multi-racialism as a central tenet of Singapore society.

It was his foresight and sense of empathy for all Singaporeans which helped give birth to this nation."

Those comments on another Jaffna man who built another nation in Asia are extremely significant to all Sri Lankans on building a nation without racial barriers.