A terrorism free Lanka
President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s fervent hope of a terror
free Sri Lanka in the foreseeable future, as per sentiments he
expressed to a group of Sri Lankans in New York, is bound to
strike a nostalgic chord in many Sri Lankans domiciled overseas
who want to see a return to peace of their battered Motherland.
This yearning is frequently being expressed in numerous
letters by overseas Lankans who hark back to the times when the
country enjoyed serendipitous tranquillity, devoid of rancour
and bitterness among its communities. It is perhaps this
nostalgia that formed the basis of the President’s sentiments.
Addressing a group of Sri Lankans at the New York Buddhist
Viharaya President Rajapaksa held out hope for a country free of
terrorism very soon with the military already at the doorstep of
the LTTE’s citadel in the Wanni.
“Very soon I hope all Sri Lankans living overseas will be
able to return to a country that has been completely rid of the
scourge of terrorism,” the President told the gathering in New
York.
His sentiments would no doubt have kindled the expectations
of many Lankans spread across the length and breadth of the
globe, who though living comfortable lives in their adopted
countries nevertheless harbour a longing for their Motherland.
They could be persuaded to return with the return to total
peace.
While there were economic migrations to begin with it is the
ethnic strife in later years that drove a bulk of the Sri
Lankans to seek their destiny in other countries. Not only
Tamils but a large number of Sinhala families too joined in the
exodus due chiefly to the unsettled conditions that did not
offer a conducive environment to better their prospects.
An entire generation was thus lost to the country that
included the best of our talents. What is more we may continue
to experience this brain drain if the conflict gets prolonged.
But judging from these email letters and other contributions
from Lankans overseas it is plain that their hearts are still
with their Motherland and they harbour hopes of one day
returning to their roots, if peace is achieved.
Many of these Lankans still have properties at home that are
looked after and maintained by relatives or friends. They are
waiting for the right climate of peace and tranquillity, to come
back.
This the President has promised in no uncertain terms. His
call goes out to all Lankans who have left our shores due to
compelling reasons ignited by the ethnic problem. He has
reiterated that he was no warmonger.
He told the Lankans in New York whether they are from
Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu or Batticaloa, to him they are children
of one mother and his mission was to defeat terrorism and unite
the country where they could live in amity, peace, concord and
harmony.
This is the atmosphere that prevailed in the immediate post
independent Sri Lanka where the different communities lived as
brothers and sisters respecting each other’s religious and
cultural diversities but united in a single fabric of a Lankan
society.
These bonds could be restored with the building of trust and
creating a conducive climate for the return of all Sri Lankans.
Some of these Lankans could help in the rebuilding process
investing in business ventures and other projects. A rich pool
of investments could be garnered from the vast Lankan diaspora
and reduce the Government’s dependence on external resources for
its ambitious development projects.
More than anything it could signal the beginning of a new
chapter for Sri Lanka where all its citizens contribute to the
national veal in an atmosphere of unity, peace and contentment.
This is not the first Presidential overture to Lankans living
abroad. Soon after assuming office President Rajapaksa invited
Sri Lankan professionals and experts in various fields who had
left our shores for greener pastures to avail of their skills in
the development projects undertaken by the Government.
This is because the President always looked for things local
and indigenous that have proved as effective if not better than
the imported article and had stood the test of time.
The prospect of peace offered by President Rajapaksa we hope
will induce such persons to once again consider his invitation
and make their contribution to rebuild a new Sri Lanka and take
it to a new era in the post conflict phase.
|