'D.A. Rajapaksa empowered the voiceless masses'

Memorial lecture on 'Sri Lanka's Role in the SAARC Region':

Rohan MATHES

What the late D.A. Rajapaksa envisioned for the South as a region-building process, is now being translated into a nation-building process by his descendants, observed the Director General of the Central Cultural Fund, Prof. Sudharshan Senevirathna in his memorial lecture to commemorate the late D.A. Rajapaksa.

Speaking under the theme 'Heritage for Co-Existence: Situating Sri Lanka's Role in the SAARC Region', Prof. Seneviratne asserted that in his silent service rendered to the poorer village folk, D.A. Rajapaksa not only represented and empowered the 'voiceless in the South, but also endowed to this nation, a leader who has embarked on a mission to liberate the voiceless from the oppression of totalitarianism and consequently become the 'voice of the voiceless'.

He opined that more than any other member nation of the SAARC region, with the exception of Afghanistan, Sri Lanka has withstood for over three decades, a bloody carnage unleashed initially by Southern terrorists, followed by the Northern terrorists, led by the LTTE.

The LTTE had in the past evolved a system of totalitarianism that was unique to South Asia. It was different from Pol Pot's dictatorship and far more sophisticated in its social fascist system of governance. It had set a new bench mark on the political front. The most dangerous element in this situation was the Naxalite-LTTE nexus that has been prevalent in India, creating a wedge from Assam to Andhra Pradesh.

"This is something India should take serious note of and have concerted action with Sri Lanka, to arrest that situation," he noted.

The present regime however, with both political wisdom and military strategy, proved to the world that it is capable of ending the scourge of terrorism, on its own terms. The Sri Lankan military has taken the wind out of the LTTE, which was unthinkable a few years back. The military tactics used by the Armed Forces against the LTTE, will now go into military annals, as novel operational methods to neutralise terrorism.

President Rajapaksa has reached out to the former Eastern Province terrorists, by holding elections and proving to the sceptic West, that a process leading to a pluralistic democracy, could be achieved even under the most disadvantageous conditions.

"This Provincial Government has now a Chief Minister who has renounced terrorism and accepted the electoral process. These unique situations tend to redefine Sri Lanka's role in the SAARC region, and it is to be emulated by other countries in the region that are plagued by terrorism," Prof. Seneviratne remarked.

He pointed out that the experience of survival gained through these destructive years, makes us the role model for our member countries, in taking that crucial decision of defeating terrorism, for a better tomorrow.

Therefore, both historically and geographically, we are destined to play a more decisive role in our cultural zone, the SAARC region.

Moreover he said, with our President as the incumbent Chairman of the SAARC, we should accept the role with humility and carry out the mission to its logical conclusion. We should present to the region a new road map of sustainable peace, co-existence and prosperity, he added.