President’s appeal

President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s earnest plea yesterday to all Sri Lankans who left our shores due to the bloody war is sure to strike a poignant chord in all Lankans domiciled overseas.

In one of the most stirring Independence Day speeches delivered by a Lankan leader the President said “Whatever the number of countries in the world there is no place safer than the land of one’s birth”.

“I make an open invitation to all Sri Lankans Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher, Malay and all other communities who left our country because of war to return to your motherland”.

This is not the first occasion that the President had issued this invitation. He did so before while expressing the desire to have Lankan expertise for the gigantic development programs now in the pipeline. But this time it is in a different context. He wants all Lankans to return and savour the fruits of the ‘New Independence’ he had ushered after the elimination of terrorism - the cause that gave rise to their flight.

In other words his message to them is he had re-launched the Independence we received from the British in 1948 with a new freedom that has a new meaning and dimension in a fully integrated Sri Lanka.

It is hoped that our Lankan brethren spread far and wide across the globe would respond to this call positively. Their inputs and expertise are needed now more than at any other time in post war rebuilding.

For the President also said “We are now building a country where people will not die through terrorism. Similarly we should transform this into a country where the social and economic expectations of the people are not shattered”.

The President obviously is determined not to let a hiatus in the development field resting on the laurels of military success and peace. He is only too aware that the genesis of terrorism was social and economic causes. Therefore in this ‘New Post Independence’ era he would like to lay a premium on development and economic empowerment of the people.

The vast pool of talent that we have lost due to the flight of Lankans abroad would be a great assistance to achieve this goal.

This may also be the reason why the President emphasised that we should cast off the ingrained mindset of being enamoured by what is foreign - a hangover from our immediate post independence past - but do our own things with our own resources, our own expertise.

The nuances of the President’s speech suggested a complete break off from this dependency mindset entrenched in our collective psyche. The watershed now ushered in on the 61st Independence Anniversary could see the country charting a new course dispensing with this baggage that has stifled creative development and self sufficiency.

“This 61st Anniversary of Independence has given us the opportunity to realise the pride and dignity of our freedom. The time is now ready for the battle to raise Sri Lanka to the dignity of a country that is energetic, powerful, virtuous and wise”, the President stressed.

He also said “It is time to stop the refrain that we “cannot” and “don’t have”. The remnants and leftovers of subjugation should be erased from our minds. We should look towards the future as a people with a proud and glorious history. Do not strain to demonstrate subjugation and servitude.”

No doubt the President was targeting those elements in our midst who give pride of place to Western values and concepts and who had been fostering the belief that we cannot match up to their prowess. The tone of President address was redolent with self belief in ourselves. “Buy Lankan seemed to be his message”.

Hopefully this message would catch on with the public so that in this new era of Independence we will be able to collectively believe in our selves and work towards a new Lankan identity that would be recognised and regarded beyond our shores.

This re-launched Independence where the country is set to chart a new course was made possible due to the valiant efforts of our Forces to whom the President devoted substantial time in his address to the Nation.

He emphasized “our troops have given us the opportunity to see the dawn of peace in the country”. The President also paid tribute to the determination and tenacity of the Security Forces not to give in and throw in the towel amidst severe odds.

“Our troops gave us this victory through their own skills, knowledge and expertise. Our Forces did not obtain the assistance of any foreign experts. Similarly our Forces had a certain expertise of their own. It is their refusal to say no, on any occasion”

It is this same spirit that would hopefully fire all Sri Lankans to strive to build on the ashes of a nation devastated by three decades of war and carnage.

For the peace that is beckoning was achieved at great price.