Daily News Online
 

Thursday, 7 May 2009

News Bar »

News: Partial, provisional, unconfirmed - UN Resident Coordinator ...        Political: New SLFP organizers ...       Business: Begin NE reconstruction work - Dakshitha Talgodapitiya ...        Sports: Thilini leads Sri Lanka for World C’ships ...

Home

 | SHARE MARKET  | EXCHANGE RATE  | TRADING  | PICTURE GALLERY  | ARCHIVES | 

dailynews
 ONLINE


OTHER PUBLICATIONS


OTHER LINKS

Marriage Proposals
Classified
Government Gazette

Far sighted move

The decision taken by President Mahinda Rajapaksa to appoint a Special Committee comprising members of Tamil political parties to look into the problems of the Tamil community is timely. The proposed Committee will be particularly entrusted to look into problems and issues confronting the people in the North.

It goes without saying that it is only members of a particular community that are capable of identifying the true nature of the problems and issues faced by its own community. Similarly, it is only members of the Tamil community who will be more attuned with the wants and requirements of its community and are able to go into the core of problems and issues endemic to the Tamil community.

Even during the British times, the colonial rulers appointed Sinhala Commissions to look into grievances of the majority community when the necessity arose. True, the Sinhala and Tamil communities have lived side by side for thousands of years and share common ground in many areas. But there are distinct divergences that separate the communities. These can be related to and identified only by members of the respective communities.

It is here that the appointment of a Committee as the one proposed by the President could go a long way in sorting out matters. Because the problems of the Tamil community have today, expanded and snowballed to embrace many spheres. These are far removed from the problems and issues they faced three decades ago. These problems now embrace not only their bodily needs or are merely in the realms of the cultural and the spiritual or alleged discrimination on the basis of race and langauge. The problem now relates to their very survival as seen from the harrowing footage of fleeing civilians on television. The Committee of Tamil political leaders will be the most eminently suitable to pinpoint and identify the requirements of the community as well as their fears and anxieties.

We are not yet aware of the shape this Committee will take or its mandate. But it is reasonable to infer that Committee will have a huge role to play in regard to the displaced civilians in the North. Ideally, they would function as the main conduit between the civilian population and the authorities to sort out any controversial issues.

The Committee is perhaps the first of its kind appointed to identify the specific problems of the Tamil community. The need for such a body in the post-war recovery cannot be overemphasized .

This is also the first time that a Committee of Tamil politicians will be appointed to look into the problems of their own community independently, devoid of politics. From the composition of the Committee, it is clear that Tamils can expect their problems to be addressed with diligence and dispatch. Ideally the inclusion of TNA representation would have been welcome. But that party had been repeatedly boycotting invitations by the President to address problems confronting the Tamils.It is also important that the Committee functions as a cohesive unit where there is convergence of ideas as regards finding solutions to problems of the Tamil community. We say this because certain bodies in the past came a cropper due to the absence of unanimity. This Committee appointed by the President cannot afford such luxuries because of the overwhelming task before them.

There should be frequent review meetings by the Committee of the data compiled and specific areas that need special attention with proper feedback to the President for follow up action. This Committee appointed by the President no doubt would also go a long way to help heal the sense of alienation felt by the Tamils towards their Sinhala brethren that have also been exacerbated by the unprecedented military victories. Although the war was waged against terrorists and not the Tamil people as frequently expounded by President Rajapaksa, it is only natural that some vestiges of remorse and bitterness linger in Tamil minds however irrational.

Now with the appointment of a Committee comprising members of their own community to directly deal with them, there is bound to be a rapport forged with the President and by extension the majority community ridding them from their sense of isolation.

It will be up to the Committee to drive home the point to the community of the President's genuine call for reconciliation and of his oft repeated entreaties that Tamils are as much his brothers and sisters as their Sinhala brethren of the South.

Founder of Amarapura Nikaya Gnanavimala Maha Nayaka Thera:

A devout defender of Buddhism

There passed away 140 years ago to be precise on July 8, 1833, a Buddhist prelate whose services to his religion were inestimable and his contribution to national culture was outstanding. He was Mahaddama Rajadhi Rajaguru Gnanavimala Tissa, the founder of the Amarapura Nikaya.

Full Story

Of cabbages and kings :

The secret of success

There is a habit among our politicians and others to cite foreign countries that have surpassed us now after having lagging behind us at the time of our independence. In fact, we have been repeating the fact year after year.

Full Story

 

EMAIL |   PRINTABLE VIEW | FEEDBACK

www.lanka.info
Ceylinco Banyan Villas
www.defence.lk
Donate Now | defence.lk
www.apiwenuwenapi.co.uk
LANKAPUVATH - National News Agency of Sri Lanka
www.peaceinsrilanka.org
www.army.lk
www.news.lk

| News | Editorial | Business | Features | Political | Security | Sport | World | Letters | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House Copyright © 2009 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.

Comments and suggestions to : Web Editor