This is the time for unity

Lionel Wijesiri

What you have in your hands today is a flag that has been adorned by the sacrifices of the lives of thousands of our heroic troops, in carrying on a battle as the world’s best and most disciplined army.

This flag flutters with pride not only in the South. It is also seen on the houses of the Tamil people in the North, in the homes of the Muslims in Trincomalee, and the homes of the Adivasis, too.

People of all walks of life celebrating the victory over terrorism.

Therefore, at a time when everyone is thinking as being in one country, one should not hurt the feelings of anyone. If when you raise the National Flag to celebrate this victory a single Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher, Malay or any other person is hurt, there is no purpose in that celebration.

(President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing a mass ceremony on May 20, 2009).

The above quote by the President is hailed by the majority Sri Lankans as marking a new era of inclusive national politics with racial and religious unity and sans petty partisanship.

Now that the war is over, as the President very correctly says, it’s time we let go of all the bitterness and rancour in our hearts brought about by the past political exercises so we can unite as a nation. Our vision must be to the future, learning from our past, but not dwelling in it.

The responsibility for the achievement of unity in Sri Lanka rests upon all citizens, whether Sinhala, Muslim, burgher or others.

To build a society in which the rights of all its members will be respected and guaranteed, all citizens must be animated with the spirit of optimism and faith in the eventual realization of their highest aspirations.

All must recognize that unity is essential for their common survival. All must recognize that there is only one nation - Sri Lankan nation. All must recognize that a harmoniously functioning society which permits the full expression of the potential of all persons can resolve the social and economic problems now confounding a society wracked with disunity.

Separation

For the past 6 decades since Independence, in spite of the work done by each successive Government, we could not achieve a sense of national integration. We failed to create a nation of Sri Lankans.

To rationalize this failure, we have been reacting by retreating to the more familiar ground of compartmental existence.

Most of us believe we are so distinctly different from one another and that each of us must stake out our own cultural and social territories and stay within them. It became a retreat from the reality of our common nationality. It became a formula for the breakdown of our country’s sovereignty.

Today, all of us must realise that anything short of genuine love to each other, extreme patience and deliberate and continued effort to bring all of us together can succeed in blotting out the stain, which has left on the fair name of our common country.

All groups must understand that no real change will come about without close association, fellowship, and friendship. All groups should understand that diversity of race, religion or culture enhances the human experience and is not a barrier to harmonious relationships.

Resolution

The message should be addressed primarily to the individual Sri Lankans. This is because the transformation of a nation ultimately depends on the initiative and change of character of the individuals.

No great idea or plan of action by the Government can hope to succeed if the individual neglects to respond in his or her own way as personal circumstances and opportunities permit.

That is why we should resolve ourselves and explain to others that whatever background we are from, we will look at the present ethnic situation with new eyes and with a new determination and lend effective support to the realisation of a solution. The day all of us endorse that resolution, we begin our journey toward the full realization of our glorious place in the world.

Unity in a country with diverse cultures like ours can only be achieved if all citizens are afforded equal opportunities to be included in the various institutions. There must be a balanced representation of the various communities in all sectors, Government, schools, Armed Forces and Government enterprises.

Domination of these institutions by a particular group will be counterproductive inter-communal unity.

Those with capabilities and talents must be given the opportunities purely based on merit. The poor and deserving from all communities should be granted the special benefits due to them without favour. Those with burning desires to serve the nation in the various fields must be given the opportunity to do so without any impediment.

Our nation has enough resources for all who strive hard so let us not deprive any particular community of its rights to the stake in its fortunes. Sri Lanka should be a model multi-racial country for the world. We must not allow this reputation to be ruined by those with myopic and skewed ideas who are bent on dividing the country on ethnic lines for their own selfish needs.

We must heed our President’s call to actively promote racial unity in our country. It is not just our duty but a sacred obligation as well. Unity must prevail at all costs for continued and lasting peace and a safe and prosperous country.