Great expectations of a moderate Tamil

Lenin Benedict - from Toronto, Canada

After a great storm, calmness has entered into the life of Sri Lankans and in particular to the Tamils in the North. In the past, every successive Government in Sri Lanka has assured to bring about a political solution to the minority Tamils during the elections, which has never happened due to some pressure within or outside the Government while in power.

The party, which promises to bring about a solution to Tamil minority when voted to power, may not only bow down to pressure but also has opposed the same solution at times when it becomes the opposition party for mere political benefits. This has been a continued political happening in the history of Sri Lanka.

The present Government, under the brave and courageous leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa which, wiped out terrorism from the Sri Lankan soil, had promised to bring about a political solution to the minority Tamils when terrorism is rooted out. The political will of the Government and the President which firmly stood against all International pressure to stop the war and go for a negotiation with the terrorist organization has to be praised and the way it brought out 300,000 innocent Tamil civilians from the clutches of the brutal LTTE regime should be praised and honoured by the world community.

When the Government announced the victory over terrorism, there was great joy and at the same time, a great expectation within the moderate Tamil community in the Diasporas and within all the section of Tamils in Sri Lanka. The great expectation is nothing but a meaningful political solution that is long overdue.

Moreover, the will of the Sri Lankan Government which stood firm to eradicate terrorism has produced more expectations. The same will of the Government should play a major role in solving the political aspirations of the Tamils, no doubt within the frame work of the Constitution.

We, the moderate Diaspora expect President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Government to take a firm step like they did while defeating the LTTE and table a reasonable solution to the Tamil speaking people without giving into the pressure from another forms of extremists.

The will of the President and the Government has achieved a significant victory and a broad-based support within all communities in Sri Lanka and particularly within the Asian and African countries. The countries who were affected by terrorism have openly supported and praised not only the Government, but have defeated the motion supported by European Union countries who rallied against the victory of terrorism, which they themselves are victims and declared a bogus universal war against terrorism. These countries have sent and sacrificed hundreds of their soldiers against the same cause.

The victory over terrorism by either the President or his Government will bear fruit only when democracy and peace prevails in North and East followed by social and economic sustainability that will bring in political stability for greater economical development and investment in all parts of Sri Lanka, leading towards political and economical freedom of all Sri Lankans.

To a great extent, the Tamil population in the North and East has well understood now that their mythical dream of Eelam is no more and they have to compromise with their Sinhala brothers for a political solution within the frame of the Constitution and need to address their grievances with the majority community.

It’s the right time not only for the Government and the President but also for the majority community to share the grievances of their Tamil brothers who have suffered three decades under the control of the terrorists, who have lost their children to forceful recruitments, abductions, killings and murders and sacrificed their lives.

The loss of lives and destruction of properties in every family are very common. For the most part of life, the Tamil population has been living in fear for this brutal LTTE regime. The entire lives of the people in the North and East have been devastated for the past three decades.

The expectations of the community are very high: not only do they expect a solution from the Government but also an understanding from their Sinhala brothers. It’s therefore the right time for the Sinhala brothers to grab the opportunity to show their Tamil brothers how much they care for them.

This is the right time to heal the wounds. This is the right time to share sorrows. This is the right time to share and care.

This is the right time to come together and work together.

This is the right time to make your Tamil brothers feel that the Sinhala brothers are there for them. Let’s write a new history! Let’s show that Tamils and Sinhalese together make Sri Lanka a strong nation! Coming together is a beginning; Working together is an achievement; Being together is a success.

- Asian Tribune