Independence

The second phase has begun:

Rodney MARTINESZ

Sri Lanka celebrates her 62nd Independence Day anniversary today with renewed hope. This is because this Independence day is different to all others that preceded it.

On all other occasions Independence Day was observed routinely with the customary ceremonies, the event assuming little significance to most. But today there is bound to be a new awakening and stirring among the populace.

For today the country can proudly claim that it is celebrating independence in a real sense. It will mark a clear line of distinction that will separate the past six decades with the new era of true Independence.

It will also mark the defeat of the last bastion of resistance by the colonial powers who although leaving the country 62 years ago were still making their presence felt meddling into the country’s internal affairs. Sri Lankans today are really a proud people.

Separatist terrorism that ravaged the country for over three and half decades is a thing of the past and Sri Lanka has succeeded in shedding its ‘developing country’ tag to emerge into the ‘middle income‘ bracket.

The country stands tall in the international arena winning acclaim for being able to humble the mightiest terrorist organization in the world.

This at a time when powerful nations with all resources at their command are still grappling with global terrorism.

Development

With the war over the country has also embarked on a massive development drive particularly targeting the North and East which was isolated from the rest of the country all these years.

For the first time since independence there is a real prospect for reconciliation between the various communities and ethnic groups harking back to the times of the immediate post Independence era when unity and concord existed among all groups.

This new found unity has also opened the door for realising the true potential of the country with all its sons and daughters putting the shoulder to the wheel to lift the country out of its gloomy past.

A new impetus has also been given for the country’s revival with President Mahinda Rajapaksa winning a second term in office. It is due to his unyielding stance that the debilitating separatist war was brought to a decisive conclusion.

If not for his steadfast refusal to bow down to the dictates of the West the country would never have emerged from the mire it had sunk into all these years. Herein lies the very essence of Independence wherein a ruler refuses to take orders from any outsider particularly if it is their former masters.

There is no denying that although the country received dominion status in 1948 it could not entirely shed the patina of colonialism and most of its features including the adminstration and education set up is still based on the structures left behind by the British.

What is worse this hangover also led to the rulers of the past to make concessions to the requests and demands by these imperialists who had designs on the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity that made the war drag on indefinitely.

This meddling and the capitulation by our leaders demonstrated the hold which the West had on the country even after departing it over 60 years ago. This is why the current phase of the country assumes a special significance in that the present leader has firmly resisted these overt and covert threats and steered the country on course to a truly independent State.

Characteristics

This does not mean that we have thrown out all colonial facets lock stock and barrel. We still retain the beneficial characteristics of that era. For instance English has been retained as the medium of instruction in schools as it was in the immediate post independent era and there is Government sponsored programs to promote and foster teaching the language to a wider segment of the population. Cricket has been the defacto national sport of the country.

For all that we have managed to preserve the country’s heritage and ethos and clung on to our original roots despite the various external influences threatening our value system. This while excelling ourselves in all fields of endeavours internationally and bringing honour and glory to our country.

But there is still a long way to go before the country is to achieve its desired goals. It is not that we lack potential but we are wanting in initiative. To begin with Sri Lankans though a talented lot and filled with enterprise are notorious for their poor work ethic with a majority of them, particulary our Government servants, the worst offenders. It is hoped that the fresh beginning would galvanize them to give of their optimum to this second and most decisive phase of our independence.

It would be worth recalling that at the time of Independence in 1948 we were economically well ahead in the Asian region which prompted even a Prime Minister in the region to recommend that his country follow our model.

What went wrong will be the subject of debate ranging from party politics to ethnic divisions. But it is a sad indictment on the part of our collective conscience that we allowed the country to regress instead of seizing on the opportunity to march ahead.

We have now been presented with the ideal opportunity to make amends and seize on the new opening that has presented itself with the country free from terrorism and reconciliation being gradually forged.

The country has turned a new leaf with the major impediment that thwarted its progress now removed. Already there are signs of new stirring among the population reminiscent of the first Independence over six decades ago. It signifies the stirring of a country from a slumber ready to pick up the pieces and forge ahead into new vistas breaching new frontiers.

President Rajapaksa said he would make this country count among the world’s powerful nations.

The dawn of this second phase of the country’s independence is as good a time as any to make a start towards realizing this goal.