True Independence

Walter LIYANARACHCHI

Where does true independence exist. Sixtytwo years had passed since we gained independence from colonial rule. It is worth while to look back and analyse our achievements during these 6 decades and how far our successive rulers contributed to upgrade this country.

With gratitude we remember the politicians in 1947 led by D. S. Senanayake who fought and heart soul heart to salvage Sri Lanka from British bondage. We have to accept that certain rulers who governed the country after independence had saved the country for a better sustenance. But did we achieve all what these saviours expected who fought tooth and nail to redeem this country from British bondage?

Milinda Moragoda who looked at this subject with an unbiased true vision said in one of his writings:

“Even after 60 years of independence, the country is in confusion. The people are tensed. As a result society has become a cornucopia of divisions, rifts and conflicts.

“Did the rulers who governed the country for the last 6 decades bring this unfortunate situation on us? It is important that issues should be resolved through open dialogue. Through these articles, I aspire to create an environment that is conducive and build up a forum for an open discussion. I consider this to be a mirror or a looking glass from which we could scrutinize ourselves with clarity. I believe that the moment has come for us to go before a mirror and question ourselves of our own behaviour and conduct.”

However if not for the independence we gained in 1948 we would have never achieved a country developed at least to the present level. There cannot be any event. So preeminent as the winning of Independence” which has been subjected to the ill effects of prolonged subjugation.

It is happy to note that the laggard trend we experienced for sixty years is nearing. It is because a new country is being dawned where people can move independently and where they see a massive development in many aspects.

They will especially, their children, have a day to travel independently from North to South and East to West using decent roads, they will gain access independently to pure drinking water, decent houses with an ownership of a block of land, sea ports, airports, good health etc.

Except such development activities in the country are in existence are cannot merely say that we are an independent nation.

A nation must forge ahead not only economically but spiritually as well. The present leader who was chosen by the people as their leader again for the second time with a landslide majority of votes is pledged to continue with the ongoing development projects he started and to introduced more. In this context, the true spirit of independence has now started to boom across the length and breath of the country.

Therefore the time in ripe to shed all our differences whether it is politically, religiously or ethnically and to assist the present leader Mahinda Rajapaksa to make his dreams a success.

The Government has sensibly and wisely selected Kandy, one of our ancient kingdoms as the venue to commemorate this sublime event resuscitating the patriotic feelings of the people of country.

Since 1818 freedom loving true sons of Sri Lanka both clergy and laity spear-headed the freedom struggle at great risk of their lives. Unmoved and undaunted by sporadic repulses the public spirited and patriotic citizens provoked by the 1915 cataclysm organised themselves with determination to win our freedom and thanks to their indomitable courage which resulted in gaining independence.

The present Government committed as it is to development has taken vast strides in that regard. Spiritual advancement must go hand in hand with such material development to create a virtue-loving society. The Government has spearheaded a campaign to materialise this objective the country seems to abort those virtues converting them to a civilized society. President’s “Mathata thitha” concept is one such step.

Virtues come from religion. Let us remember that our civilization nurtured by our religion and it was the sole contributory factor to our ancient glory and prosperity.

In conclusion let us all get together to preserve our independence without allowing the reactionary forces to destroy it. We can only do so by joining hands with the President who is heading his Government to make the Sri Lanka a paradise in the Asia.