Showcase high points in normalization

In effectively responding to Sri Lanka's critics, particularly those abroad, the External Affairs Ministry would play a crucial role and from what could be gathered, External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris is losing no time in gearing-up for this task. He has been busy raising awareness among foreign governments and publics on the fundamental limitations of the infamous Darusman Report and this is the correct approach to putting the record straight.

It is welcome news that the government would continue to engage the international community and the UN on these thorny questions and there should be no illusions on the part of the Lankan authorities as they take-up these challenges. There will be a lot of persuading to be done and, needless to say, this cannot be achieved by appealing to the emotions of one's listeners or audiences. There is no alternative but to generate a very rational discourse on the points at issue and this must be carried out vigorously in all parts of the world that really matter. We notice that Prof Rajiva Wijesinha, MP is already doing this in relation to even the UN and his reasoned, polite approach to enlightening world opinion could be recommended as approximating the ideal in this context. After all, we are dealing with sections of some social sophistication, although they may not be necessarily enlightened or qualitatively advanced in their thinking.

Issues of a relatively abstract nature are bound to come-up in the counter arguments the Lankan state may need to advance to disabuse the minds of its critics, and the government may need to ensure that the best minds are on the job, as pointed out yesterday. It is evident that on quite a few questions of importance, the panel has formulated its positions on hearsay and rumours and these limitations should be exposed and revealed as fibs. For instance, our security forces are found fault with in the most irresponsible fashion in some parts of the Report and these fallacious notions should be relentlessly exposed.

While this process of taking on opinion that is adverse to Sri Lanka goes on, with our Foreign Ministry and our missions abroad in particular taking the fight back, as it were, to these hostile camps, Sri Lanka needs to proceed steadily towards reconciliation and internal normalization.

The LLRC process has won some praise internationally, and we need to look at making it more effective in terms of bringing about increasing communal harmony and in making it answer in full the needs of the disaffected sections of our public.

In fact, substantial criticism has been levelled at the LLRC by the panel and these strictures must be met satisfactorily if we are to prove to the world that the LLRC is an effective tool of national reconciliation. We learn that the term of the LLRC has been extended and we hope this mechanism would go the extra mile within the extra time granted to it, to redouble its effectiveness and initiate the relevant concrete measures for the furtherance of communal harmony.

Meanwhile, the state also needs to showcase to the world the strides it is making in initiating development countrywide. The development projects currently taking hold in the North-East, in particular, need to be focused on and the ways in which they are benefiting the people of those districts need to be spotlighted. In other words, the conviction needs to dawn that Sri Lanka is a country on the fast track to progress.

As we see it, some sections of international opinion are continuing to stereotype Sri Lanka as a country which is lacking in ethnic harmony and social integration. This myth should be exploded and the most effective way to achieve it is by showcasing the progress we are making in these spheres. In fact, the country should progress swiftly towards addressing issues which have been confronting our minority communities and the right thinking could be happy that the state is continuing to engage the TNA in a dialogue process.

It needs to be proved that concrete progress is being made in this discussion process. The general issues at the heart of such talks are now well known and not much time should be lost in remedying these problems. The country should guard against the rousing of communal passions once again and it comes as a great relief that President Mahinda Rajapaksa is leading from the front in proving that Sri Lanka is a safe and secure home for all our communities. As we see it, a chief responsibility of our polity at the moment is to establish beyond all doubt that this country is a happy home for all our communities.