SL’s march into the future and the Emergency

The state’s decision to progressively relax Emergency regulations and do away with them completely by the end of this year, is news that would be warmly welcomed by most Sri Lankans with an interest in this country’s future. Sensible sections are unlikely not to appreciate the reasons that led to the clamping of the Emergency, but by the same token, they are bound to question the need for its continuance, now that the conflict has drawn to a close.

As we see it, the worst of times, from the security viewpoint, are now over. The LTTE’s military capability is, of course, in a shambles and it could no longer pose a credible immediate military threat to the state of Sri Lanka and its vital interests. Therefore, further dismantling Emergency regulations would be the most sensible course to adopt in this context.

The national interest precedes all other interests and this goes without saying, but it is also integral to the country’s interests to restore to the people their fundamental rights. That is, the task of progressively democratizing Sri Lanka should be persisted with. We do not narrowly interpret the national interest to mean the establishment and strengthening of national security only, although this security dimension is of crucial significance to a country’s overall interests and development.

Human development too is an integral part of the national interest and we are encouraged by the fact that this dimension too is receiving the attention of the state.

A vital link exists between democratic freedoms and human development. If a citizen does not enjoy freedom of movement and the liberty to advance himself culturally and educationally, for instance, there could be no development of self and without development of self, we wonder whether we could have human development in the truest sense of the word. Equally, the citizen should not find his immediate social and physical environment to be unusually stultifying and restrictive because such conditions would militate against the citizen’s legitimate need to enjoy emotional and psychological wholeness.

Currently, people of the South are visiting the North-East and the citizens of the latter are freely visiting the South and mingling vibrantly and happily with the people of this region. Thus do we see the beneficial impact of lifting the Emergency restrictions. There is close contact and camaraderie among the numerous communities of Sri Lanka and this alone is a huge plus which is attributable to the more relaxed atmosphere in the country today. That is, the relaxing of the Emergency has been pivotal in promoting people-to-people contact and this would accrue to the national interest.

In the days ahead, it is development which would prove crucial in Sri Lanka’s onward march. For this purpose, not only would national integration and unity prove vital, the material development of the country would figure as crucial too.

As we are aware, economic entrepreneurship would not flourish in a social environment where rights are curtailed. It is important that the people’s right to engage in legitimate businesses is respected too. So, for this reason also an environment free of needless restrictions is important and it goes without saying that a progressively liberalizing political order is essential.