An honour which is more than merely symbolic

A good part of the world is with Sri Lanka and we have clinching proof that this is so. Not only will Sri Lanka host the next Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) conference, due next year, but Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa has been accorded a rare honour by being elected president of the CPA. This double distinction is not merely symbolic of the respect and regard Sri Lanka had and is achieving internationally but is also a pointer to the ready and friendly acceptance being extended to this country by some of the most crucial sections of the world community. Apparently, Sri Lanka's prestige and fame is remaining undiminished, the adverse campaign against her notwithstanding.

There is food for thought for both friend and foe of this country, in these developments. The CPA is an epitome of the Commonwealth's commitment to democracy and its institutions. Whereas the British Commonwealth is a heterogeneous mix of countries, in terms of political systems and beliefs, one of its defining essences over the decades has been its commitment to democratic governance and ideals. Thus, a clear message is transmitted to the world, in this turn of events, that Sri Lanka is cherished and respected for her continuing commitment to democracy and its institutions by the British Commonwealth of Nations.

Those sections which are seeking to denigrate this country for what are described as accountability and connected issues are thus standing rebuffed. Deep down it is universally felt, apparently, that Sri Lanka was exercising an inalienable and perfectly legitimate right by neutralizing the LTTE, which posed a dangerous threat to both the territorial integrity of this country and to its long-cherished democratic way of life. Regardless of what its detractors may say, Sri Lanka is seen as operating well within its rights and obligations. This, the democratic sections of the world fully recognize and endorse. From this recognition come the current honours the CPA has seen fit to bestow on us.

The news of these freely bestowed laurels should be spread far and wide and in this task the totality of the polity should participate. It is an enterprise for not only our Parliamentarians and foreign missions. Every lover of democracy in this land is obliged to speak and publicize these achievements of one of the oldest democracies in South Asia.

In these developments we also need to see the coming into its own of the legislature which is an institution of fundamental importance in the local polity. The legislature is continuing to play a crucial role in local governance and this fact is being clearly underlined, by the honours just earned by Sri Lanka. Clearly, the Parliament of this country is no 'rubber stamp'; its essential role is law-making and this vital function it is continuing to play vibrantly. That Sri Lanka is a very lively democracy in this sense has been clearly underscored by the CPA.

However, the democratic order which we have thus fortunately inherited and fostered needs to be not only prolonged but qualitatively improved and fine-honed. We are at a cross-roads in our post-independence political history and from what could be gathered nation-making needs to get into top gear. For this purpose the communities of our land should be welded into a single united polity and the task of democratization would not be complete until every community in this country believes that it is an equal stake-holder in the Lankan state. This is nation-building, correctly understood.

Thus, much remains to be done and the totality of our people should take up the challenge of creating a nation out of the many communities we comprise. There is no disputing that every community will identify with the country only to the extent to which it believes that it is at home in Sri Lanka. This is the reason why a political solution to our conflict must be worked out and what better place to initiate this task than Parliament which is widely representative of our communities. Parliament could consolidate its prestige and fame by helping to work a solution to our problem. The Parliamentary Select Committee could clearly underscore the relevance and vitality of Parliament by putting its mind to this historic enterprise of deliberating a political solution without further ado.