Encouraging local and international support

The lifting of the Emergency by President Mahinda Rajapaksa is an important step towards making the people of this country enjoy their democratic freedoms with a fullness which had been denied them for several decades. Accordingly, as the opinions gathered by this newspaper testify, there is a widely experienced sense of relief that we are very much on the road to very vibrant democratic health.

As important as the positive local responses to the lifting of the Emergency, is the warm welcome extended to the move internationally. For instance, there are the US and Australian responses which speak in highly complimentary fashion about the President's measure and point to the facilitatory role it could play in restoring to the people their fundamental freedoms and bring about reconciliation.

Our hope is that Sri Lanka would continue vigorously on this path of democratic rejuvenation. Yesterday we spoke of the uneasy co-existence of democracy and Emergency rule in this country over the years and described it as a gross anomaly which needed to be rooted out. Today, we could breathe a sigh of collective relief that an important stride has been made towards underlining our democratic credentials very emphatically, by ending this anomaly. Nevertheless, it would be important, from the point of view of the state, to pay heed to as many voices as possible on this issue, so as to meeting public expectations more fully in improving democratic governance qualitatively.

We agree with the President that the normal law of the land is sufficient from now on to deal with law and order issues. A balanced approach to these questions emerges as an important need. People must be free to express their opinions but they must do so without resorting to undemocratic practices, such as, resorting to violence.

When the latter happens the state may be compelled to use firm but legitimate means to get the situation under control, but even in the case of this happening, the use of extraordinary measures is not justified, unless an uncontrollable law and order situation develops. Therefore, as far as possible, the agencies of the state would do well to operate within the bounds of the normal law of the country.

It should be remembered that Emergency rule is by no means a complimentary feature for a country which is claiming to be a democracy. Even in our neighbourhood, we are not short of countries which have been authoritarian states for decades or which have only had brief, ephemeral acquaintances with democracy. Fortunately for Sri Lanka, it has been spared these ignominies. This is mainly on account of the democratic ethos and culture within which the majority of our politicians have been bred. It will be in the collective interests of Sri Lankans, for maximum efforts to be put in by the rulers as well as the ruled to ensure the continuance of democracy in both letter and spirit.

Social stability will play a major role in the continued fostering of the democratic ethos. Conflicts have their being in adverse social conditions and, as said yesterday, we Sri Lankans, as a collectivity, would need to untiringly work towards social justice and peace if the appeal of extraordinary measures in governance, such as, states of Emergency, is to diminish. Ethnic harmony, for instance, is an essential prerequisite for national progress and it is up to all Sri Lankans to ensure that the conditions are not bred in this country which would give rise to ethnic friction. Needless to say, it is when the dignity and self respect of every person and community is ensured, that social harmony would reign.

It is most welcome that sections of the Opposition too are rethinking what they have been considering as their legitimate role. What we have specifically in mind is the pronouncement by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe on the issue of the government and the Opposition getting together to contain external interference in the affairs of the country and other vital questions.

We are happy that finally the realization has dawned that the role of the Opposition is not to mindlessly oppose the government but to work in concert with it to resolve the issues of the day. This is a noteworthy development indeed.

We call on the state and the Opposition to focus squarely on the issues before them and to devise ways of working harmoniously on resolving them.

This does not mean that the Opposition should be blindly subservient to the government. What is wanted is a constructive engagement between the parties. We must see an end to opportunistic, destructive politics.