Give the PSC a chance

Our sincere hope, as those with the interests of this country at heart, is that the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) proposal would have abundant takers and not be rejected out of hand. At the time of writing, the TNA has waxed negative about the PSC and, apparently, demanded that the government, first, puts forward proposals on resolving the conflict, before it being party to the PSC process. It has, in particular, focused on three issues that the state needs to resolve right away, including a North-East re-merger.

It would not be an exaggeration to state that the PSC process holds the key to a new future for this country. Sri Lanka, under the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, has done well to see an end to LTTE terror, but a further challenge awaits us in the form of creating a state where all, irrespective of ethnicity, religion, language and social class, could avail of opportunities to further their just aspirations and ideals and be content. In other words, the emerging Sri Lanka should be characterized by equality of condition and opportunity. The foundations for a state of this nature could be laid only through a collective effort that encompasses every significant shade of political opinion in this country. This condition could be best fulfilled by the PSC.

Given the foregoing considerations, it could be baffling as to why some sections are giving-up on the PSC even before giving it a try. This is foremost among many of the thought-provoking points in relation to the PSC raised recently by Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, and we whole-heartedly agree with him. The PSC was designed to help find a solution to the grievances of the minority communities and it is best that the TNA participates in this process of problem-solving instead of posing fresh obstacles to efforts at bringing normalcy to this country.

The TNA is not alone in shying away from sitting at the discussion table. There is also the UNP which is yet to make an unequivocal statement with regard to participation in the PSC. These parties need to bear in mind that finding a durable solution to our conflict has always proved arduous and tortuous. In fact, none of the collective efforts in the past bore any positive results worth talking about on account of the lack of a sincere commitment to finding a solution, on the part of prevaricating, double-thinking and double-speaking parties. The result was a multiplication of the country's problems.

If the TNA wants a quick resolution to the problems that it sees as affecting its constituents, it would need to cooperate with the government in working out solutions to the issues in question. Let it engage in no prejudgments on how the PSC would fare because the latter process would succeed only to the degree to which the participating parties give of their best to the problem resolution effort. There are no miraculous cures to any of our problems. Only sincere, hard work would help resolve them.

There is no getting back, on the part of parties such as the TNA, to pre-2009 agendas. When the LTTE was defeated in the battle field and seen an end to, the promise opened of the North-East people starting a new chapter in their relations with the rest of the country. Until then, some significant sections in the North-East were forced by the LTTE at gun-point to speak 'their language.' This is not the case now because the state is paving the way for all sections of our polity to live in perfect harmony with each other. Today, there could be no talk of 'homelands' because President Rajapaksa conceives the whole of Sri Lanka as the homeland of this country's communities, wherever they may be concentrated.

This possibility of starting anew and the promise of national renewal must be grasped by the TNA. It is best advised to join the process of deliberations and to give the search for a political solution a try rather than prejudge the deliberations and ensure that they remains still-born.

On the other hand, it must be realized by all, that the military solution that the state was forced to adopt on account of the Tigers' recalcitrance, is not final. Durable social and political stability could be achieved only on the basis of justice and fairness towards all, and this effort needs to be speeded-up and taken to its logical conclusion before there could be rejoicing all around.