The PSC as a suitable mechanism for a solution

Wasantha Priya Ramanayake Translated by A.A.M.Nizam

Mahatma Gandhi when he visited the Shanthi Nikethan once wrote in the autograph book of one of the students there that "if you have given a promise, safeguard it even with the sacrifice of your life". Rabindranath Tagore wrote another saying beneath the one made by Mahatma Gandhi, in front of him. That note was, "Nothing can be kept tied by a chain made of clay. Similarly, if you find that the promise you made was a wrong one throw it away immediately".

About continuing to adhere to impractical traditional views, Tagore was on a different track than Mahatma Gandhi. It was radical, progressive and more humanitarian. Tagore stated not only once but on several occasions that "patriotism should not be our final destination and my final destination is humanity". Tagore said that, "Glass will never be purchased to the value of diamonds. Similarly, as long as I live I will not allow patriotism to suppress humanity".

Policy statement

Prior to Independence, Indian society got enriched by the dialectic views of many scholars. Therefore, the Indian Independence struggle consisted of a strong milieu. It was stronger than ours. The scholars, academics and leaders of that country were prepared to formulate the constitution of that country two to three decades prior to getting independence.

Mahatma Gandhi	Rabindranath Tagore

During 64 years of Independence we have failed to build a Sri Lankan national government as it had been done in India. After Italy was unified, a leader of that country, Masido Desaglio said that, "We have built an Italy. We should now form an Italian nation". Even we utter words of deep meaning like this. At the same time we also mention a history of over 2,500 years. These are mere words floating in the air and there is no Sri Lankan government or nation being built.

Correct mechanism

President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the nation from the Chambers of the Parliament on May 19, 2009 after liberating the country from separatism said, "We removed the word minority from our lexicon about three years ago. Hereafter Tamils, Muslims, Burgher and Malay in this country are not minorities. There are only two peoples in this country. One is the people that love this country. The other comprises the small groups that have no love for the land of their birth". It was with this that the President laid the foundation for building the Sri Lankan nation which was not possible since we received Independence. It is not that simple as stated in words.

‘Mahinda Chintana - Vision for the Future’ acknowledges that all our political problems have political reasons. President Mahinda Rajapaksa stated that he is determined to think anew about the problem of the North and East and to find a new solution. He mentions, "In my previous Mahinda Chintana policy statement, I stated that my main expectation is to break the fundamentalist concepts of a traditional homeland and a separate state, and empower the citizens of this country to arrive at a peaceful political solution which would devolve power to all citizens".

Because of this the people of this country have given a mandate to this government acknowledging the ‘Mahinda Chintana - Vision for the Future’, to find a political solution to the North/East problem.

This mandate has also been given to establish a Second Chamber of representatives or a ‘Senate’. It seems that certain political groups represented in this government as the United People's Freedom Alliance have not understood this mandate. The present Provincial Councils which function as the mechanism for devolving power will not get annulled in accordance with the ‘Mahinda Chintana - Vision for the Future’. There is no request about it and a special mandate relating to it. The current 13th amendment to the constitution does not get annulled on this basis.

Constitutional change

By maintaining the Provincial Councils under the 13th amendment the government has given its sponsorship to it. By acknowledging the ‘Mahinda Chintana - Vision for the Future’, the people have given a mandate to proceed further or as a different proposal or for the establishment of a Senate.

What is required now is to clearly formulate a political solution. It is the Parliamentary Select Committee that has the democratic and correct mechanism. In this process all the parties could express their opinions. They cannot say one thing in the Parliamentary Select Committee and a different thing to the people. It may be because of that that certain groups are attempting to avoid it. Only through this measure that a correct mechanism can be found. President Mahinda Rajapaksa assures that he is ready to implement the solution that will be formulated by the Parliamentary Select Committee.

He is supportive of it. He is flexible. Solution to a complex problem like this cannot be found by an individual or by a group separately. If necessary, this Parliamentary Select Committee without confining itself to the issue of North/East can even go for a complete change, covering the whole country and go for a wide constitutional change.

Then the solution given to the North/East becomes a part of it. Otherwise everything can become complex by getting entangled in the sensitive issues such as police and land powers. If the country gets subjected to a wide change it would provide a solution to the international pressures as well.