Daily News Online
   

Thursday, 5 April 2012

Home

 | SHARE MARKET  | EXCHANGE RATE  | TRADING  | OTHER PUBLICATIONS   | ARCHIVES | 

dailynews
 ONLINE


OTHER PUBLICATIONS


OTHER LINKS

Marriage Proposals
Classified
Government Gazette

Easing out ethnic politics

In a most positive development, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has spoken of the need for the Lankan body-politic to be relieved of ethnic politics. Ethnic or communal politics constitute a distortion that needs to be shown the door and we are glad that this negative tendency in the political process is being addressed in some responsible quarters.

There are a vast number of voters in particularly the Northern Province who are reportedly yearning for a new political leadership in the province, which would steer steeply away from the divisive ethnic politics which have been hitherto practised by parties such as the TNA and its allies. In other words, these voters are for a united and unitary Sri Lanka and would like to be part of national mainstream politics. What is lacking is the necessary political leadership to give direction and guidance to these rudderless sections of the voting population.

As the Defence Secretary suggests, it would be a sound proposition for the country's policy and decision-makers to consider appointing to Parliament from the National List in future, persons from the North who could be adequately representative of these new political aspirations of the province, particularly those of its youthful sections. At the moment, such leadership is nowhere evident and separatists and other divisive elements are stepping in to fill the breach. This amounts to a gross distortion because the sections are sizeable who want to traverse a new, ground-breaking path in Northern politics, which has more to do with staying within the Sri Lankan fold and cooperating with the centre in bringing development to the North. This is, then, a glaring lacuna which needs to be filled.

The country could be glad that influential circles in this country are addressing this contentious question of curbing ethnic politics. Strictly speaking, ethnic or communal politics are not in keeping with the spirit of democracy and could prove harmful to the time-honoured traditions and institutions of the democratic way of life. However, it is the negative and divisive tendencies in a country's politics which provide the fertile ground for the proliferation of communal politics in the first place. In the case of Sri Lanka, it was a sense of grievance against the state among sections in the North-East which gave rise to the phenomenon of ethnicity and spawned political parties, such as, the Tamil Congress and the Federal Party.

Therefore, mass perceptions of being unfairly treated, for instance, provide the spurt for the breeding of ethnic politics. The latter invariably accompany concrete social conditions and these factors need to be carefully focused on. But all this, in Sri Lanka's case, is history. Having defeated LTTE terrorism, the government is offering people everywhere in this country a hand of friendship and cooperation and there is hope that Sri Lanka could make a new beginning and forge ahead towards a plural but united society where fairness and equity would be deeply entrenched.

The challenge before those old, established political parties which are habitually described as 'national' parties is to prove to be truly national. They need to be present in every nook and corner of the country and draw into their fold every significant section of local opinion. This could help a great deal in weeding out communalism or ethnicity from our midst. To be sure, at the inception, this need was addressed by our older parties, but they do not seem to have been sufficiently representative of all communities as time went by.

Currently, the path has been paved to begin anew. The SLFP has done quite a lot on this front and it is hoped the youthful sections of the North who are yearning to get into mainstream, national politics would be enabled to do so. Nevertheless, the possibility of outlawing communalism too, must be earnestly looked into. Such steps would send a clear signal to those extremists who are seeking to slow-down Sri Lanka's onward march, that the future is not theirs.

Commitment as a key to national success - Part III:

Crucial importance of planning

Providing a clear mandate and an unambiguous mission is essential to the success of any enterprise. If there is a lack of clarity in the directions provided, it is more than likely that the task undertaken will not be accomplished successfully. It is the duty of leaders and managers to provide their subordinates with a specific set of objectives and goals to achieve.

Full Story

Socio-economic scene

Motorists, manners and modernization

In the not too distant past in this country, vehicles descending steep inclines would stop and give way for those coming up - the reasoning being that the latter needed all their power and might lose momentum if forced to slow down.

Full Story

A prosperous abode and a wonderful motherland

Sri Lanka is one of the blessed nations of the world. This blessed nation strategically located along maritime and aerial routes of Asia is also blessed with an arable soil, mineral resources, exceptional flora and fauna and scenic beauty compact in a land area of 25,332 sq. miles (65,610 sq. km)surrounded by 833 miles (1,340 km) of sea coast.

Full Story

 

EMAIL |   PRINTABLE VIEW | FEEDBACK

Sri Lankan Wedding Magazine online
www.apiwenuwenapi.co.uk
LANKAPUVATH - National News Agency of Sri Lanka
www.army.lk
Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL)
www.news.lk
www.defence.lk
Donate Now | defence.lk

| News | Editorial | Business | Features | Political | Security | Sport | World | Letters | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House Copyright © 2012 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.

Comments and suggestions to : Web Editor