The 'We can' philosophy

Coming from President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the pronouncement that Sri Lanka needs to believe in herself and her capabilities is most inspirational. It is not very often that Heads of State and government speak to the hearts and minds of the people, but President Rajapaksa has done it in his down-to-earth inimitable fashion and the country would be better off for it.

We believe that the decision and policy makers of this country are conscience-bound to foster a sense of community among the people of this land, besides building bridges of camaraderie between the state and the public. Heads of State could achieve much in this direction by speaking to the hearts of the people in the way President Rajapaksa has done. A great future awaits the country and this would be achievable provided the rulers and ruled believe that they could 'do it.'

The immediate backdrop to the President's pronouncement of his 'We can' philosophy is his visit to South Korea, a country which ranks as an economic giant of the world. South Korea, the President said, is what she is today because she believes in herself and in her prowess to forge ahead on the path of prosperity.

The public needs to ponder long and deep on these words of the President. However, it was only in the early fifties of the last century, Korea was almost wilting in the flames of war. In fact, the two Koreas are yet to establish permanent peace. Despite these obstacles, South Korea has won the war against deprivation and backwardness. Today, she is a number one industrial power and we would do well to emulate her. Sri Lanka has it within herself to forge ahead in the manner of Korea because Sri Lanka has proved that she could endure against hardships and emerge victorious; the 'war against terror' being a case in point.

However, winning in any sphere requires guts, courage and perseverance. Besides cultivating the 'We can' ethic and putting our minds and hearts to the task of sustained development, Sri Lankans need to stand united and harmonious. It is not a coincidence that many countries of the Far East, to which region Korea belongs, have put behind them narrow and parochial loyalties and divisions. Most of these countries see the need to unite behind a single, over-aching national identity, all other narrowly-defined group identities. That is, unity within diversity. Rightly, they see such a project as going to the heart of democratic development.

Sri Lanka too has been endeavouring on the path of democratic development, but there are occasions when the observer is compelled to recognize that all is not well on this score. One such instance arose a few days back in Dambulla and the anxiety on the part of many is that the incident in question would be a trigger to religious tensions. As we said in this commentary yesterday, this is a moment at which the well meaning of this country should act cooperatively with the state to defuse the tensions which have arisen and bring the communities of this land together in a spirit of unbreakable unity and brotherhood. In other words, all ethically-conscious and progressive sections of Sri Lanka should actively labour for religious and cultural unity.

National solidarity is an essential precondition for development and prosperity. While the 'We can' philosophy is an important ingredient in the process of economic development, such an attitude needs to inform our endeavours at forging communal and religious harmony too. Countries such as ours are not destined to remain segmented on religious, cultural, communal and other such lines. 'We can' act and forge ahead as one nation and for this purpose the peace-loving members of our numerous social groups need to come together and unite as one. Together they could isolate the few extremists who thrive on divisions and conflicts.

The state needs to think very seriously about outlawing all forms of divisive and extremist politics that have as their aim the fracturing and dismemberment of our body-politic. Inasmuch as practical steps should be launched by our communities to forge ahead as one, measures should be in place to defeat the forces of extremism. This too 'We can' do.