‘World can behold SL’s progress’
Text of speech
by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the 58th Commonwealth Parliamentary
Conference in Colombo, yesterday.
As the current Vice Patron of the Commonwealth Parliamentary
Association, I am pleased to welcome all delegates to this 58th
Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Colombo and honoured to address
you on this occasion.
This is an organization with a long and distinguished history in the
annals of modern democracy. It was begun in 1911, as the Empire
Parliamentary Association, when the British Empire was at the height of
its strength, when the Sun never set upon it.
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President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing
the 58th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference. Picture by
Sudath Silva |
Later, as the success of key freedom movements from imperialism and
colonialism succeeded, as in India and Sri Lanka - then Ceylon, it was
changed to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, as we know it
today.
Sri Lanka, as one of the earliest members of the CPA, is glad to host
this important international parliamentary conference for the third
occasion. It is also important to recall that Sri Lanka is among the
members of the CPA, having one of the oldest traditions in parliamentary
democracy, being the first country in Asia to have universal franchise,
from as far back as 1931.
Democratic system
We have continued this tradition of parliamentary democracy through
the past 81 years, protecting it from those who plotted against it, both
in uniform and through insurrection.
More recently, we protected our democratic system, and the democratic
rights of all our people, against what has been correctly described as
the most ruthless terrorist organization in the world. At a time of
clashes between democracy and terror, we have shown the world that
terrorism can be effectively defeated, and the cherished values of
democracy restored to people who were denied it for nearly three
decades.
You are meeting here today, just three days after democratic
elections were successfully conducted to three Provincial Councils in
the country, and you may be observing how the people have freely
expressed their choice. Sri Lanka’s long tradition of parliamentary
democracy has seen governments change via the ballot, and constitutions
being similarly changed and amended.
Post-conflict developments
It is also noteworthy that among the first things done after the
defeat of terrorism, first in the Eastern Province, and later in the
entire country, was to quickly hold local government, provincial and
national elections to obtain a proper mandate from the people, large
sections of whom were deprived of their franchise by the forces of
terror.
In fact I myself sought a second term in office, even before the
expiry of my first term, to obtain a truly national mandate, because the
terrorists whose agents are still active in some parts of the world,
denied many people in the North and East the right to vote, the first
time I sought the Presidency in November 2005. We will also hold
elections to the Northern Provincial Council next year upholding the
principles of democracy.
The many successful aspects of post-conflict developments have drawn
much attention to Sri Lanka, especially the speed with which nearly
300,000 Internally Displaced Persons were re-settled. Another important
aspect has been the efforts at national reconciliation, after a bloody
conflict that dragged on for nearly three decades. It took less than two
years from the end of the conflict to set up the Lessons Learnt and
Reconciliation Commission (LLRC).
It was to learn from the lessons from the conflict, understand how we
could avoid such situations again, provide justice to those who had been
affected, and, most importantly, seek the path of reconciliation as a
nation, through our own experiences. The recommendations of the LLRC are
already being implemented, according to a well worked out Plan of Action
that we have presented to the nation and the world.
With our undoubted commitment to parliamentary democracy, we have a
keen interest in the work and progress of the Commonwealth Parliamentary
Association.
Your efforts to promote parliamentary democracy by enhancing
knowledge and understanding of democratic governance, and interest in
building an informed parliamentary community among the member nations,
has our strongest support.
The many educational programmes on parliamentary practice and
procedure, the efforts at studying matters of regional importance in the
development of democracy, the study of democratic systems in the world’s
smallest nations, the efforts to train knowledgeable and efficient
parliamentary staff, are all in keeping with the goal of strengthening
democracy in the world.
A matter of special importance is the work of the Commonwealth Women
Parliamentarians to increase female representations in Parliament and
recognizing the importance of gender considerations in all activities of
the CPA.
As the country that produced the first elected woman Prime Minister
of the world, Sri Lanka is particularly interested in the moves to
assist in encouraging the professional contribution of women in
democratic bodies, from local authorities to Parliaments.
Free and fair elections
As an organization that seeks to strengthen representative democracy,
your efforts to ensure the conduct of free and fair elections are most
encouraging. Similarly, your focus on countries with new or revived
parliamentary systems is very useful, especially with the high intake of
new members to Parliaments after each election.
The vast resources of human experience available to the CPA, which
has 175 branches and 17,000 parliamentarians at the most recent count,
places it, in an excellent position to contribute to better
understanding of practice and procedure in Parliaments, examine
international trading systems, and look at new policies on science in an
age of rapidly advancing technology.
It will also be extremely useful to explore increasing trade among
Commonwealth countries and devise ways to facilitate such trade.
I have no doubt that the CPA has achieved much success in realizing
the aims of its Strategic Plan 2008 - 2012, especially in assisting
Members and Branches to adopt good practice of democratic governance and
strengthen the institution of Parliament.
You have no doubt helped the Commonwealth deepen its democratic
commitment, in big and small nations by promoting best principles of
representative government that removes barriers to equality in gender,
community, faith and other aspects that seek to limit democracy.
This Conference in Colombo will discuss and decide on the CPA’s new
Strategic Plan for the next four years. This is a good time to think of
strengthening the core values of democracy. Our work should not be
confined to theories and concepts but should look at the more practical
aspects that affect the people. Our emphasis on the will of the people
should lead us to give the most importance to policies that best serve
the interests the people. There is the need to give the highest priority
to the welfare of the people, to economic progress and development that
positively impact on the lives of people.
In this context, it will be interesting to look at Sri Lanka’s own
record of success through democracy. Our achievements in education and
health stand out as examples to other countries and societies.
Battle against terrorism
Our 96 percent literacy is a proud record that has come from the
blend of democracy, with a great tradition of education that came down
from Buddhism and later advanced through the Christian churches.
Similarly, our success in providing free health services to all also
comes from a great tradition of healing that was advanced through
democracy.
It is also important to note that Sri Lanka achieved 8 percent GDP
growth last year, and the year before, after 6 and 7 percent growth
earlier even during the battle against terrorism because of our
commitment to the people and the values of democracy. It is our strong
belief that there cannot be peace without development. The reverse is
also true; there cannot be development without peace.
These are all subjects of much relevance today. One must look forward
to this conference recognizing the proper priorities in furthering the
democratic process. You will no doubt take into consideration the
current global realities that often seem to threaten proper and
effective democracy, and also seek to challenge the sovereignty of
nation states.
Your presence in Sri Lanka gives you a good opportunity to see for
yourselves the progress of democracy in our country, after the major
threat it faced under terrorism. This is important in the context of the
barrage of lies being spread about Sri Lanka today.
As you will see, there is full freedom of travel to any part of the
country. You can also speak to anyone, from government or the Opposition
and different communities. I urge you to make use of this opportunity to
learn of the real Sri Lanka, in its post-conflict era, when the highest
priority is given to nation building through reconciliation. It is
unfortunate that today, many impressions of Sri Lanka in foreign
countries, are based on un-verified facts, and wrong or deliberately
manipulated disinformation, carried out by those who once supported the
forces of terror.
These same elements continue to sow the seeds of division and
separatism through various media, and also influence politicians in
their new countries of domicile, to act against Sri Lanka, based on such
disinformation. These are people who claim to speak for Sri Lanka or a
section of our people, while slandering the country from their shelters
abroad.
They do not bother to contribute to the reconciliation and
development taking place here. But worse, they do not even contribute to
the progress of the people whose cause they claim to champion, from
their activities abroad. You can now see the truth and return to your
countries with a deeper and richer understanding of Sri Lanka.
Different cultures and values
In seeking to advance democracy in the world, which is the commitment
of the CPA, it is also important to appreciate the different cultures
and values of each country where democracy has been rooted, or is
growing. The Commonwealth is a rich diversity of nations with the common
bond of democracy.
It is also a rich diversity of cultures, traditions and values. There
are countries where culture and heritage date back to many millennia.
There are others with shorter histories and traditions. Democracy will
truly blossom when these differences are best understood and respected
in all our dealings with each other.
It is necessary for all of us to be anchored in the true meaning and
concept of democracy - which is the will of the people - freely
expressed. Recently, we saw fears of this in the very Mother of
Democracy, in the early stage of the current financial crisis in Europe.
There is also an unfortunate trend we see of efforts to impose
democracy on people and states. There are many who seem to think of
regime change as the necessary path to democracy, without seeing the
consequences of such action that stare at us today. We are also aware of
how Human Rights can be made a slogan by the worst violators of such
rights, to threaten traditional democracies.
Democracy, or representative democracy, is today competing for
headlines with various emerging national or regional springs. There is
also the hum of drones that seek to bomb democracy into place with a
carpet of destruction.
We must be cautious of all these strategies that experience shows
have not helped real democracy to take root and thrive. It is necessary
to bear in mind that democracy does not foster hatred within societies,
among communities and among nations and countries. Democracy stands for
unity of purpose in a spirit of mutual understanding.
In conclusion, I wish to state that having your conference in a
vibrant democracy, where the will of the people has been cherished, and
protected for eight decades and more, there is every hope that your
deliberations, amidst the well springs of democracy that prevail in our
land, will produce the best results for parliamentary democracy in the
Commonwealth and the world.
May you be blessed by the Noble Triple Gem!
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