Category: News

My dear Mother Lanka,

I am writing to you with mixed feelings as we mark the 75th anniversary of gaining independence from British colonial masters. I think it is more accurate to say that we ‘marked’ independence instead of saying we ‘celebrated’, because there has been precious little to celebrate as a nation lately.

We did ‘celebrate’ yesterday with a ceremony at Galle Face. There is nothing wrong with an event to mark the occasion, but the fact that there was opposition to even that suggests that all is not well. Critics complained yesterday’s event demonstrated our ‘neva gilunath, band choon’ mentality.

People ask why millions were spent on parades when our hospitals lack medicines, our fuel is rationed and we can’t afford uninterrupted electricity. These are valid questions. The powers that be didn’t get it right in striking a balance between ‘celebrating’ and being sensitive to the hardships of the people.

That is why some even query as to whether we are worse off gaining independence and whether it would have been better if we were still under the ‘suddas’. We manage our own affairs and make our own decisions now, but, judging by recent events, we have made a right royal mess of it, haven’t we?

It is great that we could break free from the shackles of foreign rule, first by the Portuguese, then by the Dutch and finally by the British, and be in charge of our own destiny once again. However, the question is whether we have made life better for our people since then. The answer, of course, is ‘no’.

We struggled for decades to gain independence from the British so we could be free from their rule, though it was not a bloody battle like it was in India or Pakistan. Yet, 75 years later we are queuing up outside their high commissions, trying to migrate and be under their rule once again!

Just how much we have fallen is shown by Prince Charles who is now King attending our 50th anniversary celebrations – sweating profusely and being ignored by Mrs B seated next to him. 25 years later, those attending our event are two-bit ministers from a few neighbouring countries!

Our national anthem says ‘dhaanya, dhanaya neka mal palathuru piri jaya

bhumiya ramya’ but there is no grain due to the fertiliser fiasco, no riches as we are bankrupt, fruits and flowers are expensive due to inflation, our land is being sold to foreigners and all the Ramyas are trying to leave the country!

You-know-who said recently that we should aim to be a modern and prosperous nation by 2048 when we reach a century of ‘independence’, but this is as good a time as any to reflect on what went wrong. Or else, we will be in a worse plight by 2048 and still harking back to our glorious past of 2,500 years.

The ‘suddas’ who governed us didn’t do so because they loved us. They repressed our people, imposed taxes on us and stole our natural resources. It is also true that these same people lecture us even now on how we should conduct our affairs. They controlled us then. They try to control us now.

While the ‘suddas’ didn’t do us any great favours, we still rely on the roads and railways they built, the schools they set up, the laws they introduced, the plantations they cultivated and the language they spoke. What have we done for ourselves since they left us 75 years ago? Sadly, very little.

Whose fault is that? It has become the fashion these days to blame it all on the politicians or the few families that have ruled us for three-quarters of a century – and they do have to accept a significant share of that responsibility, especially those who led the country after the first 20 years or so.

Still, we as a nation are also responsible not only for electing our rulers but also for falling victim to their strategy of pitting one community against the other, repeatedly. Then, when they passed laws to suit them, others helped them, be it in the House by the Diyawanna Oya or in the halls of Hulftsdorp.

Slowly, the rule of law collapsed, rulers became a law unto themselves and our leaders acted as if they were Kings or Queens. Instead of rebelling against them, most people took the easy way out, voting them in, again and again for various rewards – a job, free rice, ‘samurdhi’ or the promise of a bracelet.

Also emerging were a new set of ‘yes men’ – ministry secretaries, corporation bosses, other high officials, even Police and military officers, and those who sit on benches – who did the bidding of their political masters in return for a commission, promotion, extension of service or a diplomatic posting.

Most top posts where key decisions are made were filled by these ‘yes men’ instead of being given on merit to the most deserving. Naturally, decisions were made for political reasons and not for the nation’s good. Now, our ‘democratic socialist’ Republic has become a ‘dictatorial corrupt’ Republic.

I am sorry to sound so negative, Mother Lanka, but if this 75th anniversary is to serve some purpose, it is time for all of us, your sons and daughters, to look in the mirror. What you see will not be pretty. Yet, if we can see our flaws, we can correct them. Then, maybe we can really celebrate, at least by 2048!

Yours truly,

Punchi Putha

PS: At the very site where our ‘independence’ was marked yesterday, the Galle Face Green, there were signs last year that your conscience was finally awakening. If that process can be seen through to its end, then we can claim true ‘independence’ instead of being in dependence forever, Mother Lanka.

Tamils in Jaffna are rallying through the town today in protest of Sri Lanka’s 75th Independence Day, which is regarded as a ‘black day’ for Tamils.

Sri Lanka’s 75th Independence Day was celebrated at Galle Face under tight security today.

A heavy military presence was seen on the streets in some parts of Colombo during the celebrations.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena attended the celebrations together with members of Parliament, mostly from the Government.

The main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya boycotted the celebrations at Galle Face together with a number of other political parties.

The protest began outside the University of Jaffna, where black flags have been hoisted at the campus to mark the occassion.

Businesses in Jaffna expressed their solidarity with the protesters by carrying out a hartal – a day long shutdown- across Jaffna.

Sri Lanka’s Independence Day is deemed a ‘black day’ for the Tamil nation as it continues to be occupied by the Sri Lankan military and lacks basic rights as well as the right to self-determination.

Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe in an address to the nation on the 75th independence day, calling for an end of divisive politics, minority discrimination and politics of deceit.

He promised maximum devolution within a unitary state.

After independence the country was divided on race, religion and region, he said.

“We were divided to a point of developing suspicion and animosity against each other,” he said.

“Various groups exploited this division to gain power and created further rifts among the people. Instead of rejecting such groups, we accorded power to these very same groups.”

“In politics, lies were spread instead of the truth. Politicians who spoke the truth were rejected by the people.

“Those who pointed out the real situation of the country and sought related remedies were hardly given a place. Yet, those who satisfied people with their lies gained greater acceptance.

The full statement is reproduced below:

Most Venerable Maha Sangha and the clergy, my fellow citizens, all Sri Lankans abroad, dear children,

Today, I will not be delivering a traditional Independence Day statement. I am not going to dwell on the freedom we gained. While honouring those who were dedicated and worked hard for the country’s freedom, including the late Mr. D.S. Senanayake, I will focus on regaining the freedom that we have lost today.
Around 75 years ago, the esteemed ‘London Times’ newspaper carried an editorial stating that “It is our desire to see Sri Lanka become a Switzerland in the East, very soon.”

They had not expressed a similar vision for any other country in the East.

However, what has happened to us today?

Today, we are facing an unprecedented economic crisis, hitherto never experienced.

Why have we to face such a situation? Who is responsible for such?

Let’s be truthful. All of us are more or less responsible for this situation. None of us can point fingers and blame each other.

We made mistakes from the beginning. Efforts were made to rectify those mistakes, though it was not possible to correct them completely.

The policy followed by the late Mr. D.S. Senanayake in securing the country’s freedom was to unite all Sri Lankans. He believed that everyone, be it Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim or Burgher, should forge ahead as Sri Lankans.

However, after independence we divided in terms of race, religion and region. We were divided to a point of developing suspicion and animosity against each other. Various groups exploited this division to gain power and created further rifts among the people. Instead of rejecting such groups, we accorded power to these very same groups.

In politics, lies were spread instead of the truth. Politicians who spoke the truth were rejected by the people. Those who pointed out the real situation of the country and sought related remedies were hardly given a place. Yet, those who satisfied people with their lies gained greater acceptance.

We got trapped in a consensual political culture. Our characteristic was to be depended on borrowed resources and we borrowed even more.

We adopted the notion that, “The government is a spring of resources”. Many were of the view that the duty of the rulers was to distribute the various resources obtained from that spring, among the people. Accordingly, job opportunities were provided and various goods and equipment were also distributed. Cash was also made available.

In most instances, we did not vote on behalf of the country. Instead we voted for a candidate in order to receive a job, to gain admission to a school for our children and to have a tender passed etc. We worked for political candidates expecting personal favours in return.

Most of us contested not for the country, but for personal power, for greater perks and to earn a little more.

We were trapped in promises and endured slogans which finally resulted in the gradual collapse of the country’s economy. We borrowed increasingly to fulfil election pledges and proved the slogans shouted at the protests were correct.

We borrowed more for consumption rather than for investment. However, according to the Buddhist Philosophy one should take loans for investment purposes and not consumption. While we are talking of Buddhism, our action is not in keeping with the Buddha’s teachings.

Lee Kuan Yew, who visited Sri Lanka to study and formulate a strategy to rebuild Singapore, said after many years, that . “This situation has arisen in Sri Lanka due to unnecessarily prioritising politics. If Sri Lanka was followed as a role model, even Singapore by today would have perished.

In fact, we have reached the point of destruction. There are those who want to keep perpetuating this wound forever, though I don’t wish. Let’s seek to heal this wound though it’s difficult and painful. If we endure the suffering and pain for a short period of time, we can get the wound healed completely.

We have no way out of this crisis with short cuts as that some political parties are pointing out.

We have only one way to get rid of this situation, if we want to overcome this crisis and achieve real economic and social freedom. Remember, if we miss this path due to misplaced political agendas, we would neither have a future nor a country.

On several occasions, I pointed out the seriousness and danger of the looming economic crisis we are facing today. I have already said that the first six months of this year will be extremely difficult. We have to face this difficult situation in our stride, although unwillingly, for the sake of the country.

Although a large number of people in this country got out of poverty with the free education and expanded the middle class, today the country has turned into a land where it is impossible to fulfil their aspirations. I see the youth who should be working hard in different fields in this country are creating long queues to obtain passports. We need to change this situation too.

To achieve this end we should modernize the economy and open it to the world. The corrupt political factionalism that deceives the people making them dependants and poor for ever should also be changed. This is the “system change” that the youth of this country have been demanding for over a long period of time.

My government therefore has embarked on new path of reform to fulfil the needs of the youth. Even though those decisions that have to be taken for it are painful, it has to be done in order to overcome.

We have to move away from narrow politics in order to be rid of this crisis situation. We must face this challenge together as children of one mother and make our fullest contribution to strengthen the path towards the successful development of this country. We must all move forward as Sri Lankan nationals leaving aside all differences.

Hence the basis and foundation for a strong new economy has already been formulated. We are successfully completing the difficult stage required to get support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). We expect to get their consent without delay.

We cannot be satisfied just by strengthening the economy. The entire system needs to be changed. All areas of this political system, the legislature, parliament, Executive, state machinery, etc. should be modified to suit the modern era. The nation, and we should benefit from this change. More space should be created in the new system, for representation and opinions of young people and women in particular.
For this system modification, we are proposing a number of orders to the Parliament.

Additionally, immediate action needs to be taken in relation to the unique issues that the people in the North and East face. A cabinet subcommittee for this purpose has already been established.

All political parties are informed of its decisions and their implementation dates. Thereby those tasks are carried forward. We have given priority to activities such as release of land and prisoners.

Furthermore, measures are being taken for the maximum division of power in a unitary state. However, we’ll never consent to the division of this nation.

I’m not attempting to treat the superficial condition with painkillers. But to treat the root cause of the malaise. It is challenging and difficult, but it’s our only option.

I know that many of the decisions I have been compelled to take since assuming the presidency have been unpopular.

However, because of those decisions, today no citizen of this country will die of dehydration in oil queues. You won’t starve without gas. Not curse without fertilizer.

Therefore, regardless of the obstacles the anarchist political forces seek to create, I will continue this new reform program with the majority of people who love this country.

We can become a developed country by 2048 if we work and move forward in a united and planned manner envisioning peace and reconciliation. There is the potential to become a developed country which is not begging from any other nation in the world. True freedom can be achieved and it is possible.

It is our collective responsibility to build a new country in which our children can compete with the rest of the world. Therefore, I urge all parties to come together to overcome this difficult period.
Let’s unite! Let’s join hands!

With joined hands let’s embark on a united journey over the next 25 years, as we have planned. Let’s further nurture those plans in accordance with the views of all parties. Let’s get stronger. Let’s make them more systematic and streamlined.

Not only should all of us who live in Sri Lanka join this effort. But the Sri Lankans living in the different countries around the world should also shoulder this journey. Everyone should be united. Everyone should contribute to the achievement of these goals as much as possible.

Let us devote ourselves, unite as children of one mother. Let us make our country one of the most developed in the world by 2048, when we will celebrate 100 years of independence.

Thank you all.

Dear Sinhala Brethren,

“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools” – Martin Luther King jr

We wish to live in a conflict-free Sri Lanka where we can join in to celebrate Island’s 75th Independence day as much as you do. Both communities lost thousands of lives and limbs and caused enormous pain and unimaginable suffering. We became poorer and beg the international community. Brothers and sisters, let us address our grievances and aspirations to end all conflicts. Let us rebuild our beautiful island where all feel equal and dignified.

Sri Lanka is our island too. How it has alienated the Tamils since Independence is a clear indication of that deliberate policy of discrimination that became constitutionalised and institutionalised. For us to celebrate independence as much as you do, we need our Sinhala brethren to address sincerely our longstanding grievances and aspirations now. Such acts of justice will not cause any harm to any other people. It will neither uproot anyone, restrict their freedom of movement nor deprive them of their rights in whatever form of devolution.

It is not at all about the separation of our beautiful island, but it is to ensure that the island celebrates undivided patriotism, powersharing is inevitable and reassuring the individual rights and collective rights of all the people through a plurinational democracy. Let us explore tried and tested models in the world that will be suitable for power sharing in Sri Lanka.

The conflicts were man-made in Sri Lanka. Worse when murder and mayhem took place in the name of peace & religion. Instead of addressing the underlying issues, the conflicts were allowed to deteriorate and then suppressed. Then it becomes a way of living and political culture. Let us be the ambassadors of goodwill. The pogroms and war have destroyed the country beyond repair. The effects of violence have not only bankrupted the country but brought the system to its knees. The state culture of violence permeated even those against violence. The mutual killings and destruction must end, apologies for the past atrocities endorsed and true acts of reconciliation shall prevail among all people. The politicians et al who robbed the people of their future are still at large, protected by the system.

The anger of future generations called for System Change and disposed of the most powerful despots from their positions. It could be regarded as the most peaceful revolution ever witnessed to dispose of the heads of government. It is the responsible conduct of those activists who stood by the people with lived experience at the forefront and pitched on peace and harmony that remains an admiration. In the same belief, we appeal to the peaceful, invigorating and generous communities to effect the necessary change peacefully on the Island.

The war-ravaged political doctrine has exposed the hegemony and lost its purpose. The same countries that supported the war efforts are calling for UN action because of the excesses that were carried out beyond International Humanitarian Law. Some countries the Sri Lankan called on to protect the sovereignty of Sri Lanka are violating our sovereignty and exploiting the economic situation. Let’s seek bilaterally acceptable universal solutions that can end unaccountability, violence, hunger and corruption with a new Social Contract that will address all past commissions and omissions. End the fear of persecution, undemocratic governance and unacceptable expenditures. Whilst we starve we cannot allocate funds for a defence force that fights no enemy or a bloated government service sector that swallows all resources that are meant for people.

The remedies cannot be brought by the statutes alone. Devolution has been absorbed into the constitution but never implemented by the legislature or judiciary. Even agreements have been made since 1957 but all agreements and negotiations have been reneged or aborted and resulted in confrontations. The real change has to come from the hearts and minds of the people. History has documented the magnanimity of the Sinhalese people who stood firm risking their own lives to defend the people and their properties in 1958, 1977 and 1983 anti-Tamil pogroms though many hundreds and thousands were sadly maimed & massacred. The survivors and injured who were robbed of their dignity were sent by ships to Tamil Homeland from refugee camps in Colombo as the final solution for those victims. Their independence and identities are to be protected wherever they are and in the territory that has protected them. It is the essential element of the realisation of human rights, non-discrimination and equality. We believe in the new generation that Sri Lanka has produced beyond the ethnic divide to end ethnic injustice.

Many of you have been visiting war-ravaged areas in the North-East and have seen for yourself the extent of the destruction the Tamil civilians were subjected to the brunt of the war. Mothers and fathers are still looking for their children. Children are still looking for their parents. Their lives have been destroyed but the Transitional justice and psychosocial support had been delayed for them. It’s a humanitarian crisis which needs an urgent and lasting solution addressing guarantees of non-recurrence. The delayed justice has taken the responsibility of justice to international fora as Sri Lanka remains the party to the crime.

It’s beyond any doubt that Sri Lanka is at a crossroad and need to be salvaged from its foundation i.e. politically and economically. We are ready, willing and able to work shoulder to shoulder with you all to salvage the country and it is high time we do away with the bloody past and overcome mistrust and hegemonic behaviour. Let’s come together to salvage this country, which was once a role model for many democracies around the world.

The injustice perpetrated over the years must be addressed to end the ongoing atrocity crimes, to embark on constitutional reforms to end the hegemony & unaccountability. The powersharing structure in the multi-ethnic and multi-national plural society of Sri Lanka is anticipated to address all ethnic conflicts. However, the power-sharing arrangement also demands a culture of impunity eradicated not only among the government but also among the people too. Sri Lanka also has to establish an independent judiciary and end state persecution by repealing the Prevention of Terrorist Act. The structure must be based on reparative justice that guarantees

the non-recurrence of atrocity crimes and cannot be denied out of any absurd claims. The conflict resolution encompasses security sector reforms including vetting all defence forces that may have contributed to the mass atrocities of 1988-1990 among Sinhala and 2009 Mullivaikal massacre.

The People’s Struggle has created an opportunity for all the people to come together. The young generation has stood steadfastly for ethnic justice, accountability and reconciliation. The outside world demands inclusive democracy and constitutional and institutional formalities. This is an unmissable opportunity for the new agents of peace and democracy to accommodate the system change envisaged that can bring peace, prosperity and democracy. Their rights are guaranteed constitutionally through structural reforms, tax reforms, food security and most importantly physical security. Their independence and identities are to be protected wherever they have been flourishing historically and the territory that has protected them.

Let there be powersharing and collective sovereignty to unify the country!

The pledge given by President Ranil Wickremesinghe to fully implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution was a ploy to hoodwink the people, JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva said today.

He told a news conference that President Ranil Wickremesinghe was trying to divert the people’s attention from burning issues and mounting protests against them.

“It is Ranil Wickremesinghe who initiated this dialogue on 13A again. No one was talking about it. People across the country were talking about rising cost of living and economic crisis. We ask people not to get caught to these racial ploys,” he said.

He said President Ranil Wickremesinghe is continuously obstructing the Local Government election process not due to financial constraints but due to lack of votes from the people. Silva said the latest move to obstruct the election was to ban state officials from obtaining goods and services on credit basis.

“This order was given to prevent the election commission from carrying out the election activities on credit basis. This is an anti-democratic move. Ranil Wickremesinghe as the President has no right to intervene in this manner to obstruct the election,” he said.

He said the election process was almost completed by now and that if the election was stopped it would be a waste of money.