A Fresh Thinking on Sri Lanka's Constitution

A New Light, a fresh start?

Who would have thought some weeks ago that Chief Minister of Northern Provincial Council C.V.Wigneswaran, would have welcomed President Maithripala Sirisena to Jaffna, in the traditional Sinhala

way,with a wad of "beetle leaves"during the President's most recent visit on 12 March 2016, to hand over Land Certificates for 700 acres of Land to their rightful owners.This land which was for over 25 years claimed by the State and coveted for security purposes. 

Who would have thought that the National Anthem "Namo,Namo,Maatha" would also be rendered in Tamil

on the 68th anniversary of Sri Lanka's Independence on the 4 February 2016 at Galle Face Green for the world to see.

Who would have thought of assurance of Sri Lanka's Foreign Secretary,Mangala Samaraweera of the removal in stages of the pernicious Prevention of Terrorism Act and replaced by a new Act. PTA has been a bone of contention among ethnic Tamils and Muslims and the civil rights movement  for over 25 years.

These are a few of the favourite things that have happened recently to bring back a modicum of good relations among the citizens of Sri Lanka,irrespective of their ethnicity and religion.

The new reciprocation by the diaspora

We hear and see a new dawn for a "quid pro quo" reciprocation, by the diehard diaspora Tamils in their new abodes around the world, for the attempt at bringing about  this change through the Good Governance, or the "Yahapalanaya" instituted by President Sirisena since his election on 8 January 2015.

Though the process has been painstaking, perhaps, painfully slow from both sides, the process of reconciliation, is moving and  noticeable in more ways than one. An air of confidence in this initiative is gathering momentum as days pass.

The 5000 odd responses given in Sri Lanka itself by citizens of all ethnic,religious and other backgrounds to the Presidential Special Constitutional Committee to air their views on the adoption of a Constitution, has in itself   given encouragement to the diaspora Sri Lankans, whether Sinhala,Tamil or Muslim.

A fresh approach is on the horizon that for the sake of national unity and to bring back any meaningful change for Sri Lankans living in Sri Lanka, reciprocation is necessary and vital. Every effort is being pursued to assist in this process.

Strange as it seems,the new thinking is that  the masses of Sinhalese,Tamils and Muslims have all been affected. The Tamils want to help the silent masses of Sinhalese who have suffered as much hardship over the many years of war and turmoil as much as the other ethnic groups and want to bring about this change.

The Sinhalese are slowly  being welcomed in the North and East as citizens of the nation, for work, trade and other pursuits. The thought of being colonisers is giving way to a new beginning of acceptance as citizens working for the good of the entire nation. 

There is a free movement of peoples of all ethnicities all around the island; a new way of settlement of disputes;a return of land occupied by security forces; a release of the fear syndrome,all this and more, is evident in this two way dialogue.

Institutional struggle rather than Constitutional struggle

In the 40th anniversary of the Vaddukkodai Resolution, at long last Tamils are finding themselves in a battle -an institutional struggle rather than a constitutional struggle.For the second time since independence,the Tamil party,TNA,winning the overwhelming support of the Tamil masses,is holding the role of Opposition Leader in Parliament, a coveted position of strength for both the Tamil and Sinhala masses. Inside and outside Parliament,the Opposition Leader is voicing the sentiments of both masses of people, the struggle for economic survival of both Sinhala and Tamil masses.In all but name,the Opposition Leader's ethnicity is Tamil, but he is voicing the sentiments of all working people.This is a sea change in Sri Lankan politics.Any sham in the politics of the present Government is voiced without fear or favour.Sri Lankan Sinhala masses are no longer spectators of their own Sinhala Government, but are now able to participate for real in remedy of their own grievances,which were second priority of Sinhala only governments as the Tamil issue was predominant. A Tamil Opposition Leader can speak more eloquently for the Sinhala masses even in Sinhala.

Sri Lanka's Constitution and World opinion

While Sri Lankans, Sinhalese,Tamils and Muslims are now coming together,working together after years of division, the world is watching developments. We are faced with the prospect of not only enhancing our third republican constitution in 2016.

"A new blueprint is in the making that reflects the values,norms, principles and reconciliation.This would constitute a departure from the instrumentalism, institutional intolerance,executive excesses that characterised the two previous republican constitutions."

This Third Constitution  would entrench our common democratic inheritance while reflecting the rich pluralism of our peoples.The lessons of the past in ethnic antagonism and conflict are daunting memories,but now a promising future awaits us both in democracy and development.

The world outside will exercise a duty of care and understanding while guaranteeing our success in our efforts.Sri Lanka expects the world to allow us to work out our future in our democratic way.

Factoring Better Times Ahead?

Do you know anybody who owns the future?

We seem to live in a society where blaming others and defaming their character is becoming acceptable.We have seen this in the US Presidential campaign and also around the world. Everybody is not what he or she claims to be? We should not attack the person,we should deal with the issue at hand. Instead, of dealing with the issue, we attack their character.

Character assassination does not accomplish anything.positive. It leaves only anger,resultant bitterness and shame. The question that pops out, is why?

There may be many issues, many reasons. We all know there are no such thing as a certainty in the future. As we become able to access knowledge, anything you need, any time,anywhere.Yet we live in incredible times where the only constant is change.The future we are told is better than what we think?

Life in Sri Lanka and life abroad

There seems to be a disconnect between the life lived in Sri Lanka and  life abroad. If that is such an issue why do many want to come here in the first place and why do they want to stay here? Why on earth are many desperate to leave Sri Lanka and live in London? I may guess, the grass is always greener on the other side. But what do I remember of my youth in Sri Lanka?

As a small island we were used to a close knit family life.When I was in Sri Lanka I got to experience many different environments all within one small island. Sri Lanka had a hot,steamy climate, when it rained,it thundered and when it was breezy,it was balmy.We had a variety of landscapes, hills,rivers, beaches and wild life sanctuaries.

Everyone knew everyone else down the street, There was a parochial feel,perhaps to coexist in a more harmonious way to nature. We thought of our homes as wellness generators rather than isolated residences. Quite naturally,we came to be very inquisitive.Hardly, would we think,"Oh,that is not my problem, as everybody's problem, was our problem." What an interesting predicament?

We thought of mother nature, our ocean,our earth ,our environment as something tangible.We hardly can be accused of not being close to nature in more ways than one.. 

The most noticeable difference between life in Sri Lanka and life in UK is the completely different spatial experience. I live in a suburb of London, yet close to the city and I do have to commute. By coming here I have in some ways expanded my creativity. 

What do I want for Sri Lanka in the future?

My vision for Colombo,the capital of Sri Lanka, in the future is a dream city designed for humans and not for cars. There must be places for people to walk down the street, to cycle to work, to be able to interact with people. Regrettably, autos and three wheelers have commandeered too much living space. Much of the City as seen from the air has changed There is too much concrete,asphalt, the flow of goods and people has changed what I used to know. 

When I visited Colombo a year ago, I walked from Bambalapitiya to Kollupitya to Green Cabin to sample the food I used to taste when I was a young lad. I walked the length of Marine Drive parallel to the railway lines, mainly to experience a stroll down the beach. 

How can we enhance the quality of life?   

Cities, if not parts of cities need to be planned to be greener and more open,more walker friendly.We need to plant more trees, more flowering trees. We need patient grooming of these roadside shades. More than most we need to integrate water and wind to produce cool air in our homes and in our office spaces. 

As we are bound to see an acceleration in the rate of change as Colombo becomes a megapolis in the years ahead, let us not forget what made our city, nature's paradise in years past.