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.