For us, by us, of us

By Renton de Alwis

 

Written in early 2010, again serves as a baseline to critically evaluate where we are do day ....

Am I naïve? Am I an idealist? Or am I plain stupid to think, that all can and must be well for our motherland in the future and that we can not afford to ‘miss the bus again’ as we have done on many occasions before. Have we not suffered for far too long, staying divided and self-focussed; divided on racial, religious and political party lines that we are unable to look beyond to dream of a better future for ourselves, our children and theirs? While I may be idealistic, optimistic and hopeful, I am certainly not blind to the realities that unfold around me. I also like to think that my optimism can rise above naivety, if we all resolve to chip-in and work on minimising the bad and the ugly in our society and focus on bringing out the good and the desirable.
 

Realities

Focussing on the realities of the past two weeks, it is true that in Angulana, two youths were killed and people of the area have directed their wrath against supposedly corrupt police officers at the station. It is true that a very senior police officer is claimed to have misused his authority in assisting his family settle a score in the most disgusting and primitive manner. It is also true that a very young life of a school girl was lost when she opted to take her own life, reportedly to avoid the shame of being punished for using a friend’s mobile phone in school, where its use was not allowed. These all point to be symptomatic of what is wrong in our body-polity and we must be courageous to realise that it is so.

Still wrong 

We hear reports of devastation of our forests that is still going on. The quest for making the fast buck, pushing the future well-being and sustainability of our national assets to the back-burner, is still prevalent. It is true that around us there still is corruption, non-meritocracy and nepotism being demonstrated. It is also true that our business people just like some in governance resolve to get things done through the back-doors. It is true that lack of transparency in business has resulted in Supreme Court rulings that have reversed deals that were otherwise sealed. It is true that all this leads to weaknesses in our structures of governance and our constitution designed then with hegemonic intent yet allows executive powers to be concentrated at a single focal point. It is true that we have a disproportionately large cabinet of ministers for this moderate sized island nation and the government treasury is taking a big toll in supporting it and the manifold needs that come with it.  It is true that power is often exercised based not on moral authority but on brute force and on ‘who knows whom’.

Caring for needs

It is true that there are many Sri Lankans displaced from their homes living in temporary camps in the North and East, who need to be resettled as early as possible. It is true that with a heavy down-pour last week, IDPs in several areas of the camp had to be relocated due to water logging and the failure of some of the toilet systems. It is true that their current living conditions can be even worse, when the monsoon rains come within the next few months, unless concerted efforts are made by us all to ensure that it will not be so.

Rebuilding efforts

Amidst all of this, it is true that after thirty long years of a reign of LTTE terror, suicide bombs, a string of slain leaders and tens of thousands of other innocent human lives, we are now free of a good part of that fear and insecurity. It is also true that after decades, the A9 has provided access to Jaffna for all and the nostalgic journey to the North on the ‘Yaldevi’ is getting back on track. We are now seeing development programmes such as the ‘Nagenahira Udanaya’ and ‘Uturu Wasanthaya’ bringing back the road linkages, the bridges, houses for resettlement and infrastructure facilities such as water supply, electricity, tele and info-communications, schools, hospitals etc.

The stated mission

 

It is true, that President Rajapaksha as the Head of State has, in many key policy statements he made, has iterated that his mission will be to find unity within our diversity; ending racism, treating all Sri Lankans as equals on this our motherland. He has also stated that there will be an equal-distribution of resources for development among regions and that regional governance structures will have greater autonomy in developing its own locales. He has also pledged that the present cabinet will be down-sized and a more rational and democratic system of governance will be set in place.

Making it work 

To take a cue from these and ensure that the statements are turned into solid deeds,  I believe is the responsibility and the right of all of us, as sons and daughters of Mother Lanka. To do that, simply picking holes, critiquing and speculating on what may be or may not be, is certainly not the way forward. We must ourselves lend our hands, our hearts and solidly contribute in wherever and however ways we can to make it work. To do that, we need to shed our tinted glasses and alliances and affiliations to partisan groups or segments in society. As has been the call, we must only be loyal to the nation and believe that we can indeed make Sri Lanka’s future brighter by working in unity with that singular focus.

After so many years of partisanship and seeing that all is still not well around us, it may be a tough call for most of us. But the reality is that it is by us, for us and of us and no one else. If we fail, all else for sure will fail. We can draw the moral right to hold our leadership responsible for delivering on their promises. To do that we also must take on squarely, the challenges and responsibilities that are for us, by us, and of us.