National Unity

President Chandrika Kumaratunga must be complimented for short and simple Independence Day celebrations ceremony sans the usual display of Sri Lanka’s insignificant military might and the spectacle of the torture of school children’s march past in the scorching sun. It would have been an ideal ceremony had end come with the presentation of the guard of honour. But that was not to be. President Kumara-tunga does things her way.

Speeches are not usually made at Independece day ceremonies. But on this 51st Day of Independence President Kumaratunga delivered a strident and lengthy presidential address. There is nothing objectionable if such speeches are made but all events at such ceremonies have the objective of promoting national unity and not exacerbating differences that exist between various groups of people. The president’s address to the nation was clearly a political speech that was more appropriate for a political rally and not for an event that is meant to bring about unity among the Sri Lankan people. It was also regrettable that none of the opposition party political leaders were present at the Independence day celebrations. Whether they were invited or not we are unaware. However, President Kumara-tunga deserves praise for having her speech read out in Tamil.

Today, citizens of this country have come to realise that consensus and unity on national issues among the major political parties are absolutely essential even though political leaders still refuse to recognise this development.

Not only should efforts be made to bring unity among all Sri Lankan people but no move should be made to create situations that could inflame passions and bring about deep divisions and clashes among different groups of people. Right now a stupid proposal by the Tourist Board is causing concern not only among the people around Nuwara Eliya but also throughout the country. The Tourist Board, it appears, had suddenly got a brainwave to create a ‘Ramapaura’ ostensibly with the idea of attracting Hindus from India in the strict natural reserve of Seetha Eliya near Nuwara Eliya.

Nuwara Eliya and its environs have long being associated with the Indian epic, Ramayanaya. The names like Ravana Ella, Hak Gala, Seetha Eliya is a part of this Indian epic, revered by Hindus the world over. But never have Hindus considered these places as those of religious worship or wanted to declare them as ‘sacred areas’, which the Tourist Board wallahs are now attempting to do. It is reported that some Indian tourist organisations have sold the idea that characters in the Ramayanaya could be sold to Hindus as much as ‘ Selling the Buddha" would have been possible to Tourist around the world. It is unlikely that tradition bound Hindus who did not see these places in Sri Lanka as being sacred to them since time immemorial would fall for the Tourist Board gimmick. They would even consider it as a gross insult.

Quite apart from this madness of the Tourist Board to invent ‘sacred places of worship’ and create gods, this proposal is causing much concern among Buddhists. They see sinister political motives behind this proposal. The Mahanayakes and several leading organisations have made their protests. Even the president of the Hindu temple in the area Mr. Radhakirishnan was reported in an Island article published on this page on Wednesday under the heading ‘Ramapura or Ravana Eliya’ that they are opposed to declaring the Seetha Eliya, a ‘sacred area’.It will be in the interests of national unity and religious harmony if this proposal of the Tourist Board is dropped as soon as possible.

It goes without saying that all Sri Lankan people should have the freedom to erect their own places of worship. But great care must be taken that the interests of all people are taken into consideration if objections are made. This country has had enough of communal strife and religious strife would be disastrous. There are enough examples such as the places of worship in Jerusalem, the Babri Masjeed Mosque in New Delhi and now the sad events of Christians being attacked by fanatics in many places in India where religious passions have been aroused. Some of these crises have long historical roots but where the Nuwara Eliya proposal is concerned, it has been created by bureaucrats!

People of different religions and races this country have lived altogether in amity for centuries and continue to do so. The Hindu gods have been in Buddhist temples for centuries long before the new brand of academics and NGO activists invented ‘Sinhala- Buddhist chauvinism’. These categories are enough of a plague in Lanka today. Let not a bungling bureaucracy swell their ranks.