Place national interests above petty politics

The day before the 51st Independence Day of Sri Lanka, a massive demonstration was staged in the capital to ‘ save democracy’ while some mourned the death of democracy by setting ablaze a coffin, symbolic of the dead Sri Lankan democracy. The rally was sponsored by the United National Party but had many other organisations participating in it. This demonstration went beyond a political gimmick in that religious and political leaders, most opposition political parties and even some leaders in the Peoples Alliance had condemned the violence and vote rigging that took place in the North Western Provincial Council elections, which led to this outcry.

While the threat to democracy is indeed a major crisis for the nation, by far the most difficult problem the country faces is the terrorist problem in the Northern and Eastern provinces. This problem is nowhere near solution— as it has been for many years.

In the 51st year of Independence, there is no answer to the question: Whither Sri Lanka ?

This state of affairs is all the more regrettable because the political ideologies that divided this nation for more than 40 years is no more. Since Independence, political parties which were committed to capitalism, Marxism and a mixed bag of socialism were bitterly opposed to each other and this political acrimony went deep into the masses . But after the collapse of international communism this political divide ceased to exist. Today, all major political parties agree on a free market economy and liberal democracy for Sri Lanka. Marxism , socialism and the Dictatorship of the Proletariat which were a part of our political lexicon for the firsr four decades of Independence, are heard no more. But the disappearance of this ideological divide has not brought about consensus between the two main political parties who are bitterly opposed to each other because of personal differences and for petty political gains.

Issues of national interest have failed to bring about a political consensus among political parties that matter. This is a feature of most Third World countries which have not yet developed their democratic political structures. For the past 51 years leaders have continued to dominate political parties and inner party democracy is practically non existent. This could be a reason why political leaders are unable to get together on vital issues.

Even though much optimism is being expressed, particularly by foreign powers, about a possible compromise with the LTTE terrorists, there are still no genuine indications given by the LTTE. Many examples such as the Good Friday Agreement on Northern Ireland, the agreement between the government of Philippines and the Moro rebels and even the so called peace talks between PLO and Israel are cited as being comparable to the Sri Lankan terrorist problem. But, reflecting on the past 14 years of terrorism ,there appears to be no way out than to go ahead with the military effort.

On this 51st anniversary of Sri Lankan Independence, one encouraging development has been that a public consensus has emerged that if we are to emerge from the darkness that engulfs us, political consensus among the major political parties is called for, With presidential and general elections scheduled for next year, it is unlikely that political parties are likely to forsake immoderate political gains for national interests. on this day, the public should resolve that they will tell the political leaders to place the interests of the nation above their petty politics.