Sri Lanka is all set to celebrate the 73rd Independence Day tomorrow (4) in the midst of growing tensions over the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic and the upcoming United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session where Sri Lanka is likely to face a challenge from sections of the intentional community. Even though Sri Lanka as a nation has taken many steps towards overcoming both challenges, there are still concerns as to how far we have come and how far more there is to go.
Speaking to the media about the upcoming Independence Day celebrations, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Gen. (Retd.) Kamal Gunaratne said that at this year’s celebration, the national anthem will be sung only in the Sinhala language. Although there was a time not so long ago when the national anthem was sung only in the Sinhala language, this statement raised concerns as to whether Sri Lanka is going back to that era, after celebrating several Independence Days where the national anthem was sung in the two national and official languages, Sinhala and Tamil.
In addition to the above statement, he further revealed that plans are underway to consider making certain changes to Sri Lanka’s national flag, taking into consideration the sentiments expressed by various groups about certain perceived shortcomings in the national flag’s lion symbol, which also raised concerns as this was the second major change announced concerning the country’s identity ahead of Independence Day.
Gen. Gunaratne further said the Ministry of Home Affairs is currently looking into this, and since this involves a huge process which in turn involves tabling and passing a bill in Parliament, he said that taking necessary steps in this connection will take some time. He further said the usual national flag will be used at this year’s Independence Day celebrations.
In addition, it was announced that this year’s celebrations will be held adhering to strict health guidelines, owing to Covid-19-related concerns. Gen. Gunaratne added that a decision has been taken to significantly reduce the number of persons invited to this year’s celebration in order to maintain social distancing, and that seating arrangements will also be done after taking these concerns into account. Moreover, temperature checks will be conducted on all attendees and all attendees will be required to wear face masks throughout the celebrations, he added.
Repeated attempts by The Morning to contact Gen. Gunaratne and State Minister of National Security, Home Affairs, and Disaster Management Chamal Rajapaksa to inquire about this proved futile.
Meanwhile, local media reported that the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) had decided to boycott this year’s Independence Day celebrations, claiming the promises given to them by the previous United National Front (UNF)-led Government had not been fulfilled. The decision of the TNA, as a party that represents one of the major ethnic minorities in Sri Lanka, raises concerns over how they might be feeling about the entire reconciliation process.
The Morning attempted to contact TNA parliamentarians to obtain more information about their stance, but to no avail.
In light of these, The Morning spoke to several persons who have raised their voice in connection with the national reconciliation process and the upcoming UNHRC session in a bid to obtain their opinions.
Reconciliation process
The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) which focuses chiefly on policy reforms, good governance, and justice-related matters, said the Government must give priority to meeting its political commitments in respect of the reconciliation process ahead of the upcoming UNHRC session.
Speaking to The Morning, CPA Executive Director Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu said the current Government seems to have jettisoned the whole idea of reconciliation, and that moves such as not singing the national anthem in the Tamil language and talking about changing the national flag are things that are more likely to impact adversely in the overall reconciliation process.
“If this is one country and if this is a country built on the notion of unity and diversity, concerns, aspirations, and grievances of all communities must be taken into account. The Government really needs to get its act together with regard to the reconciliation process,” he said.
When asked the CPA’s stance on the incumbent Government’s implementation of reconciliation-related programmes launched by the previous UNF-led Government, Dr. Saravanamuttu said the current Government does not seem like it is interested in continuing those programmes. “What is happening in the country is going against the reconciliation process,” he added.
In response to the Defence Secretary’s comment about the Government’s plans to sing the national anthem only in the Sinhala language at this year’s Independence Day celebrations, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) parliamentarian Mujibur Rahman stated that even though under the previous UNF-led Government, of which he was a MP, singing the national anthem in both the Sinhala and Tamil languages, especially at the Independence Day celebrations, was promoted, the current Government appears to have broken that tradition.
“By allowing the national anthem to be sung in the two national and official languages of Sinhala and Tamil, the then UNF-led Government endeavoured to make Sri Lanka’s minority ethnicities feel that they also have a space in the country. Independence was gained by activists of all ethnicities, and in order to strengthen that historical bond, these types of moves (singing the national anthem in the national and official languages) are necessary,” he said.
As far as the country’s reconciliation process is concerned, all efforts taken by the incumbent Government seems to be backward actions, even though what they should do is going forward while ensuring reconciliation, he noted. He added that it is the people who have to suffer the consequences of every decision taken by the Government which triggers conflicts, suspicions, and distrust in the country.
“We have no clue as to what is going to happen under these changes, and whether it will result in good or bad results. The current national flag contains two strips of two colours – orange and green – which are meant to represent Sri Lanka’s minority ethnicities. When it comes to India’s national flag, it contains strips which are of equal size. We do not know whether the proposed change will result in that type of change which includes strips of equal size, or the complete removal of these strips.
“However, irrespective of the nature of the changes to the national flag, we are puzzled as to whether these changes will result in any positive results such as improving the reconciliation process, or changes that will be in line with the current Government’s political ideologies.”
UNHRC
Speaking on the upcoming UNHRC session in February, at which Sri Lanka will be required to respond to a number of resolutions concerning Sri Lanka’s commitments to upholding human rights, accountability, and rule of law, Dr. Saravanamuttu said: “They are talking about a consensus resolution at the UNHRC, and the key thing is to keep Sri Lanka on the agenda of the UNHRC. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has come up with a very powerful statement about universal jurisdiction. As far as the UNHRC session in Geneva, Switzerland is concerned, it is very important that we have another resolution. Sri Lanka should agree to our resolution, start the Office of Missing Persons (OMP), and the Office of Reparations, and take some action concerning accountability.”
Speaking of the same, Rahman also stated that the overall shortcomings in the reconciliation process, which, according to him, are likely to eventually affect reconciliation efforts, may be disadvantageous at the upcoming UNHRC session.
“Proposals that have already been presented against the Sri Lankan Government allege that Sri Lanka has failed to ensure a successful reconciliation process, and the international community has criticised Sri Lanka’s stance concerning the mandatory cremation of those who died of Covid-19. Sri Lanka’s image in the international community is tragic,” he added.
As we get ready to celebrate the 73rd Independence Day tomorrow, it is important to acknowledge the fact that it is every citizen’s right to take pride in the fact that Sri Lanka has stood tall for 73 years in the face of the three-decade war, extremists’ attacks such as the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, natural disasters like the 2004 tsunami, and a number of other forms of calamities including the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, a number of the challenges Sri Lanka faced post-Independence have emphasised one important challenge that is yet to be overcome: Ethnic rifts. Even though tensions between people of diverse ethnicities became a topic of discussion after the outbreak of the war between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Government of Sri Lanka, the reasons that led to the war, according to many, still remain untapped. Resolving these issues, among others, goes hand in hand with the country’s Independence, and no country where people do not feel free can truly be independent.
A country’s independence should not be limited to a mere word or historical event that is celebrated once a year; it has a great deal to do with how free the country’s citizens are. Every citizen, irrespective of his/her differences, should feel they are free and treated fairly, and that will allow us to rejoice in the Independence Sri Lanka gained through blood and tears. In fact, achieving national reconciliation could be Sri Lanka’s next biggest victory.
A lion and a song: Emblems of unity now hydras of alienation?
03 Feb 2021
A lion and a song: Emblems of unity now hydras of alienation?
03 Feb 2021
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