Beginning of a new era

22 January 2015 05:52 am Views - 2898

January 9th was the beginning of a new era for Sri Lanka, domestically and significantly, also internationally. After my first week as the Foreign Minister and following my first diplomatic visit, I feel encouraged at the level of warmth, openness and goodwill shown to the new Government of Sri Lanka by an overwhelming number of representatives of the international community. I thank the many nations who have reached out to congratulate us, to invite us on formal state visits, and to wish us good luck for the challenging but riveting days ahead. I now also invite them to be participants and beneficiaries in our anticipated successes in the future.
 

"Our first steps as a new Government, have been to open our doors without  fear to all journalists and to replace the Northern Governor with a  respected diplomat. We have also begun the process of initiating far  reaching political reforms in Parliament regarding the right to  information, the 19th amendment, and the abolition of the executive  presidency which President Maithripala Sirisena has promised in his  manifesto and will fulfill in the coming months. "

Too long now, has a culture of paranoia and a debilitating fear psychosis gripped Sri Lanka, and for too long now have we isolated ourselves within a rapidly globalising world. Now as we open up to the world, and re-establish ties equally with all nations, we also look forward to the world opening up to Sri Lanka. Despite many election law violations, the misuse of state resources during campaigning as well as a last minute attempt at a coup-d’état, thanks to the determination and bravery of the Sri Lankan voters and the dedication and integrity of our armed forces, police, public servants and Election Commissioner, we were able to transit peacefully from what was daily inching towards becoming a military state into the democratic norms of a civilised nation. In this uniquely Sri Lankan concoction of the Arab Spring, instead of bullets, pellets and stones, Sri Lankans of all races, religions, classes, castes and creeds untied together as a single entity in a ‘rainbow revolution’ by collectively using the ballot box to make clear their determined stance against nepotism, corruption and oppression.

The challenge we face today is to rebuild our institutions, while maintaining without dilution or contradiction the principles upon which our campaign was developed, and to re-emerge into the global sphere as a key stakeholder in Asia and thereafter the world, as a nation committed to democracy, good governance, law and order and pluralism. Our first steps as a new Government, have been to open our doors without fear to all journalists and to replace the Northern Governor with a respected diplomat. We have also begun the process of initiating far reaching political reforms in Parliament regarding the right to information, the 19th amendment, and the abolition of the executive presidency which President Maithripala Sirisena has promised in his manifesto and will fulfil in the coming months. While the naysayers around us predicted chaos and instability, this unhindered progress within just a few days of celebrating victory clearly demonstrate that one of the oldest democracies in the world, is now open for business again.

 

"In this uniquely Sri Lankan concoction of the Arab Spring, instead of  bullets, pellets and stones, Sri Lankans of all races, religions,  classes, castes and creeds untied together as a single entity in a  ‘rainbow revolution’"

Embarking on our first diplomatic trip to India was symbolic of our intentions to restore a relationship that grew unacceptably and unprecedentedly strained under the Rajapaksa regime. Our closest neighbour and an ancient and cultured civilisation, India received us as if it was welcoming back after many years of absence a dear and old friend. I thank her diplomats, journalists and government servants, for the heart-warming reception. We spent three hours discussing our bilateral relationship in detail with the Indian External Affairs Minister, and committed ourselves to the early resolution of mutually problematic issues such as fisheries, while also acknowledging the increased opportunities for regional integration, connectivity and economic development which all accompany the restoration of favourable relations. As India emerges as one of the world’s foremost economic superpowers, we will extend our support and friendship to her, and after my visit with Prime Minister Modi, I am confident not only that India will take utmost pride in our successes and feel deepest sorrow for our grievances, but also that she will act wholeheartedly to support us in our difficult journey ahead.

Motivated by fear of war crimes allegations, the Rajapaksa regime continues to dispel unfounded rumours about our international allies and our fellow Sri Lankans living abroad, while attempting to fuel communal tensions locally. Our vision for Sri Lanka, is one of post-war unity, and this means appealing to the hearts and minds of our fellow citizens in the North and East, without compromising the integrity or security of the rest of the country. This means also reducing the cost of living, ensuring the freedom to practice religion, and eliminating corruption  while also constructing a meritocracy with streamlined, fair and efficient internal processes so we can accelerate development. These reforms in our political culture will ultimately benefit tourism, investment and local industry, so the common Sri Lankan man or woman, a majority of who are Sinhalese and who were critical in securing this change, will be able to reap the benefits. This government will take into account the interests and the history of long suffering minorities and address their needs as equal citizens of Sri Lanka. If the Tamil and Muslim people can trust our government to govern without discrimination and without neglecting their many grievances, then we can truly begin on the journey towards reconciliation and national unity. This will not be an easy task and calls for the demonstration of concrete actions that reflect our vision and resolve to achieve it. The lingering ghosts of suspicion, distrust and uncertainty created by the previous government in the minds of the minorities towards state actors will not be easy to banish.

I am privy to the collective sigh of relief that Sri Lankans are feeling all over the country as the fear and intimidation dissipates, even amongst the foreign service within my very own ministry, and signs of true reconciliation begin to precipitate. The 9th of January marked a very special day in the history of our country, and although our resilient island nation is relatively small, I hope the story of our people and their rainbow revolution is able to provide a beam of hope to the rest of the world. In the last few days we have seen our very own ‘Burma moment’,  where in a story similar to our own, decades long military rule and oppression were abandoned for the promise of democracy.

The effects of many years of state issued propaganda by the Rajapaksa regime to coerce Sri Lankans into believing the myth of an international conspiracy will not wear away easily, or without the informed and active leadership of politicians, businessmen, civil society, artists and the international community themselves. Making the congratulations and welcome of the international community visible to all those individuals who need to hear it the most in Sri Lanka, will go a long way in eroding some of the politically cultivated doubts and fear still felt by some Sri Lankans toward the international community.

Thus I sincerely hope in the next few challenging days that the international community rallies behind Sri Lankans, who fought against unimaginable odds and unbelievable oppression, and changing what many thought was written in the stars, to vote in conditions of great fear and uncertainty, despite the heavy and omnipresent misinformation propagated by the Rajapaksa propaganda machinery, and realise a miraculous victory for their country and for themselves. I hope the international community rallies behind us to help secure and entrench the progressive constitutional reforms that are part of this vision to make Sri Lanka an advanced modern democracy. It is our intention to participate constructively and in good faith on the global stage to become, this time without doubt, truly, the miracle of Asia.