EDITORIAL - Act now before it is too late

9 June 2014 07:00 pm - 0 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

ust as the prophetic Pope Francis in a dramatic new Pentecost initiative held prayerful talks in the Vatican with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, Buddhist and other religious leaders in Sri Lanka need to play a more active and effective role in conflict resolution on the ethnic and other issues here to bring about social justice.

Though the Israeli-Arab conflict was one of Apocalyptic proportions with prophets of doom predicting it could be an endtimes scenario, the conflicts in Sri Lanka are so grave that they cannot be left in the hands of party political leaders or even the all-powerful Executive President.

More than five years after the end of the war in May 2009 the ethnic conflict is far from resolved with Tamil Nadu’s hardline Chief Minister Jayalalithaa Jayaram calling on the Narendra Modi Government to move a resolution for the United Nations to conduct a referendum in the Northern and Eastern provinces in Sri Lanka.

The security forces fought long and hard - with thousands being killed, permanently disabled or injured to achieve the victory of May 2009. Since then Government leaders have been playing politics with the victory and the External Affairs Ministry is messing it up further through press release diplomacy. Sri Lanka is at the international cross-roads once again. We won the war but we appear to be in grave danger of losing the peace while political leaders are continuing to play politics in an attempt to fool the people. That is why we are urging the Mahanayake Theras and other prelates, with the assistance of the other religious leaders to get actively involved in finding a just and peaceful political solution.

The Ven. Athureliya Rathana Thera last Tuesday launched a movement to recreate a ‘pure tomorrow’ in Sri Lanka. He said he was doing this as a Buddhist monk and not as a leader of the Jathika Hela Urumaya. While highly qualified professionals presided at the head table, in the audience were Opposition UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, at least two Cabinet Ministers and members of other political parties. The meetings of the ‘pure tomorrow’ movement are to be held every Tuesday in a bid to pull Sri Lanka out of the political, economic and moral mess.

According to the Political Editor of our sister paper the ‘Sunday Times’, President Mahinda Rajapaksa is deeply concerned about the continuing revolt by two UPFA partners, the JHU and the National Freedom Front of Minister Wimal Weerawansa. After last Thursday’s Cabinet meeting, the President reportedly told SLFP Ministers to stay back for another meeting and told them they would have to obtain his permission before attending meetings organised by UPFA partners. He was apparently referring to the ‘pure tomorrow’ movement of Ven. Athureliya Rathana Thera.

Political leaders have earned for themselves a terrible reputation for corruption and fraud, deception and hypocrisy, the breakdown of the rule of law, the culture of impunity with the virtual collapse of democracy. If the political leaders do not allow religious leaders and other respected social justice advocates to play a major role in settling the ethinic and other conflicts, then the consequences for Sri Lanka might be worse than the destructive war we experienced for 30 years. The Government must act now before it is too late. Or is it already too late?

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 0

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

EDITORIAL - Act now before it is too late

Comments - 0

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

‘Spike in blast fishing’ poses renewed threats to Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystems

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Most Viewed in News

Street food vendor arrested for verbally harassing foreigner

SL on alert on possible genocide allegations by Canada

New Visa procedure implemented

Gota fires back at Cardinal, rebuts allegations

Racing event tragedy leaves seven dead including eight-year-old child

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

MIRROR CRICKET

Is Chamari Athapaththu Sri Lanka’s greatest cricketer ever?

Athapaththu back atop ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Foreign powers intensify surveillance on Presidential elections as strategic interests take centre stage

New uterine loop for monkey birth control

Sajith avoids reception hosted for Iranian President

Do not be afraid to use weapons, Minister Alles tells police

Dates confirmed for 78th Bradby Shield

SLAS appoints independent committee for investigation

Pakistan lose key players for last two T20Is against New Zealand

Is Chamari Athapaththu Sri Lanka’s greatest cricketer ever?