Sustaining the minorities

Since independence the word ‘’ minority ‘’ was born, getting a stranglehold on Sri Lanka. Though G. G. Ponnambalam was clamouring for 50-50, it never ripened to support 50 / 50. We had an opportunity of resolving the suspicions of the minorities on a couple of occasions, one with Amirthalingam and the other with the establishing of the provincial councils, which never took off the ground.

Today, the prospective future government is vehemently announcing, that they need a 2/3, majority to undo the harmful contents of the constitution, to bring peace, solidarity and economic prosperity. How would any country reach it’s potential without the support of the minorities? Ironically, even if any future government obtains a 2/3 majority, history will repeat itself, like in 1956 when the ‘’ Sinhala only ‘’ was enforced, the minorities felt that they were deprived of their livelihood which eventually culminated into a civil war.

The rest is history. Senior politicians have not understood this reality, they are focused only on winning and winning by placating the majority. However, they are foolishly stating that they are not asking for the votes of the minorities, if they are laying any conditions. How could minorities survive under the majority hegemony? The shortcomings of the minorities have to be recognised and rectified, and that is how any country can reach it’s potential.this is a typical Sri Lankan majority, blind vision, which will lead the country into another conflict.this will create an opening for the upcountry Tamils, and the Muslims, who are now confined to pockets to demand for separate identities.

WALTER FERNANDO