King Charles, the Commonwealth and SL

The United Kingdom and all its dominions in particular were agog yesterday with the spectacle of the coronation of their new king, Charles III. The British public, facing cost of living issues, rising inflation, a recession and strikes, still love the pageantry – and the monarchy, warts and all; never mind the expenses from their purse.

At the king's late mother's coronation in 1953 (then yet as Queen of Ceylon), she wore a ceremonial gown which included the flowers of all the territories where she reigned (though not necessarily ruled), a creation which was ‘a shimmering haze of colour’. This time, the only reference to Sri Lanka was its name embroidered on one of the 56 leaves of a tree depicting the Commonwealth membership on a screen that will ensure the king's privacy when he is anointed with holy oil on his hands, breast and head.

Sri Lanka was also once upon a time a monarchy, with kings great, mediocre and indifferent. At one time it had more than one king and kingdoms moving from place to place throughout its ancient history until it all ended with the advent of the European conquerors and finally the fall of the citadel of the Kandyan kingdom in 1815. The whole of Sri Lanka was absorbed into the British Empire by 1818.

In return, the British gave this country a form of parliamentary democracy in the middle of the last century, and in 1978, the then independent Government introduced a French-style Executive Presidency which many justifiably argue was a modern-day absolute monarchy given the wide powers afforded to such an office by a Constitution.

On May 22, 1972, the country broke away from the last vestiges of colonialism by declaring itself a Republic, but within the Commonwealth. That historic occasion of severing the umbilical cord with the United Kingdom this month 51 years ago is not even commemorated unlike in other countries.

On President Ranil Wickremesinghe's initiative, the Commonwealth Secretariat wrote to King Charles and a meeting was arranged with him for Commonwealth Heads of State and Heads of Government attending the coronation. The official version of the Commonwealth Secretariat is that King Charles assumed the role of symbolic head of the Commonwealth having inherited it from his mother. However, they are quick to add that the position is not hereditary and the next Commonwealth head will be elected by the leaders of the 56 member nations. That is bound to be a fun election.

The current Chair-in-office of the Commonwealth is the President of Rwanda. He is not symbolic, neither is he potent. It is well known that the Commonwealth agenda is overwhelmingly determined by the Governments of Britain and the 'older' members of the Commonwealth – the 'white Commonwealth'. The relevance of the British monarchy in the group's agenda, let alone from the world stage itself, remains a question.

While the new king clearly shares his mother's love and affection for the former colonies (many Commonwealth membernations became independent, sovereign states during her reign), his influence even in what is known as His Majesty's Government is constitutionally limited. His ability towards even gentle persuasion directing British Government policy towards Commonwealth member-nations cannot be counted on – unless, he adopts a more meaningful role as a modern king which he has shown by making changes to the age-old traditions of the coronation ceremony.

Under his own name, His Majesty's Government leads the charge against Sri Lanka, a fellow Commonwealth member, at the UN Human Rights Council, and elsewhere. Clearly under pressure from domestic constituencies and its voter base, His Majesty's Governments still believe they have oversight over a country they ruled for over one and half centuries, even though that rule ended 75 years ago. The UK’s actual contribution to the Commonwealth itself, financially is not worth a penny, and politically, is to whip members to fall in line with their worldview and domestic compulsions.

His Majesty's symbolism may fall well short of what is expected from His Majesty's Government towards the Commonwealth.