The New Fracture-Line in Political Thinking in Sri Lanka
Posted on September 3rd, 2018
R Chandrasoma
Fractures mark discontinuities that are fundamental and almost impossible to bridge. As in the physical world, in politics and its ideological underpinnings, there are irremediable divisions that are best described as ideological ‘fractures’. In the early days of Sri Lankan politics, the Marxists and their supporters spoke confidently of the ‘Revolution’ that would move our land into a new phase of social and political well-being.
The basic idea was that there existed a harmful social barrier that was more than a mere political division within a society of free citizens – the Capitalist class hell-beat on making money and the enslaved working class of poor citizens. This ‘fracture’ was supposed to be radically exorcised only through a healing revolution in the structuring of society – the dictatorship of the so-called Prolitariat.
It is arguable that a similar ‘fracture’ is now emerging in an evolving political scenario in this country. On the one hand we have a group broadly described as Sinhala Nationalists who are pridefully loyal to the notion of indigenous authenticity and regard the wholesale assimilation of Western Norms and Values as a disastrous threat to our authenticity as a Nation-State of historical standing. They see the heightened involvement of foreigners in the life of this country as a long-term threat to our uniqueness as a cultural species.
They are largely Buddhist and see the the protection of Buddhism as the touchstone of good governance.
Ranged against these patriotic nationalists are those who call themselves ‘modernists’ and who are vociferous in their denunciation of ‘Sinhala Nationalism’ which they see as a divisive – even destructive – force that not only thwarts all attempts to establish interracial harmony but also pushes our country back to the days of mediaeval despotism. That this opposition has almost won the day is evidenced by the high-profile arrest and imprisonment of a leading Bhikkhu renowned for his perfervid nationalism. We have reached a time when the Prime Minister of this land – and the Party he leads – are, seemingly, in the forefront of the New Anti-National Agenda of Action that sees the humbling of the Sinhala Buddhists as the prime target.
September 3rd, 2018 at 8:32 pm
It is nothing new.
UNP, after Senanayakas were fully geared to destroy the values which this Island nation had for 1000’s of years. JR initiated it. Premadasa could not read it properly while being busy with building “Gam Udawa”s. Lalith and Gamini would have been nationalistic leaders… but the “FORCES” behind this Anti-Nationalistic stand of UNP got rid of them and made the way for Run-nil to take over.
He has been trying to destroy this nation slowly but surely. CFA in 2001, and millennium City betrayal were his two successful projects at that time.
Luckily for Mother Lanka, that changed with MR’s coming to power in 2005.
But it took some time for the Anti-Nationalistic “FORCES” to take over MR’s GOSL and take a similar destructive path. He was not selling the country similar to Run-nil but he was allowing all detrimental things to continue including influx of ethanol, glyphosate, illicit drugs and destruction of national assets like Vilpaththu, Sinharaja, and heritage sites in the East to hold onto Muslim votes.
That was not enough for the Anti-Nationalistic “FORCES”. They successfully delivered the regime change project in 2015 and got rid of MR and brought back the master blaster of destruction.
The Fracture line which RC described was always there. But there was no voice and strength to the weaker side who were protecting the national heritage of this Island.
There was some hope with the rise of Gota. But it is no more from my view. MR has highjacked it.
We are back to square one!!
September 5th, 2018 at 2:29 am
Our political fractures are all the work of India and Indian imperialists and Indian Colonial Parasites.
The Marxists like N M Perera were financed by Indian Colonial Parasites like Captains. Their capitalists were the few Sinhalese who had few cents compared to Indian parasite business people.
Nanasara another henchman of India financed by Indian interests.