CLASSIFIED | POLITICS | TERRORISM | OPINION | VIEWS

Open Letter to Brother Anandasangaree: Time is Long Past for Smoke & Mirrors!

OaO Asithri

Dear Brother Anandasangaree, I think it is highly arrogant of you to be demanding a "federal" or "Indian model" system for Sri Lanka. Where is the analysis that shows the comparative study of various such "models" and their pros and cons vis-à-vis adoption for Sri Lanka? What is good for India, Australia, or Canada is not necessarily good for Sri Lanka as those countries have their own idiosyncrasies that are not, remotely, similar to Sri Lanka's own.

Now speaking frankly, my dear Sri Lanka brother, I think it is time we put a lid on this "Indian model" undiluted-garbage for good! Here's my view…one can scream and holler, but India is NOT Sri Lanka and we Sri Lankans WILL NOT adopt an "Indian model." India, possessing its hundreds upon hundreds of ethno-cultural-linguistic-religious groups (not to mention sub-groups there of), alone dictated what India is today. This is not the case in Sri Lanka and as such, I must tell you candidly that any SL Tamil who screams for the "Indian model" is viewed with incredulity at best and deep suspicion at worst.

There have been many calls in the past too, to adopt an "Indian type federal model" and this call from you is nothing new. In fact, most Sri Lankans have always viewed such persons with deep suspicion as holding a desire to annex Sri Lanka with the Tamil Nadu state in India (Translated: "Tamil State" where 65 million Tamils live).

No, as far as we Sri Lankans are concerned, any Sri Lankan irrespective of the hue or breed who screams for the "Indian model" should vacate Sri Lanka and settle down in India. That way, they can have the "real thing" as opposed to clamoring for a replica that will never be.

So, let's try this one more time...

Sri Lanka is for "Sri Lankans" and NOT for anyone else. We have not fought this bloody and horrific terrorist war (brought about by "divisiveness" as the primary culprit) to come out as an ethnically fragmented nation, and not "Sri Lankans" anymore.

As such...devolution of power (rather "empowerment" as I prefer) to the citizenry at selected unit level to carry out local governance without let or hindrance from the "center" is what's required and not devolution based on any ethnic identity. Now naturally, the northern province being dominated by Tamils will see a local governance unit that is predominantly Tamil in composition, but so be it as that is a purely incidental and cannot be perceived as divisive (as the criterion for devolution in the first place was not based on ethnic factor).

Dear Brother Anandasangaree, if you think like a "Sri Lankan" I am sure you agree it is long past now for smoke & mirrors.

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