Friday, 16 January 2015 00:00
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“May God bless and protect Sri Lanka!” was the final message from Pope Francis – a fitting end to a whirlwind tour that captivated everyone from all religions.
Of course when it comes to unifying people, this Pope, perhaps more than any other, has managed to strike a universal note. He is lauded for all the right reasons. Since being elected as Pope, he has time and again proven his humility, gentleness and understanding; reaching out to billions of people who have sought for the best kind of leader – one who does not wish to lead.
Perhaps the best element is the Pope leads by example. He is direct and in being so allows others to be honest as well. Sri Lanka desperately needs this quality. Honesty is sometimes enforced in some aspects of local life. For example, honesty is perhaps the single main reason Sri Lanka is now governed by a new President. People craved honesty where corruption and nepotism reigned and moved to establish it. But honesty at individual level is a much harder task.
In this someone great needs to inspire, and who better than Pope Francis? Understanding the importance of his role, not just in reaching out to the 1.2 million Catholic population of Sri Lanka, but also to the Buddhists, Muslims and Hindus, the Pope lost no time in making sure he message was put out. Right from his first address at the international airport, the Pope sought to promote reconciliation, in all its manifold aspects.
The obvious point is of course the reconciliation between Sinhalese and Tamil communities that needs to take place. Despite the war ending in 2009, few would argue that significant inroads have been made on this front. The change of government has opened up the possibility of returning to a discussion on meaningful power devolution within a united country. This change has also provided the north with a civilian governor, moreover one who presided over the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), which opens up hopes of greater implementation of suggestions made in this important document.
Outside of the challenges Sri Lanka has to face on the international front with the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) investigation report to be presented at the upcoming Geneva sessions in March, the onus is really on internal progress. People-to-people connections were galvanised by the Pope’s visit. During his sermon at Madhu Church, the Pontiff was specific in pointing out that all people were capable of wrong but everyone was also capable of redemption. A more fitting observation cannot be found.
Emergence of hardline Buddhist organisations such as the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) has also wreaked havoc with Sri Lanka’s fragile reconciliation. Relations between Muslims and Buddhists were fractured by the Aluthgama and Beruwala incidents last year. Christian churches have also come under fire from the BBS, with both sides justifying their actions to their respective parties and spiralling violence to other parts of the country.
Empowerment of law and order is one effort that would go a long way to stopping these organisations. Implementation of long-delayed hate speech laws would also go a long way to reducing simmering tensions. It is time to take the Pope’s message seriously. Pope Francis spoke the right words – those that heal.
