Nip it in the bud or the writing is on the wall for another 70 years

Last week a shocking email was circulating via social media where its content has shocked many peace-loving people and the business circles of Colombo. This was received by local and international chambers and has gone viral. 

The content is by a sick individual whose racist views have been sent to chamber members, but it brings into disrepute the majority Sinhalese community of Sri Lanka in the eyes of the global community and fellow citizens of this country. 

Below is the substance of the quoted email:

“Tue, Jul 9, 12:01 p.m.

Pls ask your friends, relations, associates to stop patronising …… business

10% are rich because of other 90% sell to them, do business with them to make money

Do not buy from them, success depends on depth you desire

Within our dreams and aspirations, we find opportunity

Keep well and all the best.”

All this time, such hate speech was done by selfish and evil politicians joined by a group of religious thugs pretending to be the messengers of religions. The people of this country are aware that each race and religion around the world has extremists in different forms and shapes. The terrorists of ISIS certainly have made an impact on our society and are testing how the people are reacting to their actions. 

Indeed, people are anxious, sceptical and are in fear of what they have experienced through terrorists wearing ethnic and religious hats. That is where learned and educated people must play a greater role in bringing society into a calm environment where problems can be solved in a rational manner with patience and tolerance to build trust. 

A responsible society need to understand the objectives of ISIS-brainwashed local Islamic groups and, in the past, the LTTE. Kneejerk reactions on fellow citizens targeting through ethnicity/religion should be condemned by all decent social networks, bashing all the Sinhalese, Tamils or the Muslims for the sins of few extreme people will not solve any problem.

If society accepts such people, the Sri Lankans may see the writing on the wall for another 70 years to come as we did for the past 70, divided in all possible ways and bury the Sri Lankan identity and be a third world society whilst the rest of the world is talking of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Indeed, it is shocking when a business leader who claims to have a PhD and have led global business chambers behave in such a shameful manner. I am sure all chambers which want transparency from Government will condemn such acts by members attached to their institutions as these kinds of attitudes can fracture the country much more than any other threat.

It is the duty of the Sinhalese people to live by example as the majority race of the Sri Lankan community. Then only will we make ourselves clear and win the hearts and minds and trust of the smaller ethnic communities and get their support to eliminate extremists and terrorists.

Indeed, the vast majority of the Sinhala community are not racist but sometimes driven by ignorance and emotions due to extremist element voices promoted by media. This was displayed in 1994 when a hate campaign on a racist line against President Chandrika Kumaratunga was started but she continued to speak of an inclusive society. People of this country listened to her and voted her with a thumping majority which even Mahinda Rajapaksa could not get after the military winning the war in 2009. 

The only way forward for this country is unity with a Sri Lankan identity. All readers as citizens must understand that they need to crush such extreme idealism from all factions of community if we are to build a different nation.

A concerned Sri Lankan