What is wrong with self-rule?

Sri Lanka Podu Jana Peramuna spokesperson Mahindananda Aluthgamage (left) – Pic by Lasantha Kumara

By Jayatilleke de Silva

Sri Lanka Podu Jana Peramuna spokesperson Mahindananda Aluthgamage was quite vocal in denouncing the Government for attempting to install self-government in the north and east through a new Constitution that would be introduced stealthily in the forthcoming months.

Before considering the legitimacy of self-government let us make a few preliminary remarks on the statement in toto. There are three points raised: One is that a new Constitution is being brought stealthily. Two, it would grant self-government to the north and east. Three it is to be denounced.

To be definite, no Constitution can be brought stealthily. Parliament by unanimous approval. It must come through Parliament and passed by it to be made public. As the public understands the Parliament unanimously decided to draft a new Constitution. Even those MPs in the SLPP voted for it. A proposal came up before the Steering Committee. It is not a decision but a set of proposals of diverse parties and groups. It is now public. It cannot be a secret document that Mahindananda speaks about. If he is in possession of such a document it his duty to make it public. Neither he nor anyone else who repeats the same charge, including truthful members of the Maha Sangha have done so. As such there is nothing to get excited or provoked about. It is time to keep a cool head and a rational mind.

Yet Mahindananda is an honourable MP. That means he is an honourable gentleman and has to be treated as such. We would not cast aspersions on his past conduct and presume he is honest and truthful for no Court of Justice has decreed otherwise. Hence, we would like to look at his charge that self-government for the north and east is dangerous and is treachery. 

Self-government is not a concept introduced by the present Government or its worthy predecessor the Yahapalana Government of 2015 or the so-called National Government with a jumbo Cabinet. It has been there in the political lexicon even prior to independence. The 13th Amendment to the Constitution already granted a measure of self-government to the above two regions, which was again combined into one by a decision of the Supreme Court. Provincial Councils have been in existence for over 30 years and Mahindananda and his party have been agitating for early elections to the PCS that stand dissolved. All Provincial Council Chief Ministers, including those that belong to the SLPP and the SLFP are unanimous in their opinion that the Councils need more powers. Hence, they too approve self-government to a certain extent. So, the difference seems to be in the degree of self-governance or devolution of power.

As the colour red is anathema to the bull in the ring so is devolution to the ilk of Mahindananada when on stage. The same goes for all those who stand for the hegemony of the Sinhala Buddhist community. They do not believe in the advice of the sages that “do unto others as you would like others to do unto you”. Instead like the Führer who wanted the Aryan Germans to be supreme rulers of the world they would want the Sinhala Buddhists to be the supreme rulers of this ‘dhammadeepa’. How ‘un-Buddhist’ and how ‘un-Sinhala’ it is in the context of our long cultural heritage of peaceful co-existence and harmony!

Since differences are narrower than they claim and are only in the degree of devolution there is nothing that cannot be discussed and agreed upon mutually as worthy of rational and intelligent human beings. There is no need to stoop down to the level of barbarians or animals and fight to death or to the last drop of blood. Are we as a nation capable of arriving at a compromise with dignity and honour? 

Mahindananda has also raised a question that most others in his party and even in the SLFP and even members of the academia and the Maha Sangha ask. What is the urgency of a Constitution? To the first question the answer became apparent during the brief six-week period following the violation of the Constitution by the President on 26 October. The need for a less ambiguous, more clear and modern Constitution to prevent such crises became both apparent and imperative then.

Further, can we ‘eat’ the Constitution, some ask sardonically. The reply to the sarcasm was also apparent then. Had the situation extended further the country would have completely arrived at a standstill with the Government’s inability to pay salaries of public servants, honour contract obligations, import foodstuffs and medicines among others, export our produce, etc. Then actually, we including our sardonic friends would not be able to ‘eat’.

None of the leaders of the SLFP and the SLPP or the vocal Maha Sangha have contradicted Mahindananda. Even the President has echoed his words. We would like to ask those who aspire to contest the next Presidential election to tell the public clearly and loudly whether they would introduce self-rule in the north-east and bring in a new Constitution for that purpose without beating around the bush? Or will they repeat their eternal hate-mongering slogans of ultra as well as disguised racism? Will they seek refuge in patriotism as a last resort as the scoundrels do by dividing the citizenry into patriots and traitors?