Sri Lanka can learn from Malaysia, says envoy

KUALA LUMPUR: The Sri Lankan Government intends to emulate Malaysia’s steps in advocating the concept of moderation, taking the middle path and promoting it in the republic.

The Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Malaysia, K. Godage, opined that the concept is apt for Sri Lanka, which is entering a new chapter after the civil war ended in 2009.

He added that moderation is even more crucial for the country now, especially in terms of the Government’s efforts to reunite the Sri Lankan people and reconstruct the country.

“That is a tremendous step and we need it. I think there are a lot of lessons that we can learn from Malaysia,” he told Bernama here after a meeting with the national news agency’s Editor-in-Chief Datuk Yong Soo Heong, Domestic News Service Deputy Editor-in-Chief Datuk Zulkefli Salleh and International News Service Deputy Editor-in-Chief Ahmad Zukiman Zain.

Godage admitted that the almost 30-year-long civil war between the separatist militant group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE) and the government had socio-economically weakened the country.

“We have gone through a difficult period, and now we have to inculcate in the people’s minds that they are secure, that this (Sri Lanka) is their country and that they have a future together,” he added.

In September 2010, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had mooted the idea of a Global Movement of Moderation (GMM) during the United Nations’ General Assembly in New York.

Following this initiative, a conference on GMM was held in Kuala Lumpur in January this year.  The GMM was also incorporated in the communiqué of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in Perth in October last year.

“I agree with your prime minister in the manner in which he relates to this issue during the launching of the GMM; I felt that he spoke from his heart,” Godage remarked.

“I have also sent copies of the (Najib’s) speech back to the political parties in my country and urged them to read and share it,” declared Godage, who was a retired senior diplomat before he was appointed the High Commissioner to Malaysia early this year.

He said that he would advise the Sri Lankan government to set up an organisation to promote the message of moderation among its people.

“It is an important lesson for us, that we need to engage the people in a meaningful way and to spread the message that moderation is free from religious and political beliefs,” he stressed.

He admitted that he was impressed by Najib’s leadership and administrative style, evident in the 1Malaysia concept, through which the prime minister was promoting an inclusive nation-building among Malaysia’s multi-ethnic society.

“Najib has captured the hearts and minds of the Malaysian people, which is another lesson for Sri Lanka. This is something that we should embark upon. I personally believe that it will be a good move to introduce the 1Malaysia concept in Sri Lanka and promote it among our leaders and people,” he added.

(BERNAMA)