Sri Lanka is a beautiful island that can boast of ancient glory and a rich heritage. It is a multi racial and multi religious country where the Sinhalese form the majority and the Tamils the minority For many centuries the two major communities had been living in harmony and peace. It was in 1958 that communal disturbances broke out, marring the goodwill that existed between the two communities Since 1958, there has been discord and communal disturbances became commonplace. There were attacks and reprisals in which hundreds of precious lives were lost. Unscrupulous politicians bent on stabilising their own power began to fan the flames of communal passion. Historians too were a cause for this sad state of affairs. The Elara-Dutugemunu episode has been misinterpreted with the malicious motive of creating animosity between the two communities. Newspapers too have helped to create hatred among the Tamils and the Sinhalese. The chief reason for this racial prejudice is economic instability and mutual distrust. Higher education being the proud possession of the Tamils, it is no wonder they held many key posts in the public and private sector This beautiful isle of ours became a troubled paradise. Communal violence broke out in 1983 and again in 1995. Noreligion condones violence. Violence will only beget violence. "Not my enmity does enmity cease. It is only bylove that enmity ceases" said Lord Buddha. This unwanted civil war has been dragging on for nearlythree decades Large sums of money that could otherwise be utilised for development projects are spent on arms and ammunitions. This has seriously hampered economic development. The tourist trade too suffers a lot. Fear seems to grip the people be they in the North or South.
Sensible men of vision and wisdom among both the c should try to convince the masses that racial discord and ani will lead us nowhere. It will only pave the way to bloodshed andt economic devastation. The two communities must learn to co- exist within a federal framework, giving due respect to each others religion and language. The ruling party and the militants must realise the gravity of the problem and come to an amicable negotiated settlement on the ethnic issue. It must meet the reasonable aspirations of the Tamils. With the mediation of Norway this is certainly possible if both parties are genuinely interested in the welfare of the nation. If the peace process pro success, Sri Lanka will certainly be on the forward march towards economic development!
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