LONDON : A ‘Delegation’ consisting of senior Buddhist monks from different Nikayas (Sangha for Better Sri Lanka or “SBSL”) and members of the Global Tamil Forum (“GTF”) had various engagements in Sri Lanka from December 7 to 15, 2023. This was continuation of our fruitful dialogue in Nagarkot (Nepal) in April 2023, where both parties arrived at “Himalaya Declaration” to facilitate our engagement and advocacy efforts among different communities in Sri Lanka. The “National Conversation” was officially launched in Sri Lanka and handed over to many religious, political and community leaders, and discussed during these meetings.
Promoting interreligious understanding and harmony was fundamental to this peace building initiative and therefore the engagements were primarily focused on religious leaders – including the Mahanayaka Theros of all four Buddhist chapters, the Nallai Atheenam, the Archbishop (Cardinal) of the Archdiocese of Colombo, Bishop of Jaffna, Bishop of Colombo representing the National Christian Council and leaders of the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama.
From the outset, we recognised the importance of the political process to achieve the envisioned outcomes. Hence, the Delegation met with the President, the Leader of the Opposition, all leaders of the national political parties including SLPP Party Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, key political leaders representing Tamil, Upcountry Tamil and Tamil speaking Muslim communities, and past Presidents and former Speaker of Parliament involved in reconciliation efforts.
Mahinda Rajapaksa was met as the leader of a party with substantial support base among the majority community and due to the fact that his support base was built with the assistance of Buddhist temples and as the primary means of securing and holding onto positions of power in the country.
Both, the senior Buddhist monks and GTF recognised a true and sincere effort to initiate a ‘National Conversation’ must engage all – whether the leaders of political parties with substantial support base among the majority community or leaders with limited parliamentary seats in the minority communities. We made every effort to meet with those who made a kind gesture by accepting our joint invitation to hear about our work to date and the launch of the National Conversation. We appeal to that handful who didn’t meet us during this engagement because of their scepticism of our joint initiative to judge us by our actions.
The Speaker of the Parliament invited all 225 MPs for a discussion with the Delegation in the Parliament Complex. We also engaged with several important civil society members from North, East and South, representatives from the ‘Aragalaya’ and key media institutions and personnel from all three languages. Delegation also met with the most relevant diplomatic community based in Colombo including India, US, UK, Switzerland, Japan, Australia, South Africa, France, Canada, ICRC, UN.
The leaders and opinion makers we engaged during this one-week period were over a hundred, and the media coverage in all three languages was exceptional. The support, encouragement and blessings we received during every one of those meetings were inspiring and well beyond our expectations.
This is an initiative exclusively between two groups, SBSL and GTF with no involvement of any external political stakeholders or countries. The aim was to start the ‘National Conversation’ to promote understanding between all communities by removing the suspicions and fears plaguing them for decades. For example, from the Tamil perspective it was the Buddhist monks who always thwarted any attempt at political resolution, whereas the majority community (in the recent past) felt the influential Tamil Diaspora was bent on destroying the country and preventing its progress. So, a dialogue between the two ‘apparent antagonists’ seemed logical. The hope is such a process, when multiplied across the country, would create an environment conducive to address many current and past issues including the national question – a task repeatedly failed due to the inadequacies of the political classes and other main issues and concerns affecting all communities. The timing for this initiative has been questioned in some quarters. We recognise that 75 years of mistrust cannot be reversed in 7 days. But we firmly believe considering the extreme political and economic challenges the country was, and is, undergoing and the new awakening these conditions have led to, present fresh opportunities to reconcile and the National Conversation to start in earnest.
The ’Nagarkot Dialogue’ dealt with many complex issues with multiple stakeholders, and therefore the process could start only with sections from both sides that had progressive outlook. Further, it was imperative that the process remained confidential until it acquired sufficient momentum to withstand potential efforts to weaken it – such has been an established practice internationally. In addition, preparing the ground was an important requirement for successful launching of this initiative, hence the timing of last week’s many engagements, including all of the heads of various religious groups, most of the key political stakeholders and others. Furthermore, lawfully initiating a ‘National Conversation’ of this magnitude between communities meant that certain protocols, local traditions and laws have to be followed, including formally engaging the Head of State.
The Declaration at its core is a framework agreement between SBSL and GTF that articulates – a shared vision for a better Sri Lanka for all its peoples. We believe this is a guiding document that a vast amount of people from all communities can identify with, hence, serve as a useful starting point for a national conversation on peace building.
Ultimately it is the national conversation among people and communities in Sri Lanka, and the political processes available to them that can lead to political outcomes in the Country. Our joint initiative is limited to facilitating such a process (led by senior Buddhist monks and GTF) and creating a trusting environment where the political outcomes are likely to satisfy the aspirations of all citizens and communities.
Despite its broader focus that avoids concepts and terminologies that are considered controversial by any one community, the ‘Declaration’ pragmatically captures the issues that are important to all communities and particularly for the Tamil community. It promotes pluralistic character and equal citizenship in the country; calls for devolution of power to all the provinces (without referring to unitary state), including full implementation of the existing constitutional provisions; and stresses the importance of accountability measures and complying with international obligations.
We are very much encouraged this initiative and the declaration articulating for pluralism, power devolution and accountability have received the approval and blessings from almost all important stakeholders in the Country, including from the chief prelates of the Buddhist chapters. These are truly remarkable outcomes that could potentially transform the Country for the better.
The declaration isn’t set in stone. The “National Conversation”, which we believe have kick started in earnest, will be shaped by the people who participate in them – GTF, along with senior Buddhist monks and other religious clergy will be one of many parties to this Conversation.
We have noted some of the criticisms aimed at this initiative from some Tamil groups in Sri Lanka and in the Diaspora. Our humble view is that these views are grossly misplaced. However, we are very much encouraged by them expressing their views. It is important that all views are heard and listened to by each other and all parties contribute and shape the National Conversation which has now truly begun. Both, the senior Buddhist monks and GTF are clear that only promoting National Conversation to facilitate a good and durable outcome, rather than prescribing a particular solution or outcome.
GTF will continue to articulate to keep Sri Lanka under international scrutiny for its past and present human rights and international and local laws violations.
In the context of such misunderstanding expressed by some in the Tamil community, we want to make it crystal clear that this is not a negotiation process with the government or other leaders of the country for a political solution. It is the elected Tamil leaders on the ground who should undertake it at the appropriate time. By fostering more understanding between religious and ethnic groups, we believe when the real stakeholders negotiate a permanent solution to the national question, there will be less opposition to scuttle the outcome and support our vision of better Sri Lanka for all.
SBSL and GTF are conscious that we are groups with limited base of constituents. We acknowledged this in the joint statement that we issued last week (attached herewith for convenience). At the same time, we are aware that this initiative is unique and the first of its kind for Sri Lanka. Our immediate focus is on different religious communities and religious leaders, with a view to establishing inter-religious working groups in all twenty-five districts. As the national conversation progresses, the intention are to also initiate similar discourse within the various diaspora communities in different parts of the world.
We are certain that with progress achieved on promoting inter-religious understanding and harmony, many people in Sri Lanka and in the Diaspora will start to feel optimistic about the future trajectory of the country.
The support and encouragement shown by most of the key stakeholders in Sri Lanka, in the Diaspora and in the international community have given us confidence to take this initiative forward with much vigour and purpose. We also want to extend our thanks to all the diplomatic missions for their kind words of encouragement and wisdom.
