COLOMBO : One of the biggest mistakes we as Sri Lankans have made and continue to make is failing to understand the fundamental difference between the state and the government.
The state belongs to the nation. It is made up of the people, the institutions, the constitution, and the sovereignty of our country. It is supposed to be permanent and above politics. The government, on the other hand, is only a temporary body , elected for a limited period of time, accountable to the people, and expected to manage the affairs of the state during its tenure.
The government comes and goes. But the state must endure for our generation and the next.
Those in government have a dual responsibility: one as politicians advancing their party’s vision, and the other, far more important as custodians and trustees of the nation. They are entrusted with protecting and strengthening the state, not weakening it to score political points.
But when politicians forget this duty, and when citizens, activists, and even intellectuals blur the lines between state and government, the consequences can be dangerous.
If a government falls, another can be elected. But if the state collapses, the damage will be deep, far-reaching, and sometimes irreversible. We’ve already seen glimpses of it, a collapsed economy, struggling state institutions, unrest in our universities, failing healthcare, laws delays and a breakdown in law and order. These are not just political failures. These are failures of the state.
Let’s be very clear, It is possible and necessary to oppose the government while still supporting the state. That is what responsible citizenship looks like. You can criticise policies, expose corruption, and campaign for change. But at the same time, you must also protect and strengthen what belongs to all of us, the state.
Ex. Administrative reforms , educational reforms , legal reforms , revenue reforms , economic reforms and SOE reforms.
We must also move away from the mindset of “they did it, so we’ll do it too.” That kind of thinking will only keep us trapped in a vicious cycle. Two wrongs do not make a right. Just because a previous government acted recklessly or vindictively doesn’t justify repeating those mistakes. Similarly just because those are in government today opposed reforms doesn’t mean others are obliged to opposes irrespective of merits.
That is how institutions get weakened, democracy gets eroded, and trust gets destroyed.
If your heart and mind are in the right place, your priority must always be the country, not the party. When you put the country first, your judgement will become clearer, your conscience will stay intact, and your actions will serve a greater good.
Until we understand this and more importantly, live by it , we will keep taking one step forward and two steps back. It’s time we break that cycle.
We may disagree on policy. We may belong to different parties. But let us agree on one thing: Our loyalty must be to the nation above all else. Only then can we truly rebuild Sri Lanka.( The writer is the former minister of foreign affairs in Sri Lanka)
