Reconciliation after reshuffle

The Cabinet reshuffle came and went and the Yahapalana Government now has three years left to deal with the consequences – presuming, of course, that things don’t go south when the memorandum of understanding between the UNP and SLFP comes up for review in August this year. 

Many an op-ed has already been penned on the wisdom of changing up some of the more prominent ministries in the Government, with particular emphasis on the Ministries of Finance and Foreign Affairs, and what course the Government will take with regard to its development agenda from now on is, at this point, anybody’s guess. It is no secret that relations between the two constituent parties of the so called National Unity Government have soured, and it’s more likely than not that Monday’s reshuffle was merely a political exercise aimed at putting the increasingly divisive Yahapalana house in order.

Of real concern, however, is the Government’s reconciliation program and how it will move forward sans the former Foreign Minister, who played a key role in the UNP-SLFP coalition’s reconciliation efforts. Some quarters have expressed concern that Mangala Samaraweera’s departure could mark the end of the road for the country’s reconciliation project, as concentrated as it was around the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Samaraweera has a long track record of being a peace activist, and amidst criticism and labels of treachery, the Matara District MP has stood his ground resolutely on the matter of ethnic harmony. Some, however, believe in his new capacity as Media Minister (handed to him in addition to the challenging Finance portfolio), Samaraweera will be the ideal person to whip up public opinion on bring a lasting solution the national question.

That this development comes against a backdrop of renewed tensions between the Sinhalese and Muslim communities is cause for even greater concern. Extremist elements are running amok again, disrupting what’s left of the harmony between communities, threatening to render the decisive end to the three-decade armed conflict that was brought about through great sacrifice utterly meaningless. The impunity enjoyed by these racist elements during the previous regime, one would’ve thought, had ended with the 2015 elections, but it turns out that law enforcement forces are still finding it hard to bring the culprits to book.

The unconstitutional, illegal communal violence and incitement of such violence is recorded on video and widely shared on the internet, leaving enough evidence for authorities to take action. There is simply no excuse for not putting an end to this menace. For too long have these elements been threatening to destabilise the country with their hate.

Sri Lanka is facing a looming debt trap, and the economy is on the verge of a crisis and the last thing the hapless populace needs is another armed conflict thrust upon them. Now that the face of the State’s reconciliation efforts have been assigned another set of responsibilities, it is up to the Government to reassure its voters – a majority of whom are peace loving citizens – that it’s committed to the cause to win the peace.