Are we doing our part to mend torn hearts?

By Lughadarini Yogaraja

Sri Lanka, a beautiful island which is also known as the land of smiles and warm hospitality, was marred with ethnic strife which it endured for a staggering three decades.

The Sri Lankan civil war was, at its core, a struggle for territory and power, planned and led by a violent insurgent group which the Sri Lankan Government reacted militarily to, trying to defend all its citizens. Sri Lanka unfortunately saw several riots such as in 1950s, 1970s, and 1980s in which the Tamil community suffered. 

These riots are seen as one of the root causes in which ethnic identity and national identity in the country have not gone hand in hand. No community will feel safe if there is a riot targeting them and such events can lead to the birth of terrorists.

After three long decades on 18 May 2009, Sri Lanka ended the terrorism of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), also known as the Tamil Tigers. A beginning of a new era of peace, national reconciliation and development began. 

However, for many of those in the north, east, the Sinhala border villages which suffered under terrorism and many places around in country, where the worst of the war was experienced, harmony cannot bloom when their scars remain unhealed. They are fighting a silent battle which only humanism can understand and heal. Humans can be earth angels. The young generation can be that set of human angels on earth. Some say that one particular group won while the other lost, but do they know that in the battleground all are the losers? 

War is a disastrous entity. This is the reality. It ends lives. It ends young lives. Instead of living and leading lives beneficial to the country, humans die. No one is born a terrorist. We must create a future where no one becomes a terrorist.

In the past three decades we lost countless Sri Lankans; parents, their children and many their spouses. Thousands of mothers are now single parents carrying a lot of weight on their shoulders. Children lost their source of love. Their dear “Amma and Appa” or “Amma or Thaatha” are no more. They are now forced to live alone. Every day they yearn for that love which they will receive no more. Many parents, whether in the north of south watched as their sons and daughters took up arms. Many citizens lost their beloved homes in which their childhood memories and simple joy and happiness were enshrined. 

I have heard adults say that there was a time where we in Sri Lanka our country, never defined anyone by their religion, class, caste or race nor their looks but now are we sometimes over emphasising our identities? During riots and war people had to leave their homes or shops and run away. Some of these were fully destroyed but the unfading memories on their past cannot be taken away.

Like a Pandora’s Box being opened a wave of struggles followed after the war such as displacement from their land, economic deprivation, psychological trauma, vulnerability to sexual violence and exploitation. The immense pressures of increased economic responsibilities, social stigma, patriarchal attitudes, the collapse of traditional support structures and a damaged the social fabric of the people of the north and east. There was immense hidden sorrow in the South too and in border village areas where Sinhalese civilians were killed by terrorists.

The time has come when all human beings everywhere in the world should take immediate and effective steps to curb the menace of terrorism from this world. We must educate our young generation against the atrocities of terrorism. We must encourage peace by developing more tolerance among fellow human beings. Peace within the mind and between people is the birth right of man.

Harmony and peace has to be achieved between different parts of the world both on national and international platforms. 

A united Sri Lanka has been a dream for everyone. When I was younger and whenever I am asked to write an essay in school under the topic ‘My Country’ there had been few lines that can I never forget to include and that “Sri Lanka is a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic country governed by the peaceful Buddhistic principles followed by the majority of the population and where all Sri Lankans live in peace and harmony”.

As a youth I understand that we may face a challenging hurdle to take the risk of dialogue relating to the topics of peace and security. However we must continue to build and reconcile Sri Lanka from its deep and divided past by listening to one another and hearing and valuing their perspective of others enabling more growth. Therefore, let us reflect on our core values and build the united Mother Lanka with a stronger foundation on sustainable peace, prosperity and love. This is what the ancient civilisation of this country was famous for.

It is high time for us to take a moment and think: Are we all marching in the correct direction? Are we doing our part to heal the injured and mend the torn hearts? Are we helping them fight their silent battles?

(The writer is a 20-year-old Sri Lankan Tamil citizen living in her motherland and working for peace and unity.)