National Reconciliation Policy is a

Welcome Initiative

Devolution must go deeper into the local levels. The local

government institutions might be the best framework. It is
not only in large areas of provinces that grievances and
unevenness exist, but in localities of smaller areas that
can be covered by local government.

by Laksiri Fernando-May 14, 2017

( May 14, 2017, Sydney, Sri Lanka Guardian) The recent
formulation of a National Reconciliation Policy is a major step
towards the objective of reconciliation, approved by the Cabinet,
although we have not yet seen the full document. It is important
that the Cabinet approval came on the 2nd May, just eight days
before the Vesak day of this year. As predominantly a Buddhist
country, the Buddhist philosophy could play a major role in
reconciliation in Sri Lanka, if the right efforts are taken in that
direction.

The majority community anyway has a major responsibility to

offer the hand of friendship both to the Tamil community and the
Muslims, among other minority communities. The reciprocity of
those communities is equally important in making reconciliation a
reality and that is why the concept of unity should always be
attached to reconciliation.

Necessary Policy Areas

The following policy areas can be considered essential or

important in a national reconciliation process in any country. This
does not mean that all areas can be handled simultaneously.
Given the prevailing political conditions and resources available,
some may take more priority than the others.
1. Bi-partisan, constitutional/legal or Parliamentary approval of
a national reconciliation policy.
2. Implementation of devolutionary mechanisms to
accommodate minority/peripheral concerns.
3. Implementation of bilingual/multilingual policies in official
matters and in education.
4. Adoption of reconciliation education in school curricula.
5. Promotion of multiculturalism as a political culture.
6. Inclusion of ethic/minority sensitivity and representation in
the public media.
7. Flexibility or exemption from dress codes on religious
grounds.
 8. Affirmative action for disadvantaged groups.
In addition to the above general requirements, there can be
immediate specificities that needs to be addressed because of
past conflict/s or historical conditions. In the case of Sri Lanka,
those are enormous and largely related to the results of the
nearly 30 years of war. These are the killings, disappearances,
disabilities, psychological trauma, displacement, family ruination,
land alienation etc. The affected populations are from all
communities, but it must be admitted that the most
affected/suffering are from the Northern Tamils and then the
Muslims.

The danger however is that when a country is engaged (or

pressured) in addressing the past, and mostly intractable issues,
many of the other policy areas might get neglected or distracted.
What might be desired is a proportional balance between the two.
There should be more emphasis on the present and the future. If I
may quantify, one third of effort for the past and two thirds of
effort for the present and the future.

What Is in It?

If I understand correctly, the formulated National Reconciliation

Policy (NRP) has addressed many of the specific issues based on
the past reports of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation
Commission (LLRC), Udalagama Commission and the Paranagama
Commission. This is important because if the grievances persist
without addressing them, it is difficult to achieve reconciliation
under such circumstances.
Another grievance obviously is the heavy military presence in the
affected areas, which is also a matter to be resolved. Even this
can be resolved, through a formula developed based on (1) the
number of districts (2) the population of a district and (3) the
number of personnel required, based on the security risks of a
particular district. What needs to be ameliorated is the
overwhelmed presence.

The National Reconciliation Policy has apparently drawn from the

initiatives so far taken by the various government agencies and
ministries in ameliorating some of the above grievances and
beyond. In that sense, it has declared that the purpose of the NRP
is to bridge the gaps, coordinate the efforts or rather give a
policy framework for all the above. The present article in
addition to emphasising the above, wishes to open a brief
discussion on what were outlined as the eight essential policy
areas for national reconciliation.

Bi-Partisan Parliamentary Approval

Since a national policy is now endorsed by the Cabinet, it is

important that it goes before Parliament, sooner or later, for open
discussion and endorsement.

All available information points to the fact that the Office for
National Unity and Reconciliation (ONUR) has consulted many
stake holders, the government officials, provincial councils, civil
society, academics, youth, women and victims. However, there is
no indication that the political parties were consulted, although
the provincial councils represent some of these parties, if all
members were consulted. Among the list reported, the religious
leaders (sangha and clergy) also do not appear as a consulted
group. Be as it may, what is necessary to emphasise is the
necessity to adopt a bi-partisan approach on the matter of
reconciliation as much as possible, however much it would be
difficult in practice. Otherwise its success is not guaranteed in the
long run. Balancing of policies is also necessary to prevent a
backlash.

The efforts to formulate a New Constitution is a great opportunity

to incorporate basic principles of reconciliation and
multiculturalism into the fundamental law of the country. What
needs to be avoided, however, is the over-writing or over-doing
reconciliation in the constitution. Otherwise, approval at a
referendum might be in jeopardy. As I have been advocating in
recent times, a middle path might be the best.

Cooperative Devolution

Sri Lanka has provincial devolution under the 13 th Amendment.

There is a lot that can already be done within the existing system,
if necessary pollical consensus and realism could be developed.
Undoubtedly, there are areas where clarifications or more clear
demarcations are necessary (police, land, financing etc.).
Cooperative devolution might be the best framework for
reconciliation. It neither gives ivory tower conception to the
provinces, nor dictatorial power to the centre. When conflicts
arise, the matters should be negotiated and settled. And even
otherwise, the national government and the provincial councils
should act in cooperation, ensuring responsibility and
accountability to the people.

Devolution must go deeper into the local levels. The local

government institutions might be the best framework. It is not
only in large areas of provinces that grievances and unevenness
exist, but in localities of smaller areas that can be covered by
local government. The smaller and scattered minorities of
Muslims and hill country Tamils must benefit. This is also can be a
remedy for caste discrimination that is not addressed by many
national or provincial level reconciliation programmes and
structures.

Trilingual Language Policy

Implementation of a trilingual policy (Sinhala, Tamil and English)

might be the best policy for Sri Lanka. It can be ambitious. Rural
youth, men and women, should be equipped with all three
languages. In the medieval Sri Lanka, temples were the centres
of Shad Basha. Now it could be the centres of Thri Basha.

Investments by both private and public sector should be

encouraged even linked to small business development. The
language learning even could be enjoyable. There is a lot that can
be done through a proper language policy for reconciliation. As it
was advocated previously, a language revolution is necessary for
both reconciliation and development.

All efforts should be taken to conduct all public events in three

languages as much as possible and as necessary. The national
anthem can be sung in all three languages.

Reconciliation Education in School Curricula

The schools could be centres of reconciliation in two respects.

First is to allow Sinhala-Tamil-Muslim schools as much as possible
in areas where all three communities live. Second is to formulate
school curricula to promote reconciliation beginning with the
primary education. Based on the understanding of different
cultures and values of human rights, it could discourage
suspicion, intolerance and misunderstanding. The National
Institute of Education (NIE) has a special role to play along with
the National Education Commission in this endeavour.

This is undoubtedly a long-term project with teacher training and

text book writing. Universities and academics also could play a
major role in reconciliation and ethnic harmony. Assistance from
UNESCO should be sought.

Promotion of Multiculturalism

Promotion of multiculturalism could be an artistic and creative

endeavour. Art, music, drama (particularly teledrama), cinema
and literature (novels and short stories) should be utilized for the
promotion of multiculturalism. It should also be promoted as a
political culture. Sinhalese and Muslims should be able to contest
elections in the North, while Tamils and Muslims contesting in the
South. This is already happening in Colombo. Cosmopolitanism
should be an ingredient. Multiculturalism should be promoted
without threatening any culture, language, religion, customs or a
way of life in a particular area.

While the understanding between the Sinhala/Buddhist and

Tamil/Hindu cultures are historically close, there are apparently
deep-seated prejudices and misunderstandings about Islam.
Multiculturalism should make efforts to iron out these
misunderstandings. Religious leaders of all communities should
take part in the promotion of multiculturalism. The purpose of
multiculturalism should not be to separate different cultural
communities into their own spheres, but bring them together for a
united Sri Lanka.

Media Policy for Reconciliation

The public media TV, Radio and Newspapers could play a
major role in reconciliation. Often, they play the opposite at
present. The private media also should be encouraged for the
same end of reconciliation. In Australia, there is a special publicly
funded media organisation, the SBS (Special Broadcasting
Service) with TV and radio for the promotion of reconciliation and
multiculturalism in the country. There can be a similar service in
Sri Lanka.

Media is effective in reconciliation. On the matters of licensing,

there can be policy conditions preventing ethnic/religious
backbiting and for the promotion of reconciliation.

Respect for Religious/Cultural Dress

This particularly applies to the Muslim community in the country.

They should be allowed to dress as they wish. Restrictions should
not apply, like in some European countries. It is up to them to
moderate their attire suitable to necessary conditions. Dress
codes in schools and government offices or public functions
should be flexible to accommodate diversity.

Affirmative Action

Taking affirmative action for a specific (ethnic) group can be

controversial in still a poor and an underdeveloped country. In a
sense, all are disadvantaged, in some way or the other, under the
circumstances. However, there are clear (urban vs rural)
unevenness among regions. District quota system for university
admissions is one such scheme to address the situation, although
controversial and at times misused. Similarly, an income
threshold can be identified as a criterion for affirmative action,
particularly among the estate workers/communities.

In conflict investigations, caste discrimination can be identified as

a major cause of social disharmony. It is oppressive. Both in the
North and the South, socially discriminated caste groups
apparently had played a major role in rebellions/insurgencies.
Therefore, some form of affirmative action needs to be taken to
address this issue. In addition, there can be a special branch of
the National Human Rights Commission to address the caste
discrimination. These measures can go a long way in addressing
reconciliation in the country.
Posted by Thavam