Is Devolution an Option for Domination?
Posted on June 23rd, 2009

Prof. Hudson McLean

This question has but a single simple answer……..NO!

Devolution will create Domination in the most cruelest and wicked format. Devolution will create the Ghetto syndrome.

Lets face the facts.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Sinhala, whether one likes it or not, is the majority in Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Just like in Great Britain, the English are in majority compared to Scots, Irish and the Welsh, and there has been no cry for separate independent States due to discrimination, if any,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  caused by the English majority.

Discrimination is an inherant part of humanity! Globally. In Black, White, Yellow, Brown. In Christianity, Hindu, Buddhist, Islam, Judaism.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  No matter what or where, factional unrest is created due to human quality of Racism & Prejudice causing Discrimination.

The illusion of the so called Sinhala discrimination against the Tamils in Sri Lanka was initiated by the Colonial Britain in their quest to “Divide & Rule”.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The Tamils in the South are actually well fed and rule the commerce and business world, without any complain from the Sinhala majority.

Now that the LTTE Terrorists have been wiped out, before any resurgence of any remnant splits and leftovers, the Defence must be further strengthened by the permanant presence of the military throughout the country.

Zero Tolerence! The Operative Word, against any whiff of any act which might create the slightest civil disturbance.

The North and the East must receive an incentive to create a proportional share of the Sinhala and Muslim amongst the Tamils.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Jaffna, as the Northern Capital of Sri Lanka must have a solid Sinhala presence, as well as in Trincomalee, the North Eastern Port, a strategic location.

Parts of the North East should be declared as Duty Free Zones for manufacture for labour intensive industries. Foreign investors should be invited to participate in the creation of the much needed infrastructure and employment, by offering long term Tax Benefits.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Both Jaffna and Trincomalee should be allowed to by-pass the Colombo infrastructure to offer easy access to manufacturing logistics, by upgrading Jaffna into an International Airport and Trincomalee as a commercial Port.

All Sri Lanka Diplomatic Missions should have a dynamic Salesmen, selling Sri Lanka – An Investment Opportunity!ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  A Paradise for Rest, Recreation and Recuperation.

Please do appoint, individuals who are able to express in clear format in decent English!
Dressed in a dark blue suit with black shoes, and not looking like a Christmas Tree with multi-coloured lights!

There should be a strong Defensive presence in Jaffna and Trincomalee, as well as in the Mannar shore-line, to demonstrate that Sri Lanka means business. Safety and Security is of paramount interest if Sri lanka is to rise after the storm..

The Eastern coast should be leased out to foreign investors who wish to develop the Tourism, maritime leisure activity, fisheries industry, under the protection of the SLDF.

The military expertise should be turned into a multi-pronged instrument.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  The military would benefit much more if they are involved directly with the civilian infrastructure in the development of the North East.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Their engineering skills, combined with trained leadership qualities could direct the civilian involvement in the development, whilst keeping the Military Nose & Ears to the ground.

The SLG should encourage self-help programmes and invite foreign governments to take an active financial and technical supporting programmes by creating goodwill simultaneously.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

One major point demonstrated by the President Mahinda Rajapaksa government is that the “Can Do” attitude, Initiative, Intelligence, Innovation par Excellence is right here in this ole Island!ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  This must now be applied to the development of the country…..Fast Track!

The Sri Lankans I know are creative and innovative by nature.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  Given one problem, they will create a hundred optional solutions.

And Devolution is NOT one of them!

PS: I enjoyed reading several wonderful articles on the subject of Devolution, in LankaWeb……

Why we should reject Devolution under the 13th Amendment.
Dr Sudath Gunasekara. President Mahanuwara Senior Citizens Movement- writing from U.S.A. 15.6.2009.
Devolution! A solution for Tamils or a problem for all
Herold Leelawardena

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2 Responses to “Is Devolution an Option for Domination?”

  1. Raj Says:

    As always, dear Sir, I agree with everything you say in this article. Thank you Sir!

  2. Zane. Says:

    Actually the UK has devolved power from Westminster with the establishment of a Welsh and a Scottish Parliament. It is only the majority English which do not have their own Parliament. This devolution has come about without radical demands for separate states as both Scotland and Wales are acutely aware that they would be financially worse off independent of the Union. ie. more capital flows to them in terms of central funding than is generated by taxes collected in the respective countries. Scotland has a separate legal system and education system. There is also a Parliament in Northern Ireland. As you so rightly state, there is no threat to British Sovereignty through protecting the individual cultural identities of Union even though power has devolved from the Central Government policies of the Thatcher era.

    The Parliaments of the respective countries of the United Kingdom fulfil an important role in self determination in regional issues without any threat to overall Sovereignty.

    However they all have a cultural identity of which they are fiercely proud and both have a native tongue. Welsh and English are official languages in Wales and all public documents, road signs etc, are bilingual. Gaelic is still spoken in Scotland although the official language is English. In N.Ireland Gaelic and English are official languages.

    Whilst I take your point that xenophobia and racism exists to varying degrees in many cultures, it by no means makes it acceptable or desirable. Normally the title of proffessor confers a certain level of wisdom and as a ‘teacher’ a level of responsibility, so to infer that domination and discriminatin is a natural state of affairs and is therefore acceptable is folly. The reason we have equal opportunity employment law and laws against racism is to protect minorities who too easily can be marginalised if xenophobia and racism are given free reign. The sort of racism that has dominated Sri Lankan politics since independence. It is time to stop blaming the British for all of Sri Lanka’s ills and divisive policies.

    Only an inclusive, non-secular approach which guarantees the interests of every Sri Lankan is going to create a sustainable peace. A totalitarian militaristic state is not one which enamours the confidence of foreign investment Sri Lanka desires. I believe that the delay in approving the IMF loan reflects the very real concerns of the World Bank and the direction in which Sri Lanka is going.

    Your recommendation for the military role in redevelopment is that of a totalitarian state, not that of democracy. The military should be responsible for national security. They cannot even administer IDP camps, so how do you expect them to manage the redevelopment of the North and East of the country?

    I look forward to seeing where the investmentment comes from, having to negotiate with a military junta and build these tourist paradises on mass graves. There will not be a lasting peace without social justice but there is a very real opportunity for one if Sri Lanka chooses.

    The ‘colonisation’ of the North and East will be a very interesting to see how sensitively this is addressed. At the moment Sri Lanka seems to be following the Tibetan model of their Chinese partners.

    You recommend the wholesale leasing of these lands to foreign investors. Will they be allowed into the IDP prisons to negotiate these leases with the owners or will there be some form of compulsory purchase or perhaps they will be just taken and the original populations permanently imprisoned?

    Will the tourists have to travel past the interment camps, new homes of the displaced as they travel to hotels built on the old ones?

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