Insight By Sunil Kumar

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ If democratic principles are ensconced in the Constitution ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lankan which it is, there is no provision for any member of parliament, cabinet minister and the like to resort to strong armed tactics sullying the nation’sƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ political cultureƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and democratic principles and as refered to in a recent editorial “seems to be one that is empowered by gun-power more than the power of people” to which it needs to be addedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  “while somewhat amazingly the Chief Administrator apparently turns a blind eye to certain incidents deemable as attrocities or is blissfully unaware of what goes on in his own backyard which of course given the true personalityƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  and awareness of the nation’s leader is somewhat inconceivable , inadvertency through no fault of his ownƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ notwithstanding.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ However, and alarmingly so, in the wake of the elimination of Tamil Tiger Terrorism there is a new reality that seems to be infiltrating the environment of Sri Lanka where trigger happy, armed individuals some in an official capacity and others not,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ seem to be waging their own gunfights at the OK Corral or so it seems where the OK appears to be an inference to the leniencies shown by the top guns of the Administration and the corrals, of indiscriminate venues whether official or notƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and a point to ponder upon towards the future of Sri LankaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ from many perspectives including the influx of tourists waning, a nation surrounded by fear and uncertaintyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ which are ominous signs for the Nation in rebuilding and restrictions to progress not all that speculative.

Tougher laws on weapons, heavy penalties for violators and a complete clamping down of every form of criminal activity regardless of what clout some of them might have seems imperative in Sri Lanka today lest the problems faced in this respect turn the nation inoto one of anarchy. Student and Trade Unions as well as opposition political parties shouldƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ not be expempt from this either as there is no need for trigger happy, armed to the teeth types running amok in a country which was once reputed for its tranquility and peace which although seemingly returning after the terrorist wars sems to be re-surging in a different perspective, that of internal thuggery and criminality!

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ One cannot shove under the carpet the stark realities of what goes on almost on a daily basis as criminal activities, personal vendettas ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ politicians and big businessmen who at times even have linksƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  gangs and underworld criminals take place sometimes ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  plain public eye without conscience or remorse. The perpetratorsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of theseƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ activities are sometimes by-passed andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ overlooked based on the influences which protect them as some analysts believe perhaps with valid reason and could come back to haunt all the good that has resulted from the war against insurgency and terrorism which the administration and the armed forces quelled in admirableƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ resolution but would be to a degree worthless if it implodes into a new kind of terrorism devised from within as officialdome turns into authoritative attrocities and a cause for disdain and condemnation!

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It has been correctly observed by many independent sources who are courageous to comment on it through the media thatƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  manyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ brutal crimes committed by the underworldƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  does come to light but ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ thoseƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  who instigate the criminals ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ towards commitingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  them are seldom identifiable as they hide behind the safety of their official capacities and political clout.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ There areƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ cases of extortion, indiscriminate ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ killings, disappearances and may other forms of criminal activity reminiscent of LTTE attrocities during their day with little difference towards eventualities, liabilities and ramifications where the authorities need to get tough or face the condemnation of the global community all over again!ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ TheƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  questionƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  needs to be asked – ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Have there been any lessons learned through the hounding of Sri Lanka by the UN, USA, Britain and Canada albeit baseless and unfounded and how can they be confronted if the very infrastructureƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  of the nation’s environment is polluted by what goes on today in shameless perspective and tolerated?

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ An editorial in InfoLanka has summed up veritably in one instance and just one example amongst manyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ as quoted that “ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the truth is that, if the investigation comes closer to the mastermind, the suspect dies mysteriously, and the case files are gutted in a sudden fire. This is the predictable conclusion, quite common to all the stories that have strings attached to those who sit on higher echelons, whose demonic sides people know very little of.” which is part of what transpires in what the world sees as a Resplendent Isle,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ where only man is vile perhaps as he cuts into its resplencency through criminal activity !

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ One needs no rocket science to ascertain that the recentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ t Mulleriyawa shootingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  at a local polls booth between rival political factions,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ resulting in the death of presidential adviser Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra is a prime example of the criminalities refered to and under review.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It was noƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ isolated incidentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  and one of continued attrocities by those responsible,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ with a screen towards their protection where on Boxing Day the nation as well as theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ worldƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  was shockedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ by the death of the British National who was shot dead in Tangalle and his girlfriend, brutally raped byƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  suspects linked to the ruling party and a chairman of a local District Council which augurs very positively towards the accusation that attrocities in Sri Lanka linked to the power block of the ruling party are painfully visible regardless of who sanctions them overall and beyond a doubt the responsibility of the President and his team of Administrators whether inadvertently or not!

The trend needs to be officially motivated towards a safer Nation and those responsible for continued criminal activityƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ brought to book surely regardless of the rhetoric of some who are cocky enough to be arrogant in justifying their own contributions towards what many term as Sri Lanka’s shame!!