{"id":97441,"date":"2020-01-07T17:47:14","date_gmt":"2020-01-08T00:47:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=97441"},"modified":"2020-01-07T17:47:14","modified_gmt":"2020-01-08T00:47:14","slug":"the-development-path-of-sri-lanka-needs-to-be-built-from-its-grassroots-based-on-its-buddhist-cultural-foundation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2020\/01\/07\/the-development-path-of-sri-lanka-needs-to-be-built-from-its-grassroots-based-on-its-buddhist-cultural-foundation\/","title":{"rendered":"The Development Path of Sri Lanka Needs to be Built from its Grassroots, Based on its Buddhist Cultural Foundation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dr. Daya Hewapathirane <\/strong> <\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n

Wholesome Buddhist norms and values form the basis of\nSri Lanka\u2019s uniquely indigenous Sinhala Buddhist culture. They were reinforced\nduring a historic period that exceeds 2200 years, from the 3rd<\/sup>\ncentury BCE. The strength of this cultural foundation was tested several times\nin the past, especially during periods of South Indian invasions and associated\ndevastation and exploitation. There were 17 ruthless South-Indian Dravidian\ninvasions in the past. European colonial powers used violent means to subjugate\nand exploit Sri Lanka during the 16th<\/sup> to mid-20th<\/sup> century\nperiod. In more recent years, Tamil terrorism resulted in widespread\ndevastation and misery in the country for about three decades. These periods of\nconflict and turmoil, caused untold misery to Sri Lankans, especially to her\nmainstream Sinhala community who account for 75% of the total population of the\nisland. In spite these violent confrontations, the nation stayed intact,\nwithstanding threats, perils and calamities, largely owing to the power and\npotency of the nation\u2019s Buddhist cultural foundation.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the past, the nature of development of the\ncountry\u2019s natural, human and cultural resources is reflective of long-held\ntraditional Buddhist principles of peaceful coexistence. It is reflective of\nthe integrity on the part of those who assumed leadership roles in the country.\nPromotion of virtuous and spiritual lifestyles among people has been a\nfundamental goal of the nation. Buddhist leaders of the past, both lay and\nordained, were in the forefront in furthering this goal. The nation\u2019s\nirrigation system developed in the past, with its extensive network of\nreservoirs and canals are considered, in modern times, as marvels in irrigation\ntechnology. In addition, the nation\u2019s astonishing ancient architecture,\nsculpture, art, literature and other forms of visual culture including the\nSinhala language and literature are living evidence of this nation\u2019s\nexceptional cultural heritage. They are reflective of the outstanding\nimaginative and creative powers of the people including their talents, skills,\nand foresight. The world recognition of the greatness of this unique Buddhist\nculture is reflected by the UNESCO designating our ancient royal sites as World\nHeritage Sites – Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Mahanuwara (Kandy), Sigiriya and\nDambulla, all built upon and strongly reflecting inspiration drawn from\nBuddhism. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buddhism upholds everything worthy and meaningful. It\npromotes peace, peaceful coexistence, and democratic principles in\ngovernance. It promotes human rights, development of individual and community\nvirtues and discipline in accordance with the pancha seela”. Respect\nfor the natural environment and sustainable and participatory development of\nresources and upheld in Buddhism. In addition, Buddhism strongly promotes\ntolerance of other faiths, religious and social harmony, and cordial relations\nwith other nations.<\/strong> Buddhist\nculture led to the evolution of a peaceful community structure. This provided\norder and stability to the respective communities in the country. Lifestyle of\npeople in a Buddhist society has been simple and uncomplicated.  It was a\nquality of life that moved at a gentle pace where people enjoyed a high degree\nof leisure and freedom. As part of a close-knit community, people felt secure\nenough to be themselves. In this sense, they enjoyed a remarkably high quality\nof life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tolerance and the enormous adaptability in Buddhism\nare qualities that have remained unchanged throughout Sri Lanka\u2019s remarkable\nhistory. With a down-to-earth philosophy of man in harmonious and cordial\nrelationship to man, at a very visible and conceivable level, Buddhists have\nnever stood up against any single man or groups of men in the name of Buddhism,\neither to defend or propagate the religion. That is quite a record for a faith\nwith a history of more than two and a half millennia. That was very much before\nthe time of the appearance of most of today’s great world religions. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minority Settler Communities <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prior to the arrival of European colonialists, the Sinhala Buddhist\nmajority and the minority settler communities \u2013 Tamils and Muslims in\nparticular, who made the country their home, lived together for centuries\nwithout conflict. The divide and rule policy of the British with preferential\ntreatment accorded to the minority Tamil community and Christians, led to\ndivisive feelings and polarization of the Sinhala-Tamil and the\nBuddhist-Christian peoples. With independence, the well-established, Western\neducated and economically well-off Tamil and Christian elite began to feel the\nerosion of their power, influence and identity. They felt threatened in the\nabsence of the preferential treatment that they enjoyed under the British. This\nwas the beginning of ethnic conflicts in Sri Lanka. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is a fact that, since the country gaining political independence in\n1948, for 72 years, ethnicity, separatism and divisiveness have dominated the\nthoughts of leaders of the Tamil community. This attitude not only hampers the\ncultivation of cordial relationship with the mainstream Sinhala community, but\nalso inhibits the development of a sense of belonging to the nation. Such a\nparochial attitude prevents the Tamils from assimilating   with the\nmainstream Sinhala community and becoming an integral part of the Sinhala\nBuddhist nation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Real Problems of the Tamil Community <\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tamils of Sri Lanka form a highly divided community. Assimilation is\nhighly lacking within this small ethnic community. Although forming a mere 15%\nof the total population of Sri Lanka, Tamils are a highly fragmented community.\nHistorically they are divided on the basis of caste. They are divided\nregionally, as Jaffna Tamils, Estate Tamils and Tamils of the East and Jaffna\nTamils considering themselves as superior to the others. Although during times\nof elections, it is common practice for Tamils to form an exclusively Tamil\nethnic voting block, making unjustified demands and always  professing\nseparatism, they are divided politically into several political parties \u2013 Tamil\nNational Alliance (TNA), People’s Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam\n(PLOTE), Eelam’s People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF), Tamil Makkal\nKootani (TMK) and Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO). These parties are\nfounded on ethnic lines and consist exclusively of Tamils. Tamils therefore do\nnot form an assimilated community in Sri Lanka and are not conversant with the\nbenefits of assimilation. Assimilation with the Sri Lankan nation is the only\nlasting solution to the Tamil problem, but that is difficult for Tamils who are\nnot conversant with the benefits of assimilation because they themselves are\nnot assimilated as community. It is difficult to expect Tamils to assimilate\nwith others, when they find it difficult to assimilate among themselves.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caste consciousness and ethnically founded\nseparatist standpoint prevent Tamil extremists from assimilating with the\nmainstream of the Sri Lankan nation. These attitudes are clearly unacceptable\nand unfeasible in Sri Lanka. They are incompatible with the Buddhist norms and\nprinciples upon which the Sri Lankan Nation is founded. It is time that,\nextremist Tamils and other minority ethnic and religious settler communities of\nthe island realize that Sri Lanka is the historic nation of the Sinhala people,\nand it is founded on Buddhist principles where non-violence and peaceful\nco-existence have been the hallmarks from ancient times. Rather than resorting\nto self-serving extremism and violence, the more realistic option for Tamils\nand other minority settler communities living in Sri Lanka, is to assimilate\nand unite as a single nation of peace-loving and dignified people. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity of the Nation <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sinhala nationals will not and should not tolerate any individual or\ncommunity who, whilst living in the Sinhala Nation and considering it their\nhome, deliberately misusing such a privilege by scheming and adopting extreme\nmeans or contributing to such actions, in violation of the sovereignty and\nterritorial integrity of this only nation of the Sinhala community. This\nincludes both direct and indirect efforts on the part of these extremist\nelements to carve out ethnic and religious enclaves within our country, merely\nbecause some of them had lived in specific places for extended periods of time.\nThese extremist elements with self-serving attitudes and objectives should be\nconsidered as traitors or enemies of the nation and should be dealt with\naccordingly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the patriotic and caring nationals of this island, especially those\nof the Sinhala community, irrespective of their religious affiliations, there\nis one moral law that stands above everything else, and that is to do\neverything possible to strengthen their Sinhala Nation and to curb the efforts\nof anti-national elements both local and foreign, engaged in violating and\nundermining Sinhala Buddhist national interests. It was with such an attitude\nand approach that enabled the nation\u2019s valiant Sinhala soldiers to wipe out\nanti-national, separatist Tamil terrorists who were hell-bent on destroying the\nintegrity of this nation.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Concerned Sinhala nationals will under no circumstances allow the\nsovereignty, the distinct territorial integrity and the all-pervasive Sinhala\nBuddhist cultural character of the island be subject to any form of disarray or\ndisintegration. They will not permit any force, internal or external, ethnic,\nor religious, to subjugate or undermine the integrity of the Sinhala Buddhist\nculture of this island nation. The present generation of Sinhala nationals has\na moral obligation to protect, preserve and promote the greatest of their\ninheritance, their unique nation, for the survival of their Buddhist cultural\nheritage and for the benefit of future generations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sinhala history is replete with valor and courage in battles against\noverly superior forces. The struggle against extremism and the looming division\nof this Sinhala island nation of ours demands our full national strength. Let\nall Sinhala nationalists rise to the occasion, forgetting for a moment their\n\u2018other\u2019 differences, and swear allegiance to the unity of this country by\ngiving unswerving support to the popularly elected Sinhala Buddhist President\nGotabaya Rajapaksa. His development initiatives since his ascendancy to power,\nand his policy statement recently highlighted in the parliament, have brought\nabout a renewed sense of loyalty and patriotism among concerned Sri Lankan\nnationals, particularly among the contemporary youth. This is a most encouraging\ntrend in the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Nation that shuns Extremism and Terrorism<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The average Sinhala person has nothing against anyone who wishes to shed\nextremist feelings and joining them to build a nation that is peaceful and\nprosperous, a nation which shuns extremism and terrorism. It is high time the\nTamil politicians realize the futility of promoting the losing battle of\nseparation on the basis of their ethnicity and other unfounded grounds. In all\ncountries in the world, minority settler communities are expected to integrate\nand assimilate with the mainstream community. This is well evident in countries\nsuch as Canada, Australia, USA, UK where Tamil immigrants form an important\ncomponent. Tamils should realize the benefits of shedding separatist and extremist\nviews by being a part of the Sinhala Buddhist nation. Forgiving and\nforgetting\u201d has been the attitude of its people, even to those who have harmed\nthem repeatedly from historic times, because its people are aware of the fact\nthat eventually justice and truth will prevail.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sinhala people want others who live among them and help build the\ncountry as one nation, a nation founded on noble principles of\nnon-violence, tolerance,  compassion, where peaceful\nco-habitation has been the cornerstone from historic times. Recent events\nin Sri Lanka clearly reveal the fact that the nation\u2019s patriotic people will\nnever tolerate and will necessarily take legitimate action against those bent\non undermining national interests, and the nation\u2019s founding Buddhist principles.\nThe Sinhala Buddhists have nothing against anyone willing to shed extremist and\nseparatist feelings and joining them to build a strong, peaceful and prosperous\nnation which shuns extremism and terrorism. Today the nation is fortunate to\nhave the opportunity to be led by a popularly elected, bold, patriotic and\ncompassionate President, who will under no circumstances permit racism and\nterrorism to ever raise their heads again in this land. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buddhist Culture:  Basis of the Nation\u2019s Development Path  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The development path of our country needs to be built from the\ngrassroots, based on its Buddhist cultural foundation. It should involve the\ndevelopment of strong local economies in which producer-consumer links are\nshortened and cultural values are respected and peaceful coexistence in harmony\nwith the environment and all diverse people are assured. Moving in this\ndirection appears to be the appropriate way to solve the whole range of serious\nsocial, economic and environmental problems faced by the country today.\nUltimately, we are talking about a spiritual awakening that comes from making a\nconnection to others and to nature. This requires us to see the world within\nus, to experience more consciously the great interdependent web of life, of\nwhich we ourselves are among the strands. In Sri Lanka, economic development\nmust be placed against the wider background of the need to develop a\nwell-rounded personality, and a happy human being. In the “Mangala\nSutta”<\/em> and the “Sigalovada Sutta”<\/em>, the Buddha has\nsaid that the happiness of the average person depends on their economic\nsecurity, the enjoyment of wealth, freedom from debt, and a blameless moral and\nspiritual life. In a number on contexts, the economic factor is linked to a\nwider relationship to the dhamma\u201d.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Daya Hewapathirane <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Email:\nDaya.hewapathirane@gmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dr. Daya Hewapathirane Wholesome Buddhist norms and values form the basis of Sri Lanka\u2019s uniquely indigenous Sinhala Buddhist culture. They were reinforced during a historic period that exceeds 2200 years, from the 3rd century BCE. The strength of this cultural foundation was tested several times in the past, especially during periods of South Indian invasions […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[101],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-97441","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-dr-daya-hewapathirane"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97441","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=97441"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97441\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=97441"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=97441"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=97441"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}