The source of Sri Lanka’s crisis lies in a “Stolen History”
March 3rd, 2008
By Dr V Ramakrishnan
International Crisis Group’s (ICG) recent report on Sri Lanka is another repeat of a standard interpretation of Third World conflicts as no more than internal tribal war. In Sri Lanka, its to be seen as a contest between Sinhala Buddhist Nationalism and Tamil Nationalism, the former with exclusive claims to a unitary state and the latter for a partition of it. “Hardening nationalism” as the cause and “stymieing peace solution” as effect is the crisis identified.
And worse, the ICG recommends “stronger international efforts” and the need for “international actors” with an agenda for immediate “state reform” and a program for “good governance”.
[King Parakramabahu-pic by Wathsala Vithanage]
Sri Lanka had experienced international (western) intervention way back in the sixteenth century. The Portuguese traders arrived in their ships with guns and canons and had themselves invited to intervene in settling domestic disputes in Kotte and Jaffna. They were followed by Dutch and English traders. All in all it was to be five hundred years of continuous colonial rule and therein lies the roots of the present crisis, The people had no role to play in the shaping of their lives. And yet the ICG sidelines this phase of history to remain focused on internal tribal wars-source of the crisis. Hence the skepticism over its recommendation for “stronger international efforts” and a role for “international actors”. Does “stronger” means more arms twisting of a small country pauperized by five centuries of colonial rule? Does presence of “international actors” amount to armed intervention with guarantee of a further phase of colonial rule-either direct or proxy? The source of the crisis lies in a “stolen history” (The problem in Sri Lanka may also be true of the entire Third World once subjected to centuries of colonial rule).
[Statue of King Sangiliyan in Jaffana-pic by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai]
It is in the British period of colonial history the greatest damage was done. And this is spilling over today.
A people living in communities (Kudi Sanam) were governed by custom. Property was held in trust inherited by women (dowry) as head of family to guarantee succession of ownership and culture for generations to come. There were Kings too who administered justice respecting people’s custom. Community level leadership allowed people’s participation in administering their affairs and lead meaningful lives. This was the home grown conception of the state. Participatory democracy was the exemplar of good governance. This method of civil governance suffered a drastic change when the British gained jurisdiction over the whole country.
The Colebrooke Reforms of 1830 sees the Governor appointed by the British Monarch and his team of bureaucrats gaining unbridled power in a centralized system of administration. The districts were to be administered by Government Agents as near chieftains. They in turn appointed chosen natives as Village Headmen thus displacing community level leadership for good.
Military laws introduced in England after the Norman Conquest were soon transformed as Common Law to govern the colonies. So was it to be in Sri Lanka as well. Property as trust was to make way for private property backed by a formidable law enforcing agency.
Vacant lands were seized under the Crown Lands Ordinance, parceled and sold cheap to officials and other British speculators to found tea and rubber estates (This was preceded by an intensive deforestation programmme that was to damage rural agriculture and the country’s food heritage). This along with the needed infra-structure arrangement was to be managed by a powerful mercantile sector glorified in school text-books as the new ‘agricultural export economy’. And the London trained pioneer historian G C Mendis would recommend it as ‘modernization’.
It is this colonial outfit in its entirety that was slipped through to be the core provisions of the Soulbury Constitution on which independence was to be conferred. It gains legitimacy sanctified by the fundamental law of the land. This then becomes the “Unitary State” referred to as the bone of contention between the Sinhala Buddhist Nationalism and Tamil Nationalism and the core of the crisis identified by the ICG. The unitary state would be vacuous of content if the hard core of an unaccountable bureaucracy and the law enforcing agency and the laws it was aimed to enforce were to be removed from it.
It is this colonial outfit vested with centralized exercise of power that was declared overnight as a ‘nation state’ on 4th February 1948. But the colonial loot is yet to continue, now seen as legitimate profit on investment by nationals of the once metropolitan state. And worse, our street stalls are now stacked with applies, oranges, canned fish and a great deal of consumer trash, while Sri Lankans’ only hope is to export its trained and untrained labour and depend on expatriate remittances to afford purchasing imported goods dumped in our markets.
On top of this otherwise vacuous nation state is crowned a parliamentary Westminister style of government to present a facade of democracy to lend legitimacy to what is to go off as a sovereign nation state. And what goes at the surface is what the ICG would identify as the crisis to warrant international intervention.
Whatever vestiges of democracy left’t President. For all intents and purposes he made himself as powerful as the Colonial Governor-winding up Village and Town Councils, strengthening the bureaucracy and the law enforcing agencies, the judiciary became more pliant and parliament ceased to be supreme. This new arrangement was also to go off as the unitary state the ICG refers to.
Perhaps the greatest damage of lasting impact was in the field of education introduced in 1830. This bureaucratic system continues till today. The monks and the pundits as links to the country’s 2000 year long cultural heritage were to be permanently sidelined. The children of a cosmopolitan group given land grants to farm taxes and found mini-dynasties in different parts of the country were to be given a grammar school type English education and other children a sub-standard training in the native languages. And now we have International English Schools guaranteed a firm grip in professional courses at the universities. It is to be the same old syllabus of the colonial ear at our schools and universities and the vast majority of youth are left stranded.
In sum, five hundred years of colonial rule sees a country de-stabilized. Charismatic leaders who attempted to repair the damage done were either sidelined or killed. The country lost a prime minister and president. Almost all elected Tamil leaders were killed. Youths rising in revolt in the South and the North were killed in their thousands.
[Sigiriya Frescoes-Pic HA]
Lacking in effective leadership it becomes easy to steer a destabilized country into protracted war. The apparent diversity and agenda conflicts of the domestic actors seen in its totality would transform it into a neatly orchestrated programme aimed to invite outside intervention.
But then at what cost? It certainly is more than the head count of those killed and maimed, of children orphaned and women widowed, of thousands evicted from their homes in search of food, shelter and safety. Sri Lanka is to join the rest of third world as misery sets in to deprive native peoples of their sense of dignity. All this tragedy is not of their asking. These are people in search of settled lives.
As participant observer and himself a victim and a refugee now far far away from the land of his ancestors one could only ask that this war be stopped. Once stopped, the entire edifice hastily constructed to promote war would collapse like a house of cards.
Stopping the war is easy, if only the big ones selling arms are persuaded to stop it. The world would then be ready with a broader front to fight climate change.
Would the ICG give a helping hand?
[The writer now domiciled in Australia was the Dean, Faculty of Arts and Culture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka and sometimes visiting Professor at the Benares University, India. In his early days he was an active trade unionist and member of the Ceylon Communist Party]
Entry Filed under: transCurrents Commentary
16 Comments Add your own
1. Bala Chennaiah | March 3rd, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Marxism/communism is no different than any religion. It’s the worst.
2. wagesh | March 4th, 2008 at 12:18 am
Great , appreciate the letter. We are eating and womitting what we were given by others. Still, they are trying to teach us “civilization”.
3. Dayan | March 4th, 2008 at 1:54 am
Dr V Ramakrishnan is correct in the History of Sri Lanka.
People of Sri Lanka, Sinhala, Tamil or Muslim will gain if MR V Pirapakaran and Mr Rajapaksa decided to settle the issues without foreign intervention. The Sri Lankans have failed to look at the wider picture.
First of all, the Sinhala Leadership need a courage to lead the people without the fear of losing the power. Statemanship and Leadership qualities are important for this to achieve.
What they have to do is few simple military decisions?
1. Remove the threat of Occupation with military or gun point.
Tamils are allowed to lead the normal life without the presence of Armed Forces. ( Withdrawel of SLA except Trinco Harbour) Sinhala people are allowed to visit and settle in the North & East without the support of the GOSL.
The cadres of LTTE will continue to provide security for the North & East with the support of GOSL. Tamil Law and Order, Police authority will continue to deal with the society.
2. Elections for the North & East held separetly and the members still working with the Sri Lankan parliment.
3. Tamil local parliment is to be set up and the Finance, development and education fuctions will be maintained by the North & East parliment. The North & East Parliment will have the ability to deal with foreign aid and investment without the interference of GOSL and the support of the GOSL.
4. Statue Law to prevent any more racial hatred and political advancement by individuals and groups.
I hope, the country will have the chance to stay togather and prosper within 5 years, if both VP & MR decided to implement the above matters without the International Communities.
4. Dingiri | March 4th, 2008 at 4:47 am
Interesting to compare former colonies with countries that were not colonised by western powers. e.g. Thailand, Korea, Japan, China and Iran. However Nepal wasnt colonised either but has the same inherent problems as the colonised world. I dont think its just colonialism that is the issue. The population of some countries have exploded in recent times. There are too many of us chasing too few resources and that combined with poor government is the main contributer to conflict.
5. yogi | March 4th, 2008 at 5:55 am
Very good article, will our politicians can read in english
or to be translated in native language.
Can you think , Mr Bandaranayake was oxford educated,
but told the sihalese study in sinhala in order tob in power
now we all suffering.
please publish this type of article in Sinhala transilation
then only our politicians can read.
6. nilame | March 4th, 2008 at 6:49 am
Well said. Thank you writer. The would be international policeman, the West , have done enough damage to us. Stop interfering! is the call of the day.Put your houses in order before putting finger into others’.
I wrote earlier “Ugly,old, wrinkled, the so called Lords, talk only about things that you are familiar with……….”
Nilame
7. Renuka | March 4th, 2008 at 7:18 am
Dear Prof,
As you described, it is bad that ICG giving their general interpretaion (contest between Sinhala Buddhist Nationalism and Tamil Nationalism) to describe the conflict in Sri Lanka. What international crowd knew about our history. According to my understanding (as a singhalese), we two groups co-exist in our country without any religeous descrimination. (Any person who visits a buddhist temple also will have an oportunity visit Dewala and worship hindu gods (Ex:Bellanwila vihara). At the same time we both buddhists and hindus visit Kataragama not only to worship God Kataragama, We all visit Kirivehera too).
I always see the problem in Sri Lanka as bad politiks and narrow minded people who took arms to solve problems (Terrorists). Leaders of both groups will benefited through the war and their children will have an oportunity have good education in abroad. Poor youngsters are fighting and dying to save above mentioned leaders.
I highly admired your way of interpretation of the conflict in Sri Lanka and people like you must take more resposibility to develop the awareness of internationals before they make the situation worse.
8. samuel | March 4th, 2008 at 7:31 am
The statue which has been touted as that of Parakrama Bahu cannot be his.A king is never dressed in this fashion – bare upper body. What is he carrying ?
Sigiriya Frescos prove that sinhala women in thase days, including those of royal birth, went around “topless” !
Arms trade will go on and noone can stop it.
All this pontification does not offer any solution.
War arises in the minds of men.
If their thinking is flawed, war is inevitable. War is also an extention of politics & politics is a necessary evil.
There was peace when we were a crown colony – everyone achieved according to their abilities and opportunities.
I long for those days.
9. asa | March 4th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
A pretty good observation of the colonial period and would have been excellent if not for the post-independent ending of it. Observer got mixed up with events!
It would serve no purpose to blame the British. It is history. The country has been independent for the last 60 years and was ruined only during this period. It is a disgrace to the leaders that they cannot govern a country of 17 million people in a decent way whereas the neighbouring India with over 1000 million people can govern itself and prospers; ditto for the small island of Singapore.
The root cause of the problem in Ceylon/Sri Lanka is the misunderstanding of the noble teachings of Buddha by the Sinhalese masses as indoctrinated by the monks, leading to a ‘racist’ us and them attitude. Otherwise how could they be sending their sons to occupy, kill and humiliate the people in 100% Tamil land. State and religion is potent mix.
Incidentally, it is solely because of the ‘old’ British period connections that the Diaspora in the English-speaking world and elsewhere will rejuvenate the Tamil land once stability is achieved by peace or piece.
You will know that it took a long time for Australians and an enlightened leader to give an apology to the Aborigines. It will happen in Ceylon as well.
10. Sankili | March 4th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Colonialism ended 60 years ago. It is far past time for Sri Lankans to blame colonialism for all their problems. There are many other countries that were colonized and have still succeeded in achieving peace and economic growth. Why can’t Sri Lanka do the same?
11. Argonot | March 4th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
All nations at some point in their history have experienced intervention.For example Alexader,Genhis Khan, Ancient Romans, Moghuls,ottaman and others have fought wars and conquered other nations . They have left their marks on the conqeured nations like the latter-day conqeueres,British,Portugese and the French. This is not the right forum to write an essay on ancient history. I am sure the readers will understand the relevance of my response.
People like Dr Ramakrishnan,Dayan Jayatilleke and other fellow travellers are obsessed with Marxsist/Leninist theories and tend to blame all current conflicts and economic failure on the past colonial rule and western imperialisn (whatever that means) . They will, when it comes to their own-self will gladly take advantage of western hospitality and move to these countries.
Every conflict is due to the culmination of lack of respect and recognition of each others inherited culture,relgion and so on. This is true of internal racial/relgious conflicts and external political conflicts.
All nations need intermediaries to resolve conflicts. No nation can survive on its own, we are all inter-linked and connected in some form or other. Nations history is not static, it is dynamic and changes occur all the time and will continue to do so for centuries to come.
Who could have predicted that migration would have taken place on a such a large scale from Afro/Asian countries to the west during the last 50 or so years. I am sure Dr Ramakrishnan’s grandfather could not have forseen that his grandson will take full advantage of excellent english education brought about by colonial rule and migrate to a western nation. ( I consider Australia as western by all standards) I wonder how the aboriginal citizens who have been deprived of economic progress and whose cultural heritage has been decimated view the recent Asian immigrants !!
What is important in Sri Lanka is how do we resolve the current conflict and not to dwell in the past and blame each other and rest of the world except themselves for the current dilema.
We need international intervention, mediation and sanctions etc where necessary. Only a fool will venture to predict what Sri Lanka would be like in 100 to 200 years time. What is important is to create a peaceful atmosphere where ordinary people can get on with their lives and the rest will take care of itself.
12. Subra S.Massey | March 4th, 2008 at 7:12 pm
Hello Doctor,
How ever much we are educated we still live in the colonial era. Sir we have to forget about the past and move forward and build our nations. I live in America and I see it differently. No country will give you arms if you don’t ask for it. All arms have to be paid for. There is no free lunch in this world. Some body has to go to work and produce goods and services, and when they work so hard to produce it they are not going to give it free.
We cannot blame our neighbours or any one for our internal quarrel. It is human nature to always look to blame some one even if it is my own mistake. With age and maturity we tend to look inside ourselves for the reason.
When the British left, they left us in an immaculate condition, last time I saw a picture of Sri Lanka I could not beleive we are back to stone ages. So the question is, are we today better off or worst off than when they left?
I don’t blame you for your thinking, it is a regional and cultural thinking. I came to Canada in 1979. Started a very, very small business and built it up. There are 400,000 small businesses like me in Ontario alone. Each one of us worked very hard on our own. At the same time there are thousands of people complaining about discrimination and that they are not given a job. What they did not understand is that they can create their own job like what we did.
There are more than 5000 Sri Lankan businesses in Toronto. I will kneel down for these entrepreneurs.
What you call colonialism is what me and these 5000 people are.
China has changed, India has changed, Part of middle east has changed, Eastern Europe has changed but we are still stuck in the feudalistic mud.
We have to change, how can we expect others to change when we do not want to change. Change has to happen within us first. Sure we have great culture and heritage but we have put food on the table. We live by our guts and we think with our guts. Next time around when you are hungry see how fast your brain goes from your head to your stomach.
Colonialism is all about exchanging our goods for your goods. If we cannoit manage our country someone has to manage it for us. Look at our country, gone to dogs.
The tea and rubber the foreigners planted is still bringing us food. what have we done on our own?
It is sad we are trying to help our people but we keep running into feudalistic mindset.
13. Ruwan Ranasinghe | March 4th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Okay, but before the colonialists came, what system was in place? And could such a system exist today? I think not. That system was feudalism. It was not difficult for the colonialists to use one group of natives to exploit another, because it was being done well before they (colonialists) ever set foot on the island. The Tamils had their rigid caste system, and the Sinhalese had a class system that also did not allow upward mobility. It took colonialism to break these barriers.
On another note, the author does not mention technology, and its ability to impact a society. With technology, the paddy field or fishing does not become the only form of sustenance… you have the emergence of factories, for example, which themselves gave rise to cities in the early days. When such an abundance of diverse goods is produced, with greater and greater efficiency, you have a far more sophisticated economic system than anything offered by a village cooperative. Correspondingly, you need a more complex governing system than simply a king and a few monks. You need laws to regulate… for example, to protect the workers – which is where a Parliament becomes useful. You need a judicial system to settle the myriad number of disputes that will arise. The basic point is that a city cannot be run the same way as a village.
Finally, there is education. Lets face it, free public education is a Western, not an Eastern deal. In the modern economic system, this is very important. The modern economic system was never about putting every citizen on an equal footing – more like, offering them that opportunity. Education is quite often the means. In the feudal system, you’re rich almost always because of your lineage. In the modern system, one can provide a useful service to society, and thus attain wealth. The difference is obvious.
The best thing to do is follow the example of Japan – retain your cultural heritage, while borrowing heavily from the West, where it makes a difference – technology is the best example. Blaming the West for the past is pointless. Practically the whole world was colonized at some point. An “economic miracle” is possible in any of the developing nations. What prevents that is intransigence on the part of the natives, not the percieved selfish motivations of the Western nations.
14. yaji | March 5th, 2008 at 5:43 am
The photo shows the new Sangiliyan statue which was rebuilt after SLA destroyed the earlier one in 1996 as part of SLA’s monument and cemetery destroying agenda. Anyone who has seen the earlier statue knows how poor the new statue is.
I was an eye witness of SLA destroying Kodikamam war heros cemetery on 02-05-1996.
15. Nalini | March 5th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Fantastic observation of the colonial period to educate and enlighten the younger generation like me who became the victim of this conflict in Sri Lanka.
Along with Comment 11, 3rd para. If the child feels he/she is precious to their parents, defenitly child is not going to fight for anything with anyone in the family. In the same way if the minority feel precious in this country, their needs are met, they are not going to fight. This is a fact.
let me come to Dayan point, ofcourse Singhala leadership need a courage to lead the people without fear of loosing the power.
Not only fear of loosin the power, with example too. many leaders fails to understand what is the real meaning of leadership?
Right leadership means Leading with example. Sadly this kind of leadership is not existing.
The way ministers behave and talk in public. Horrible we all are watching in the television. PARLIMENT IS LIKE NURSURY.
No point of siiting and analysing what had happen in the past and blaming our forfathers. BUT WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT TODAY?
16. Naga UK | March 6th, 2008 at 8:23 am
The big misconception we could be making is that those who are in power, including MR have the ability to do something about it and rectify the situation. They are themselves caught in this mire and would not even waste their energy in that direction. The “Free for All” politics, however much absurd it looks would go on and on and on… until some huge natural disaster strikes and wash or burn away everything in sight and I am not referring to a Tsunami – the magnitude has to be much higher. Remember how our politicians made the tsunami look like their wind-fall? No..that would not do at all! I am not a doom-merchant! I say this because it is that much harder for a patriot to be born in this country thanks to the brainchild of a constitution of JRJ.
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