Delivering the keynote address at a university symposium, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa claimed that Sri Lanka was experiencing a “national revival that will restore it to its rightful place on the world stage” and that the government’s challenge was to “facilitate this resurgence”.
Of course, the Defence Secretary need not have worried. With the government’s capacity to protect and foster Sinhala Buddhist nationalism, Sri Lanka will ensure its rightful place on the receiving end of international criticism.
Asserting that “several international agencies, Non Governmental Organisations, diplomats, media personnel, lawyers, and family members of the beneficiaries were given free and unfettered access to the rehabilitation centres," he added, “people in the North no longer have any reason to feel isolated or disfavoured.”
A bold statement to make. Perhaps the deaths of two Tamil political prisoners whilst in custody, with no moves to prosecute those responsible, is just one example to the contrary.
Gotabhaya added,
“It is our duty as Sri Lankans to put the past behind us and build a bright future for our nation. In this regard, it is essential that there is no longer any suspicion of discrimination or unequal treatment that might encourage people to follow an undemocratic path and bring back the divisions of the past.”
