Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

17 March 2017

http://austms.blogspot.com.au/

How Sovereign is Sri Lanka?

[“As a sovereign nation we are entitled to look at all options. We cannot bring in foreign judicial officers under the existing constitution, but we are exploring all our options,” the minister said.] Daily Mirror article - Govt. can’t bring in foreign judges under existing constitution: Mangala

[University degrees do not intellectuals make. Simply holding an academic appointment in a low-quality university surely does not. Martin Wickramasinghe was Sri Lanka’s greatest writer and a powerful shaper of public discourse through the editorship of leading newspapers and his own writing. He lacked formal academic credentials.

If the university has no role in certifying intellectuals, we cannot then appeal to another credentialing authority. There can be only one test of a public intellectual: recognition in the eyes of the public. ] – Colombo Telegraph Who Is A Public Intellectual?

Professor Rohan Samarajiva 

A position is part of an institutional structure and hence the value of that position is directly related to the institution’s value. Be it membership with a University or the UN – the value of the position taken is directly related to the value of the larger institution that the membership is part of. I may call myself a Hindu but the value of that position taken is directly related to the value of the Hindu community in the geographic area that I live in. I am not Sovereign just because I pray to Lord Krishna who is recognized to  have preached the way to Sovereignty.  Likewise, a Buddhist monk wearing the robes does not become a Buddha, just because he lives in Sri Lanka where the Constitution empowers Buddhist leaders.

Institutions have core purposes for which they exist and it is when those core purposes are fulfilled that  the institution’s value is wholesome. The UN is an institution that by its charter promotes Sovereignty of its member states by working towards  international peace and security. The UN’s own status in this regard is relative to how Sovereign the UN is as an institution. Like with God, the way we define ‘Sovereignty’ is relative to the form given to that core purpose.

As per the constitution of Sri Lanka this ‘form’ is defined as follows:  

‘In the Republic of Sri Lanka sovereignty is in the people and is inalienable. Sovereignty includes the powers of government, fundamental rights and the franchise.’

In other words – the Sovereignty of the Nation is defined by the Sovereignty of the People of Sri Lanka. If a citizen fails to realize her/his Sovereignty s/he would not have the power to naturally recognize the Sovereignty of the other. Realizing the Sovereignty of an individual cannot be limited by the official Government. Good Governance through Public Administration would lead to realizing sovereignty  but that is not the only pathway. In fact by giving foremost place to Buddhism through article 9 of the Constitution, the Constitution of Sri Lanka facilitates an accelerated travel for Buddhists of Sri Lanka.

Articles 10 and 14 provide for ‘privacy’ for religious minorities to practice their own religions.

At regional level, practicing Hindus of  the Land that Sri Lanka is part of – outweigh practicing Buddhists. Hence a regional thinker would connect to those powers. One does not need the approval of any authority to become part of that Natural circle of power. We can access each other’s powers and influence minds beyond physical borders. Sovereignty is Natural. Hence taken at Regional level, Sri Lankan Buddhists would be slower in accessing Buddhist minds relative to Sri Lankan Hindus accessing Hindu minds. Sovereignty is another world for Soul Power.

As per Wikipedia,  Westphalian sovereignty is described as follows:

[Political sovereignty is the principle of international law that each nation state has sovereignty over its territory and domestic affairs, to the exclusion of all external powers, on the principle of non-interference in another country's domestic affairs, and that each state (no matter how large or small) is equal in international law. ]

When a group is empowered by law as per ‘territory/land’ as well as  religion – it can often distract its members from the official pathway. This often promotes loss of focus through one pathway. Minorities without this advantage would tend to be stronger investors in their chosen pathway – which in Sri Lanka is religion for most minorities.

 A principle/law does not become value until it is practiced. To the extent we practice a principle/law – we connect to all other practitioners of that principle/law. When the costs paid by a person/group to uphold this principle/law is greater than the returns/benefits, that person/group earns ownership rights at that place during the period of relationship. In an institution, when the cost, benefit ratio between various officers are vastly different – the person/relative with lesser benefits – accumulates ownership power – unless such benefits are taken by force. In Australia I did not enforce and hence worked the ownership Energy of Australia. In Sri Lanka the Tamil Tigers enforced – and hence disconnected with Sri Lankans including of Tamil origin. But to the extent the Tamil Tigers were genuine they become independent as Tamils and would continue to influence outcomes in that part of Sri Lanka.

 In the Sri Lankan context where religious minorities enjoyed proportionately lesser benefits / returns from the Common Pool – than religious majority – AND they did not enforce returns – including through revenge attacks – the ‘gap’ went into ‘Ownership Energy’ pool through Natural forces of Sovereignty which work as per our genuine contribution to uphold our Sovereignty / Independence – as individuals and/or as groups.

Hence Tamils became Leading Opposition in National Parliament in 1977 and later in 2015. Tamil Sri Lankans were able to influence Sinhalese Sri Lankans to eliminate those who disturbed their Peace at Community and Religious levels. Those who claimed Tamil-only did not have this power to influence. Likewise those who claimed Sinhala-only or Buddhism-foremost. It’s a chain influence through all to whom that part of the world has been ‘home’. This includes Indians and Westerners  including the British to whom Ceylon was ‘home’ due to their feeling of Independence when living in that part of the world.

Land holds cumulative powers that can make it ‘sacred’ or ‘cursed’. Those who limit their borders to physical boundaries naturally invoke power of that place that have accumulated through various parts that functioned independently. If Tamil parts functioned more independently in the past – then the karma of that part of Sri Lanka would be more strongly positive relative to other parts. Those living in that part would therefore be more likely to realize their Sovereignty, relative to others with weaker investment in independence – for example due to complacency influenced by majority power.  If Tamils as a group have travelled closer to realizing Sovereignty as a Community than Sinhalese as a group – then Tamils are the real rulers of that land – whatever else other laws may say. Such citizens then facilitate the slower travelers. Killing them or blocking their paths returns the karma to sender. That is the way of Nature.