13 January 2024

Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

 

 

TAMIL HERITAGE

 

I received news of Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam’s emotional outburst, recently in Sri Lankan Parliament . It was invoked by Justice Minister Dr Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe . The minister ‘found fault’ with  Mr Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam’s grandfather. I responded as follows:

 

 

‘The Minister was acting in breach of fundamentals of Democracy, by referring to the Hon GG Ponnambalam. It was made worse by the fact that this Parliamentary Elder is not physically alive. This was in breach of ‘Of the dead nothing but good is to be said.’

 

As per my research, democracy is a linear system. Hence majority get to form government. It is NOT on merit basis. When majority is taken as ‘Seniority’ it is in breach of the system of Democracy, in which Equal status of the opposition needs to be confirmed at all times.  I recently shared as follows, in this regard:

 

‘In Sri Lankan Tamil community, Political law-makers , who previously enjoyed leadership status were now opposed by armed rebel leaders, who declared that they were the ‘sole representatives’ of Sri Lankan Tamils.

Political leadership  by  elections is through  faith in bottom up system of Democracy. Hence government of the people, by the people, for the people. One who fights for self governance, would at all times, maintain Equal position and not take ‘senior’ position.’

It is highly unlikely that Sri Lankan politicians would change. The only Parliamentarian who expressed Opposition to Racism was Mr Dilan Perera. The Island has reported as follows:

Badulla District SLPP dissident MP Dilan Perera, during the debate, said that ONUR office had been neglected during the time of Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s presidency. “The first chairperson of ONUR was former President Chandrika Kumaratunga. President Rajapaksa was not against reconciliation but was against Chandrika Kumaratunga. So, this office was neglected because he did not like the chairperson. Passing this Bill would show our commitment towards reconciliation. If implemented to the letter, the provisions of this Bill would be able to put an end to the culture of politics and politicians who capitalize on race, language, religion and caste. These differences perpetuated by identity politics still exist; it is that brand of politics that keeps us down as a nation,” Perera said

We, the People have the power to defeat politicians, who are Racists, by developing our own multicultural projects, by using merit basis on Project basis. When merit-based measures are used, subjective measures would become of heritage value. Heritages are sovereign powers that direct their heirs from within. The Hon GG Ponnambalam’s contribution to Sri Lankan Politics is of Heritage value and the speaker had the duty to Discipline the Minister.