By Nav Raj Pokharel
The 15th Summit of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) that oscillated between YES and NO until last hours of its preparation due to the rancor among political parties of nascent Republic Nepal was finally held successfully amid tight security in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka, the host country of the 15th SAARC Summit, not only held the gala despite its many domestic and international challenges, but also showed the world that the country can develop itself as another Singapore in south Asia within few years, once the contentious group of terrorist is effaced from the legendary land.
When the delegates of the SAARC member courtiers were busy in Colombo, debating the issues and challenges facing the South Asian Region, devising a common ground to combat the challenges, journalists from many countries who gathered there to cover the event, were concomitantly keeping their newsy-nose alert to sniff and witness the news related to Liberation of Tamil Tiger Elam ( LTTE) and have the peoples’ real verdict on the issue. And, as a journalist, I too was doing the same thing.
My participation to the event and the visit to the country was the first. I had mixed reaction within myself- a bale of curiosities and trepidation - as I was visiting the legendary country amid peppering news of continued war and violence. My four nights and three days stay in Colombo but made me realize that the news related to government’s offensive attacks on the belligerent side, as disseminated by many news agencies, were but belying.
The LTTE that waged war now nearly 3 decades are capricious. They violated their unilateral announcement of cease-fire and killed dozens of people when the Summit was in progress in Colombo. Sri Lankan government estimates 5 to 10 thousands of Tamil Tiger separatist hiding in Jaffna bastion whom most of Tamil despise for their unreeling subversive activities.
I broached the issues of LTTE with many common people at market area, with the endemic journalists at convention and media centre, both the low and high-ranking Sri Lankan officers at lunch and dinner tables and during our informal and intimate talks. I tried to elicit their true feeling on the issue. Finally, I derived at and construed that Sri Lankan people are already fade up with the seemingly never-ending insurgencies. They detest it. They want peace in their land and peace in their lives.
However, both the country and the government have been withstanding the worst of the disruptive few. Although hapless they seemed, they have not given up hope to have peace restored in the country in near future. More than 90 percent of the population follow Buddhism, more than that size of population are practicing Buddhism in their real lives as well. That was most impressive aspect at the sideline of SAARC I attended.
I felt the aura on their countenance radiated with the realization of wisdom that Buddha had found many years ago, still illusive to many to attain.
The friendliest in their approach and attitudes, the most polite in speech and finesse, the Sri Lankans are the ones who suffered the most from the seditious acts of the secessionists. However, they have taken it as a penance and test to their endurance.
Many of us were lodged at Trans Asia hotel and the venue for the SAARC summit was arranged at Bandaranayke Memorial International Convention Hall-BMICH. The distance was roughly 10 kilometers. Every morning we were shuttled to the centre and back to the hotel for our safety reasons. The security checks we encountered were almost at every kilometer. But I never developed a feeling of fatigue seeing the security posts and their checking procedures. I found the security officials, who were perhaps dog-tired with duty, never lost their temper with us and with the locals. I rather curiously felt the checking as an opportunity to know them closely. They greeted us, and I was dead sure that the smile that covered their countenance was never a forceful effort; it was rather coming out from their inner soul. They would inquire with the local security person who was always at the front seat of the vehicle ready to response to their queries, if any.
I remember detail of all their body postures, cursory look of their eyes, expressions that would come and vanish immediately on their faces because I have passed through such occasions in my own banana republic.
I have developed a concealed feeling that security personnel are not human being. whenever I encountered security personnel in my country during the period of insurgencies, I always heard sharp questions in harsh and terse voice that asked me from where I was coming or going or both, and why I was late in my work. They looked at me as if I was the thief or leader of some gang at large, and as if they were waiting me to arrest. They returned my identity cards after meticulous inspection in such a manner that I would have been at their gunpoint, had I lost the card. Even a forceful smile on their face was a tantamount to irreparable and inexcusable slip-up. I had a different notion about the security personnel. But what I saw and experienced in Sri Lanka in very similar situation to my country bemused me, I should admit I was baffled in the beginning.
I also remember the driver of Rupabahini Television who drove my cameraperson and me back to our hotel after we finished feed at about eight o’clock in the evening on the first day in Colombo, as the shuttle bus arranged for many media persons left us with our work. Taking three–wheeler was risky without any obvious reason to corroborate, we requested the officer on duty at the feeding station and he was more than happy to help us. It was dark and the street looked deserted, as public vehicles were restricted to ply on the major roads of the city. I suddenly felt a jerk with screeching noise of tyres. I suddenly came to alert with a chilling cold running down in my spinal cord. I looked out through the window of the vehicle; nothing was visible in the dark except few lights on the street posts and red traffic light at the road square. With great effort, I asked the driver why the vehicle stopped? The answer suddenly changed my established perspective of law and order situation of my country. He said he is abiding by the traffic light. I inquired what immoral it was to ignore the light at the time when it is dark and street was deserted. He politely replied, “Who will if I don’t.”
Back at the hotel, we were given coordinators to facilitate our requirements and programs schedules. One of the Nepal’s coordinators, Prabhath Rathnayaka from the department of Government Information was another Buddha on duty I met in Sri Lanka. He worked assiduously and relentlessly to cater our media requirements and movements from one venue to another. He gathered related information for us from the mini media centre set up at the hotel. The summit schedule was busy pressing us to meet the timetable, and so was he while supporting us at every minute situation. We had few hours to sleep. However, early in the next morning, he was seen greeting us, as cheerful and agile as he left us last night. He never seemed fatigued and fade up or withered in his job. Just like the Buddha! Calm and placid on every second in his life. And to my surprise so were other officers and security personnel at the hotel. I must admit I met many Buddhas in Sri Lanka. I was wistfully longing to meet more and more Buddha during my short stay there. My bad! I just could not.
Although the ministry of tourism had schedules for the journalist to visit the at various tourist and religious spots of the country, I could not participate in the free tour due to my pressing schedule to return home. I could not see the sea during my short stay in the country despite my irresistible desire to do so. However, people in all stratum of society in Colombo have made my heart dance with delight. I feel contented that I have met many Buddhas in the legendary country of Pundit Ravana.
2008-08-08 05:49:20 ( published in Telegraph Nepal.com on Aug 08 2008)
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Comments (18)
Sayanthan, who said north is truly run by Sri Lankan gov? it's held to ransom by the ltte terror and that's why it is really important that this government destroys LTTE. Nav Raj, this is great, it is heartning to see there are still a few true journalists left in this world who **actually** get their facts first hand unlike AFP, AP and a host of such elitiest jurno's who google for their news (lit) which is fed by the strong LTTE propaganda machine. Thanks for bringing out the true fealings of a Sri Lankan.
Commented by piripaharan - August 9, 2008 @ 3:08 AM
Tatally wrong article about ltte eelam tamils.
Commented by theepan - August 9, 2008 @ 3:01 AM
I am much please to read your nice article on my motherland!
Commented by Chandana Wckramsinghe - August 8, 2008 @ 3:32 PM
Thank you Mr Pokharel,for your comments,I too have experienced the friendliness and the hospitable nature of the sri Lankans, and whats more I am a Sri Lankan!I am only sad that Mr Sayanathan expresses a negative view!There is no hatred towards any ethnical group but frustration and anger, for those who try to destroy a country that once flourished in every way.All I can pray for is that good sense and by correcting our errors we could once again bring a new life to the wonderful and charming people of Sri Lanka.Lets unite in the spirit of brotherhood and for the future of our younger generations,!Life is too short and do not make this even shorter by once ignorence and stupidity!!
Commented by daniel - August 8, 2008 @ 1:26 PM
What a heartfelt article, very true, too, surprised your inner child had the occasion, you were lucky,but perhaps your personality behoves that. Sorry that Sathyanthan has a problem, but then which tamil does not ! Good luck !
Commented by cass - August 8, 2008 @ 9:03 AM
I too have never found our security personnel to be rude.The srilankan smile is well known.When I trained in the UK in 1990/1 everyone in my department commented on the warmth of our sri lankan smile.Despite whatever is said about us I also find sri lankans living in muscat always come to each other's aid when it is necessary and are a hard working, community. In fact the Royal Oman police force was set up by a srilankan i am not so sure about driving though because when I drive in Colombo I don't remember too many people who observe road etiquette.They do also drive through red lights...Many people are practising buddhists but I wish there were more and certainly there are no Buddhas,He must mean monks some of who in the recent past have strayed from the noble arya sangha they are meant to emulate....As one of my former Head of Institution said there is never a dull moment in Sri Lanka.
Commented by morningstar - August 8, 2008 @ 7:59 AM
Very true. Regretably the same doesn't apply to North & East. Thanks to LTTE and their relentless efforts.
Commented by nimal - August 8, 2008 @ 5:30 AM
Thank you for your article. The rest of the world needs to know about the LTTE. They are not freedom fighters, merely aggressive, murdering thugs who force their own people to fight for their phoney cause. They have hijacked a credible political movement and destroyed the genuine claims the tamil people had for a fair deal when this conflict started. The failure of the Tamil people to stand up to this organisation has set them back thousands of years and caused them more harm than state discrimination ever did. The LTTE's ethnic cleansing of the Muslim population from the east renders their claims of discrimination pointless and futile. The LTTE will never enter the political maintstream. Their ruthless assassination of Mr. Rajiv Ghandi means that the regional powers will never forget their true nature, nor forgive such stupid tactics. Whatever friends or sympathisers they had outside the Tamil community disappeared after that cruel killing. They kill anyone - Sinhala, Tamil or Muslim, that stands in their way or disagrees with their blinkered doctrine. Meanwhile expatriate Tamils are running amock in European, American and Canadian cities, selling drugs and running gangs, all skills learnt through the Tiger's clever yet abhorrent creation of a diaspora to further their cause and lobby their 'political' objectives, and raise them the money to run their rule of terror in the north. They are not freedom fighters whatsoever - they are ignorant thugs. The government are by no means faultless - on the contrary - they are corrupt to the core. However, this observation pales into insignificance when confronted with the need to crush the terrorists. Many innocent Tamils, forced to front line by their LTTE aggressors may perish, but their appears no alternative to this solution. It is the rural poor who are forced, through economic necessity, to fight for the armed forces, and many of these will too persish in the course of liberating the island of this LTTE curse. Thank you for taking the time to convey to the people of Nepal the true nature of the LTTE terrorists. I hope you can return to Sri Lanka and further explore the kind and welcoming nature of all the communities. Just to point out, I am not Sinhala or some crony doing the dirty work of the Sri Lankan state. I am a British citizen who has spent a lot of my life living and travelling in Asia. In my university days I was a Tamil sympathiser (I used to believe their propaganda that I grew up with in the UK). However, my experiences have given me a more realistic and informed outlook on the situation. The LTTE (not the Tamil people, who are trapped under this mennacing group) are the scum of Asia. The sooner they are wiped out, the sooner all people in Sri Lanka (regardless of ethnicity and religion) can get on with the job of overthrowing this megalomaniac president and rebuilding the country. Down with L.T.T.E !
Commented by Asia Enthusiast - August 8, 2008 @ 5:26 AM
Thank you for being honest.I have come across similar comments made by ordinary foreign visitors to Sri Lanka but I am surprised to hear it from a journalist.
Commented by Mahinda - August 8, 2008 @ 5:09 AM
Mr. Nav Raj Pokharel, Many thanks mate. Visit us back. We will tookafter you and you can enjoy the true beauty of Sri Lanka. You must definetely visit the country side of Sri Lanka and see the village people who live in peace and harmony. There is no ethnic problem in Sri Lanka. There is only Tiger terrorism.
Commented by susantha - August 8, 2008 @ 4:44 AM
Thnks for understanding the real SRI LANKANS
Commented by Malaka - August 8, 2008 @ 4:16 AM
Thank you very much sir! I was blushing all the way through the article. The only inaccuracy here might be the impression that Sri Lankans keenly observer traffic rules. The referred gentleman might have but the drivers in Sri Lanka have a mind of their own.
Commented by Piyal - August 8, 2008 @ 4:14 AM
Sri Lankans are will always wellcome visitors tourists in their whole heart as long as they do not abuse the sytem.
Commented by manori - August 8, 2008 @ 2:48 AM
Dear Sayanthan ji! Seems like you are the brian child of India's South Block! if so your writign is correct. Take care.
Commented by sinhala - August 8, 2008 @ 2:05 AM
What a touching article. Thank you Sir.
Commented by Ananda Mahinkanda - August 8, 2008 @ 1:25 AM
Hi Nav Raj Pokharel! I wonder you really writing from your heart or SL government paid you any money? Most of your observervations are totally wrong and should be other way round. Are you dare to travel to North & East part of the Srilanka to find the actual face of Srilankan government??
Commented by Sayanthan - August 8, 2008 @ 12:54 AM
Thank you for being 'different' from other couch potato foreign media pundits, and writing the true experiences. - Sri Lankan Resident fedup with false reporting by elite foreign journalists.
Commented by Nish - August 7, 2008 @ 11:56 PM
Mr. Nav Raj Pokharel, I am glad you were able to enjoy the Sri Lankan hospitality. Next time you should visit and see the many interesting places and sites which Sri Lanka has to offer, which will capture your heart and mind even more. Sri Lankans, are by nature are very accomodating and friendly. The soldier at the check points, who do a thankless job, do greet us locals as friendly, as he did to you. Sadly, our very fabric of peaceful life has been robbed by the LTTE terrorists, who kill civilians, irrespective whether one is a Tamil, Sinhalese or a Muslim and destroy public property. Unless one is an apologist on behalf of the LTTE terrorists, all unanimously agree that the terrorism must be wiped out of the Country, so that the common man can get on with his life and the country to prosper. We know it will. Once again, enjoyed reading your article, please come back to Sri Lanka, sooner than later.
Commented by JB - August 7, 2008 @ 10:56 PM
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