A letter that members of Lanka Solidarity sent to The Wall Street Journal. The letter, published in today's issue, was edited, so we circulate the full version here.
Dear Editor,
In his recent piece, "Sri Lanka Looks to the Future," (Feb. 4) Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse correctly observes that his country's Jan. 26 presidential elections were historic. With 25 years of conflict at an end, Sri Lanka has the chance to transform its political fortunes and ensure peace, democracy, and dignity for all its peoples. But if the rest of his blinkered piece is any indication, President Rajapakse seems poised to miss this historic opportunity.
Rajapakse gestures only vaguely toward a political solution and minority grievances, dwelling instead on Sri Lanka’s potential for investors and tourists. Certainly, economic development is necessary for sustainable peace. This kind of growth, however, should neither substitute for nor distract from the critical challenges of reconciliation among the country's multiple communities, implementation of a permanent political solution, and the demilitarization and democratization of society.
