‘War Memories That Hurt'

The 11th National War Heroes Day (Ranaviru Day) marked the lives sacrificed by the security forces personnel who were part of a struggle to defeat terrorism in this island nation.

- Ravi Nagahawatte

The ceremony held at Battaramulla on Tuesday (May 19) under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa would have brought tears to the loved ones of the security forces personnel, who perished during the 26-year-old conflict.

Death and war are destructive, but the way in which references are made regarding celebrating this day are disturbing. Some media institutes mention ‘Ranawiru Commemoration Day’ while there are others who refer to it as ‘Victory Day’ and a day that marks the ‘end of the war’. Wikipedia refers to this ceremony as a day set aside to ‘remember those who died from both sides’. What about journalists and visitors to this country who died as a result of the war, but were not in support of either of the two parties at war?

Eleven years after the war concluded the Sinhalese are happy for two things; one is because the war is over and the second is that the majority race sees a head of state who backs the thoughts of sentimental Sinhala forces.

Last year marked the 10th anniversary of the conclusion of the war. What was significant was that the Yahapalana regime allowed the Tamil community to commemorate the dead. The island’s present authorities must remember that time has little significance when it comes to healing mental wounds; hence 11 years can be too short a time for the gruesome memories of the war to fade away from battered minds.

The present regime must take note that the minority Tamils demand a political solution to their problem; referred to as the national question. This point has been stressed by former Chief Minister for Northern Province CV Wigneswaran. He once said that the regime must provide a political solution to the ethnic issue and that economic development can wait.