Rehabilitation of Tamils in Sri Lanka

“What is now required in Sri Lanka is to ensure that the displaced Tamils remain employed and occupied in tune with their capabilities and preferences and are given opportunities to realize their aspirations.”
.........................................................................

By N.S.Venkataraman

(December 07, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) With the ending of the ethnic war in Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan government must be now realizing that winning peace is as difficult as winning a war. In indulging in war, all that one need to do is to destroy the enemies. But, in ushering peace, one need to protect the people and win their loyalty and confidence which require far greater efforts and statesmanship The type of quality of leadership that need to be provided to build an era of peace would be challenging indeed for any government.

After the elimination of LTTE, the Sri Lankan government and the world at large realize that LTTE did not command so much of popular support amongst people as it was made to look. In the post LTTE scenario, obviously the Tamils in Sri Lanka give an impression that they would respond positively to any meaningful approach from the Sri Lankan government to rehabilitate them and restore the economic and social growth in the region, which were until recently the regions of war and conflict.

Chalking out an appropriate strategy to ensure peace and harmony in tune with the ground realities is the urgent need of the day. All peace loving countries in world should come forward and provide the necessary support to the Sri Lankan government in ensuring this task.

What is now required in Sri Lanka is to ensure that the displaced Tamils remain employed and occupied in tune with their capabilities and preferences and are given opportunities to realize their aspirations. A strategic, massive and time bound employment generation programme for the displaced Tamils is the urgent need of the day.

Given the conditions in the recent past, there have not been any big education or skill acquisition opportunities for Sri Lankan Tamils living in the erstwhile zone of conflict. Therefore, any significant level of skills cannot be prevalent at present amongst the Tamil people.

In such circumstances, the Sri Lankan government should immediately constitute a task force to identify the appropriate areas for promoting economic, industrial and agricultural activity , in tune with their present limitations in skill and education, that would provide massive employment opportunities for the Tamils ,. At the same time, many number of technical training institutes to impart skill in various trades amongst Tamil population should be set up. Necessary funds required for organizing such programme should also be set apart.

If the schemes would be competently developed in an integrated manner, there would be no doubt that massive international support would be forthcoming that would make the task of the government easier.

Happily, Sri Lanka has not so far been involved in any big religious conflicts between the citizens, as in some other neighbouring countries. In conditions of suffering and economic deprivation , it is likely that many vested religious interest groups from across the world may step in the guise of providing grants, aids and educational support. The government should ensure that such conditions would not be allowed, which is necessary to ensure that no new element of conflict would emerge.

Sri Lanka is a small and beautiful country with enormous naturally endowed gifts. A small country like Sri Lanka should always be easier to manage and remain integrated than the countries with larger size and population. Sri Lanka is now ideally placed to take off and it is in the hands of the Government of Sri Lanka and enlightened people of Sri Lanka living in Sri Lanka as well as several other parts of the world to put their heads together and move with the sense of purpose and direction to restore the glory that Sri Lanka richly deserve.

-Sri Lanka Guardian