In this reflection, I argue that the attitudes and actions
of the United Kingdom, the West, and the USA toward Sri Lanka - particularly
regarding allegations of war crimes and other issues are marked by ambiguity
and injustice.
First, I contend that Sri Lanka’s Constitution, Parliament,
and judiciary have been effectively sidelined, undermining the sovereignty of
its people. This is the result of covert influence exerted by Western powers,
alongside the lobbying efforts of the LTTE diaspora.
Furthermore, since gaining independence in 1948, Sri Lanka
has failed to evolve into a strong, unified nation. Instead, it remains plagued
by racial, linguistic, caste, religious, and elitist divisions. The country’s
leadership has been unable to foster a harmonious, prosperous, and
multinational society.
A key factor in this failure is Sri Lanka’s obsolete
education system, which is merely a patchwork of outdated Western pedagogical
models. There is little that is indigenous or reflective of South Asian
traditions. The Sri Lankan elite, shaped by Western universities since 1815,
remain subservient to their former colonial masters, uncritically adopting
foreign ideologies while proving incapable of solving their own nation’s
problems.
This serves Western interests perfectly. Sri Lanka’s
political class engages in divisive and corrupt governance, ensuring that the
population remains fractured. Parliament has become a haven for criminals,
liars, and the ignorant, squandering national resources. The Constitution has
been weakened by a corrupt judiciary and legislature, yet the people still
expect global standards of justice to be applied to their struggles.
However, the West, UK, and USA disregard these principles
when it suits their agenda. Instead, they collaborate covertly with LTTE
sympathizers, Tamil intellectuals, and the wealthy diaspora to push their own
strategic objectives. They seek to mold Sri Lanka according to their design,
just as they have done in other nations.
History shows that the West does not tolerate strong,
independent leaders—consider the fates of Saddam Hussein, Muammar Gaddafi, and
others, who were demonized and overthrown under false pretences. Meanwhile, the
war crimes of Tony Blair (as documented in the Chilcot Report of July 2016)
remain unpunished and largely forgotten. Are Blair and George W. Bush
considered "civilized" leaders simply because they eliminated regimes
opposed to Western hegemony? And what of their responsibility for the rise of
groups like ISIS?
Sri Lanka, like many Global South nations, is caught in this
web of geopolitical manipulation. Until true sovereignty is reclaimed, the
country will remain at the mercy of external powers and their local proxies.
