Postwar Sri Lanka is experiencing a galloping militarization in the North and a firm calculated strategy of militarization of the South, alleges human rights activist Nimalka Fernando.
Postwar Sri Lanka is experiencing a galloping militarization in the North and a firm calculated strategy of militarization of the South, alleges human rights activist Nimalka Fernando.
She was delivering the K. Sivaram memorial lecture in Zurich, Switzerland.
Mrs. Fernando said that despite the end of the war, defence expenditure rose to Rs. 214 billion in 2011 from Rs. 201 billion a year ago.
“Logically, such a massive hike in the defence budget should not and need not be in a post war scenario. Yet there is increase in the defence budget and military strength to 300,000.”
The human rights activist said she had been told by a Sri Lankan politician that borrowings were to pay back for military equipments as well to strengthen the defence establishment.
“This seems an inexplicable anomaly, until one considers that Sri Lanka is undergoing not one but two radical transformations – from a flawed democracy to not just to a familial oligarchy but also a national security state,” she said.
Mrs. Fernando added that the Army Commander, at an Army Day ceremony, has spoken about plans to station at least one army division and one STF camp in each district.
In conclusion, she said, “It is time we collectively begin to address the challenges before us – we have to move away from partisan political positions to develop high idols of politics and democracy, of dignity, justice and equality.”
(LM)