Solution to Sri Lankan Ethnic Crisis

My Sinhalese friend angrily suggested that the ultimate solution to Sri Lanka's ethnic tension is eliminating all the idiots on both sides. I couldn't help but smile and responded, "How on earth would you go about identifying who falls into the 'idiot' category and who doesn't?" To my surprise, my friend quipped that anyone who believes in Tamil nationalism or Sinhala-Buddhist nationalism is automatically labelled a fool. 

With an even bigger grin, I recounted a funny tale from my early days on Facebook back in 2008. You won't believe it, but when the platform asked about my political views, I filled in "Tamil Nationalism"! And guess what? Before we met, you were convinced that power devolution would divide the country—a tale straight out of the Sinhala-Buddhist nationalist playbook.

Now, imagine if your plan had been executed around that time. According to your standards, we would have been deemed fools and targeted for termination! But hey, since 2008, I've interacted with many Sinhalese folks and delved into Sri Lanka's history and the underlying causes of the ethnic crisis. Those experiences have steered me far away from those earlier political views.

Sure, there might be plenty of idiots on both sides who stubbornly refuse to listen to other perspectives. I completely understand your frustration, and I won't deny that I haven't experienced similar feelings of anger as you have today. However, there are also many like us who are simply misinformed. That's precisely why I find Gandhi's wisdom incredibly valuable. He said, "I wish to change their minds, not kill them for the weaknesses we all possess." That, my friend, is the only way to overcome the ethnic crisis in Sri Lanka— by seeking to educate and change minds rather than resorting to violence. 

Violence only perpetuates more violence, providing no lasting solution or real victory for either side. Temporary successes achieved through violence often come with long-term consequences. Moreover, violent conflicts leave deep emotional scars that become the very source of future cycles of violence. This repetitive loop can only be broken if we actively strive to address and heal the wounds of the past. Healing the emotional scars requires embracing truth and accountability while fostering reconciliation relies on implementing power-sharing mechanisms. There are no alternative paths to break free from the vicious cycle of violence. The sooner we come to realize the significance of this, the better it will be for our beloved country.