he new year dawned on a country in transition – one that faced a decisive election, the verdict of which will have a lasting impact on its future. The changes that are already visible in the country offer good omens for a future in which the values of peace, reconciliation and national rebirth become foremost. There are both individual and societal reasons for this change to have occurred.

Major improvements have taken place at ground level, especially in regard to security controls that dogged civilian life for the past three decades. There’s been a visible relaxation of the tight security measures in the case of the displaced population and travel restrictions to the north.

The break up of the Government’s united front on security following the departure of General Sarath Fonseka is perhaps chiefly responsible for this. When he was military commander, Fonseka acted as a military leader would. He gave priority to security concerns from a military perspective. As Army Commander, Fonseka called for an increase in the number of soldiers by a further 100,000 to be stationed in the north and east, so as to ensure no future threat from those who might seek an armed rebellion.

But when he retired from the military and took on the role of a civilian and politician, he adopted a political approach to security. He even promised to dismantle the high security zones that had been set up on account of LTTE artillery fire and return these lands to the people. This had a ripple effect on Government policy.

However, there were two other important sources of change. One was the unrelenting international pressure that began to mount on the Government, particularly from European countries. The suspension of the GSP-Plus tariff concession threatened the country’s export economy. The retention of this concession is dependent upon Sri Lanka’s adherence to human-rights practices. By deciding to release IDPs and restoring freedom of movement, the Government has gone some way towards undoing the suspension.

The third source of change is more indirect, but it is one that has the greatest potential to be transformative – it has to do with the change that has taken place with the people at the level of society. This was evident at the presidential election.

GOODWILL GESTUR­ES: This demonstrates the complexity of Sri Lanka, where goodwill and a lack of hatred between the communities can co-exist despite sharp political differences. There is recognition amongst a growing section of society of the need to consciously and deliberately rebuild relations with those who have been the victims of war.

As this is a people-to-people development, its existence is independent of Government policy, although the attitude of the government can either promote or retard this growth, as evidenced in the past four years when the war took centre stage.

An example of the positive changes that are sweeping society is the occasion of International Human Rights Day in December, when several civic, religious and sch­ool organisations organised a joint event. I was closely involved in the planning and implementation process, because the National Peace Council was also involved in the programme.

About 25 schools participated in a peace-building event at which the centrepiece was the visit to the commercial capital of schoolchildren from the war-affected Jaffna peninsula. These were children from sch­ools that were working in partnership with the Centre for Peace and Reconciliation in the northern capital, which was our partner organisation in Jaffna. Remarkable and moving, and inspiring and heartening for the future, was the concern and care for the young boys and girls from Jaffna shown by the children from the south.

For nearly all the schoolchildren from Jaffna, this was their first foray outside the north. Years of conflict and enclosed territories had kept them isolated in areas where destruction was more common than development, multicultural interaction was limited, and where violence had become a familiar component of every life, both young and old.

GENEROUS HOSTS: Each day in their week was carefully planned and generously hosted by various schools in Colombo and its suburbs. The three days they spent exploring Colombo and its environs helped them not only broaden their perspectives, but also learn about the compassion and acceptance that exists for them in the south.

The generosity of the southern children was apparent in the warmth of their welcome. Schoolgirls crafted trinkets and prepared lavish meals with their own hands. Boys planned games and various other activities for their guests.

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