Peace and calm replaced by impunity, lawlessness, BT-RCB poll reveals
View(s):Most of the Sri Lankans who took part in an opinion poll this week on the 5th anniversary-end of the conflict, say that while the end of the war has ensured peace and calm a new culture of violence, lawlessness and impunity is undermining that ‘very’ peace.
“People have no faith in the police, and (only) marginal faith in the judiciary,” one (email poll) respondent said.
However in the street poll, several respondents praised the President for ensuring peace with one respondent noting that, “the gap between Colombo and the village has been narrowed considerably due to developments after the war. Many facilities available only in Colombo are being provided to villages.” Another (street) respondent derided the general view of Colombo residents, saying, “People confined to Colombo say there is no development in the country. This is because they have no clue (about development) in rural areas. They should travel all over the country to see the vast development”. The poll, jointly conducted by the Business Times (BT) and the Research Consultancy Bureau (RCB) by email and on the street this week, sought answers to whether Sri Lankans are living in peace; are ethnic tensions still continuing; could Sri Lanka’s economy have performed better; has there been overspending by the Government and is Sri Lanka close to becoming the ‘Miracle of Asia’.
In a separate question in the BT poll which sought comments on the ‘best way to celebrate the end of the war’, the general consensus was … “Hold religious ceremonies for all communities on the anniversary”. There were others who suggested lighting a candle (of hope) for one hour across the island in every home, school, office, shop and religious place of worship.
“If we are a Buddhist country – then follow Buddhist principles. Love your enemy. Celebrate by giving love and meeting the affected,” one respondent added.
“Victory parades may not be necessary. Healing disharmony among the races should be considered as the most important fact in avoiding further conflicts,” said another respondent, in a widely-reflected view.
More than 300 people responded to the BT poll while the RCB interviewed 358 people on the street. The results were mixed in both polls.
For example, 91 per cent of respondents in the BT poll said there was ‘peace and calm’ after the war ended while 68 per cent of RCB respondents tended to agree.
On whether ethnic tensions still continue, 49 per cent of RCB respondents agreed with a “Yes” answer while the “Y’ response was 81.8 per cent in the BT poll.
However respondents from both polls were almost united in the view that infrastructure and beautification (of Colombo) alone won’t make Sri Lanka the ‘Miracle of Asia”. 51.3 per cent of BT respondents gave a “No” response while it was 41 per cent (“No”) and 38 per cent “Y” in the case of RCB’s street interviews.
