Rajasingham Jayadevan
It is with profound reflection that I return to writing for Colombo Telegraph after a silence of more than nine years. With the passing away of my brother, Dr R. Narendran, my farewell letter published was last contribution. The passage of time has not diminished the significance of the work we brothers once undertook together in Sri Lanka on behalf of Eelapatheeswarar Aalayam.
My earlier farewell to regular contributions was a conscious decision to distance myself from Sri Lanka’s entrenched adversarial political culture. I had increasingly felt that there was little room for rational thinking, constructive dialogue or meaningful intervention in the face of the country’s rapidly deteriorating socio-economic and political circumstances. Entrenched mindsets appeared incapable of recognising the bankruptcy of the nation, while political discourse continued to dwell on the failures of the nations already bankrupt treasury.
However, advancing age and a deep-rooted desire to contribute, however modestly, towards improving the socio-economic circumstances of Sri Lanka have prompted me to reconsider my priorities. I am glad that I stepped away from the increasingly unproductive political discourse and redirected my energies towards practical engagement thus facilitating tangible progress.
The socio-economic initiative originally undertaken in Batticaloa, with the active involvement of my late brother, did not come to an end with his passing. The eleven years of continuing engagement have been demanding, but immensely worthwhile. More importantly, they have demonstrated that determined grassroots intervention can produce meaningful and measurable improvements in people’s lives.
The establishment of Eelapatheeswarar Aalayam as a charity, and its subsequent transformation into a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), provided an important institutional foundation for expanding the charitable activities. Developing the organisation into a cohesive, constructive and conflict-free institution enabled to extend our reach and undertake charitable work on a much wider footing.
My subsequent retirement and engagement in commercial and family conflict-resolution work also provided an opportunity to devote greater attention to the needs of disadvantaged communities here in the UK and enabled to strengthen the finances for the work in Sri Lanka.
The lessons have been numerous, and the satisfaction derived from this engagement is immeasurable. Our Charity’s decision to concentrate our efforts within the Batticaloa has been particularly rewarding. What began with one village has gradually expanded to seven villages. House construction, water-resource management and the creation of employment opportunities have become tangible achievements in our continuing efforts to improve the living conditions of poverty-stricken communities.
One of our most significant developments was the decision to invest in education. This was not part of our original vision, but experience soon demonstrated that sustainable socio-economic advancement cannot be achieved without educational opportunities.
Our determined engagement over the past four years is proving to be one of the most worthwhile investments in the future of these vulnerable communities.
The transformation of a village school, including its development to provide Advanced Level (A/L) education through the construction of additional school buildings and facilities, has been particularly encouraging. The results have given us tremendous confidence in this challenging and demanding mission. Five students successfully completed their examinations, with three progressing to university and two pursuing alternative avenues of higher education this year.
Our educational intervention has been multi-pronged. It has included additional tuitions, provision of bicycles to facilitate school transport, awarding to recognise educational achievement and, importantly, personal engagement with families to encourage children who might otherwise remain deprived of educational opportunities to attend school regularly are experience beyond imagination.
These interventions may appear modest individually, but collectively they can change lives. Witnessing children overcome disadvantages and progress beyond the limitations imposed by poverty has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of this journey.
Beyond Advanced Level education, our investment in pre-school facilities and weekend religious and cultural education represents another important dimension of community development. These initiatives are pioneering steps towards nurturing the next generation. Equally encouraging is the growing interest shown by parents in their children’s education. That change in attitude is itself an investment of lasting value.
Unlike the Northern Province, particularly the Jaffna Peninsula, the Eastern Province presents a distinct and complex range of socio-economic challenges. The prolonged conflict has left deep scars on its communities and undermined the foundations necessary for sustainable development.
The relationship between human beings and their natural environment is another serious challenge requiring greater attention. Eleven years of direct engagement have exposed us to circumstances that are deeply troubling.
Single-parent families struggling to survive, entrenched poverty, alcoholism and drug abuse, deaths and injuries arising from encounters with wildlife, practices of dastardly Sooniyam i.e., syncretic practices, and the absence of effective village-level leadership are among the issues confronting these communities.
These are not merely statistics or distant social concerns. They are everyday realities for families attempting to rebuild their lives and secure a better future for their children.
Addressing such challenges requires more than occasional charitable assistance. It calls for sustained engagement, local participation, responsible leadership and a genuine understanding of the circumstances in which these communities live.
The Tamil diaspora represents an enormous resource for Sri Lanka’s socio-economic advancement. Its experience, professional expertise, financial capacity and international connections could make a significant contribution to rebuilding communities and strengthening the country’s development prospects.
However, this potential cannot be fully realised through charitable initiatives alone. It requires a wider political environment founded on justice, meaningful political devolution, equality and fair play.
Sri Lanka must move beyond the narrow political thinking that has repeatedly divided its communities. Its political and institutional structures must recognise that the country belongs equally to all its communities, irrespective of ethnicity, religion or language. It is very encouraging to see such transformation is initiated in a practical sense by the present NPA government. It must be sustained and further progressed.
Unless this fundamental principle is reflected in the country’s political system, efforts to mobilise the diaspora and achieve lasting national progress will remain constrained.
Our experience in Batticaloa has reinforced a simple but important conviction: meaningful transformation begins when people move beyond rhetoric and commit themselves to practical action. Progress may be gradual, and the challenges considerable, but even modest achievements can create lasting change.
Eleven years of determined work was carried out with much desired transparency without any political interference. Even the support and encouragement given by the local authorities of different scales under extremely difficult nations financial circumstances are salutary.
The journey continues, not with the expectation of transforming everything overnight, but with the determination to make a difference wherever possible.