THRU' most of the two plus decades of conflict with racist tribal tamil terrorism, Sri Lanka has had to fight an uphill batlle against interested and powerful international players. It was not only foreign governments themselves who engaged in these politically devastating games, but in later stages even foreign non-governmental organizations began to use such strategies to prolong the conflict in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka's misfortune thru' it all was her relative inability to effectively defend against or counter the propaganda value of such deliberate mis-interpretations of fact, and in some instances absolute fiction created by some of these governments and organizations perhaps due to reluctance on the part of her bureaucrats who were left powerless by various previous SL governments.
Largely until the breakout of hostilities in the current 'Final War' declared by the LTTE and behind the scenes diplomatic support extended by the US and India, Sri Lanka had been not only ineffective, but also helpless. However, the current government has not only committed to a comprehensive military-politico strategy to curtail terrorism on her soil, but has also embarked on robust counter-propaganda activity.
While only a fool would assume Sri Lanka would be able to deal the coup de grace to the LTTE with its extensive overseas support base without having to suffer some diplomatic fall-out, the SLG also needs to restrain itself, in order not to appear too aggressive in responding to minor irritants. The recent diplomatic uproar with the Germans and the Brits could have been avaoidable cases. This is not to say we need to be survile to anyone, but to remind that we need not make enemies out of friends. Let's leave that to the LTTE, who've been masterful at antagonizing absolutely anyone and everyone who supported them at anytime.
Sri Lanka has already done the impossible, against all odds. In success we must find humility and understand where our strengths lie. Appearing arrogant in success will not only make us lose good old friends, but could also potentially disappoint and alienate our own diaspora.
Giving decision making power to the Generals for military operations brought us military success. Similarly the government should engage career diplomats and effective professionals to deal with the diplomatic scene which is gradually evolving into something less than friendly towards Sri Lanka. It very much looks like the right time to re-inforce Sri Lanka's achilles' heel, which has always been propaganda ineffectiveness, by employing capable professionals to aggressively project a positive image of its efforts to restore peace by eradicating terror.
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