Shocking Refusal of Visa to The Dalai Lama by Sri Lankan Government

by N.S.Venkataraman

( April 5, 2015, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) Sri Lankan Buddhist monks are reported to have invited exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama to make his first visit to the island. However, the foreign ministry of Sri Lanka is reported to have told Reuters that the government “may not grant a visa” even if the monks would invite the Dalai Lama.China is reported to have appreciated Sri Lanka’s stance on the Dalai Lama.

Sri Lanka is home to some of the Buddhist religion’s most sacred sites. Sri Lankans are justifiably proud of this fact and Buddhism is practiced in Sri Lanka for centuries.Dalai Lama is the most respected leader of Buddhists all over the world. It is shocking that inspite of such ground realities, Sri Lankan government is hesitant to provide visa to Dalai Lama, merely to please Chinese authorities and keep them in good humour. This stance of the Sri Lankan government speaks very low about the foreign policy approach of the present Sri Lankan government, which is not based on principles and the wishes of its citizens but only on expediency. Any one who condemns Sri Lankan government for this unprincipled stand would be justified for their reaction.

Tibet was once a quiet and peace loving country deeply rooted in Buddhist philosophy. It’s a historical fact that China invaded Tibet, destroyed many Buddhist religious centres in Tibet and virtually drove Dalai Lama out of Tibet. The world opinion is against China with regard to China’s Tibetan policy and many think that China is an aggressor by taking over Tibet.

Tibet is a case study in the recent world history , when a peaceful and defence less country have been terrorised by a powerful neighbour with least consideration for principles of ethics and in total defiance of the world opinion. The bitter truth is that the aggressor has succeeded and the world conscience has been beaten down.

India has done a noble job by giving asylum to the Dalai Lama and he has been honoured with the noble peace prize for his patience and perseverance and the dignity with which he has faced the difficult situation. U S President Obama received Dalai Lama and suitably honoured him during his recent visit. Several countries in the world have no problem in issuing visa to the Dalai Lama , recognising his role and position as leader of a peace loving religion. Under such conditions, it is shocking that Sri Lankan government is hesitant to allow the Dalai Lama to enter Sri Lankan soil inspite of the historical link of Sri Lanka with Buddhist religion.

Sri Lanka has faced accusations of human rights violations in United Nations and a few other world forums in recent times. However, number of countries have stood by Sri Lanka in facing such criticisms, since Sri Lanka has to defeat militant rebels in a civil war and Sri Lankan government had to act to defend it’s territorial integrity. Many countries who support Sri Lanka in facing human rights violation criticism share the view that some human rights violation could have been inevitable in the particular conditions faced by Sri Lanka.

Now, Sri Lankan government is likely to lose the sympathy of an even these nations well disposed towards it,as the Sri Lankan government refuse visa to Dalai Lama.

This is a historical blunder being committed by Sri Lankan government due to some doubtful short term gains. One only hopes that better sense will prevail in the Sri Lankan government and it would treat the Dalai Lama with the respect that he deserves and go ahead to provide him visa as several other countries have done. Sri Lankan government should not make itself look small in the eyes of the world , by not treating the Dalai Lama in appropriate manner.