Becoming a "clean Sri Lankan"

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What does it mean to be a "clean Sri Lankan"? This seemingly simple question cuts to the very core of the nation's identity crisis and forces a reckoning with centuries of ideological fallout. It is unfortunate that even a small nation like Singapore answered this question half a century ago.

Clean Sri Lanka, ostensibly an environmental initiative, must not be mistaken for a mere call for physical hygiene. At its core, it is a call for purification of thought, action and social structures. It is a crucible for redefining what it means to be a free individual, a citizen unencumbered by the shackles of hypocrisy, Orwellian double-talk and lies - a nation builder who has the freedom and moral courage to act beyond rhetorical platitudes.

Hypocrisy and doublespeak have long been the unspoken currency of governance and social interaction in Sri Lanka at all levels of society. Those who have seized political power are often by-products of this doublespeak.

We blame others for our weaknesses without correcting ourselves. Instead of being the change we wish to see, we expect it from others. Leaders extol virtues that they themselves undermine; citizens condemn corruption while engaging in petty graft; intellectuals engage in lofty debates that serve only to obscure actions.

This endemic duplicity disintegrates the social fabric and turns national discourse into a charade where words ring hollow and actions betray declared intentions. To be a 'clean Sri Lankan', then, is to reject this pervasive deception at all levels - to shatter the mask of pretended virtue and embrace the uncomfortable truths that underpin real progress.

Dare to know

Hypocrisy extends beyond politics and into the hallowed realms of religion, education and culture. How often have temples, mosques and churches preached humility while amassing lavish wealth? How many schools produce obedient followers instead of free thinkers capable of challenging orthodoxy?

A clean Sri Lanka must address this hypocrisy not by imposing reforms from above but by promoting a culture of introspection and critical thinking. As Immanuel Kant stated in his seminal essay "What is Enlightenment? "Sapere aude!" - Dare to know.

Dare to think for yourself. A clean nation is first and foremost a nation of free-thinking people who refuse to be influenced by demagogues and frauds posing as leaders. Moreover, we must heed the wisdom of Socrates, who famously said, "Know thyself."

For Sri Lanka, it is a call for self-discovery and introspection. Before we start asking others, we must first ask ourselves. What does it really mean to be Sri Lankan? Only through such honest self-examination can we begin to form a clearer picture of who we are and what we want to be.

Consider the rhetoric of patriotism, which is often used as a shield for inaction and mediocrity. "Standing up for the national interest" is a noble goal, but what does it mean in practice? Is it waving flags and singing anthems while rivers choke on plastic and forests succumb to greed? Or is it a quieter and more strenuous work, where responsibility and personal sacrifice are required for the greater good?

History provides many examples of nations that have struggled with these issues. A clean Sri Lanka must redefine citizenship as an active, participatory endeavour, not a passive entitlement.

This redefinition requires engaging in meaningful social debate, which has all but disappeared in an era of polarised shouting and echo chambers. Being a clean citizen means reclaiming the public sphere as a space for reasoned discussion and mutual understanding. It means rejecting the false binaries of us versus them and progress versus tradition and embracing the complexity of a plural society.

Dialogue must not shy away from contentious issues - caste, class, ethnicity, religion - but must deal with them honestly and with a commitment to a life of dignity for all. As the philosopher has noted Hannah Arendt, "politics is the domain of freedom" and freedom in the true sense of the word requires the courage to deal with "others" without pretense and malice.

Revolution of values

To be a "clean Sri Lankan" is to demand that every individual be accorded the dignity and respect necessary to reach their full potential, not as a cog in a bureaucratic machine, but as a human being with intrinsic worth.

This vision is not unprecedented. The Scandinavian countries, often held up as models of social progress, have not achieved their status through superficial reforms. They have invested in education that prioritises critical thinking over memorisation, in social safety nets that ensure dignity for all, and in governance that values transparency and accountability.

Sri Lanka too can aspire to such heights, but only if it abandons the reassuring lies that have long sustained its inertia. As he warned George Orwell: "To see what is right in front of one's nose requires a constant struggle." This fight is at the heart of the Clean Sri Lanka Project.

In its most radical form, this initiative calls into question the very foundations of the nation-state. What does it mean to be Sri Lankan?

The identity crisis plaguing Sri Lanka cannot be solved by slogans or superficial unity. It requires a deep reckoning with history, a willingness to confront the scars of colonialism, civil war and systemic inequality. Only then can the nation emerge as a cohesive whole, not through enforced homogeneity, but by celebrating its diversity.

But even as we imagine this utopia, we must remain wary of the seductive lure of perfectionism. The pursuit of purity, whether physical or ideological, can degenerate into puritanism, where dissent is silenced and conformity is imposed.

A clean Sri Lanka must resist the temptation to become a moral crusade that alienates those who fall short of its ideals. Instead, it must cultivate a culture of empathy and inclusiveness, where failure is met with understanding rather than condemnation.

In practice, this means creating systems that encourage participation without coercion. Imagine a nation where civic engagement is not an obligation but a source of pride and fulfilment. Where communities take ownership of their public spaces and turn them into centers of creativity and collaboration. Where technology serves as a tool for transparency and accountability, not as a tool for surveillance and manipulation. Where education equips students not only with knowledge, but with the moral courage to confront injustice.

These are not pipe dreams; they are achievable goals if we have the collective will to pursue them.

Ultimately, the Clean Sri Lanka Project is about liberation. Liberation from the hypocrisy and double meanings that bind us, from the fear that paralyses us and from the divisions that weaken us. It is about becoming free men and women who will take responsibility for their lives and their communities, who will demand more from themselves and their leaders, and who will refuse to settle for anything less than a nation worthy of their aspirations. It is a revolution in the true sense of the word - not a violent one, but a revolution of values.

(Nilantha Ilangamuwa is the author of After Assad: Is Syria the New Libya in the Mediterranean? - After Assad: Is Syria the New Libya in the Mediterranean? - and senior manager at the Sri Lanka Ports Authority [SLPA]. The views expressed are personal.)

The Morning/ gnews - RoZ