What does it mean to be a ‘Clean Sri Lankan’? This question, deceptively simple, pierces to the very core of the nation’s identity crisis and forces a reckoning with centuries of ideological detritus. It’s lamentable 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 to physical sanitation. It is, at its heart, a demand for the purification of thought, action, and societal structures. It is a crucible for redefining what it means to be a free individual, a citizen unencumbered by the chains of hypocrisy, Orwellian doublespeak, and deceit – a nation-builder who possesses both the liberty and the moral courage to act beyond rhetorical platitudes.
Hypocrisy and doublespeak have long been the unspoken currencies of governance and social interaction in all walks of society in Sri Lanka. Those who have seized political power are often the by-products of this duplicity.
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 they themselves undermine; citizens decry corruption while participating in petty graft; intellectuals engage in lofty debates that serve only to obfuscate action.
This endemic duplicity corrodes the social fabric, transforming the national discourse into a charade where words ring hollow and actions betray their declared intentions. To be a ‘Clean Sri Lankan,’ then, is to reject this pervasive deceit at every level – to shatter the mask of performative virtue and embrace the uncomfortable truths that underlie genuine progress.
Daring to know
The hypocrisy extends beyond politics and into the sanctified realms of religion, education, and culture. How often have temples, mosques, and churches preached humility while amassing opulent wealth? How many schools churn out obedient followers instead of freethinkers capable of challenging orthodoxy?
Clean Sri Lanka must address these hypocrisies not by imposing top-down reforms but by fostering a culture of introspection and critical thought. As Immanuel Kant posited in his seminal essay ‘What is Enlightenment?’ “Sapere aude!” – dare to know.
Dare to think for oneself. A clean nation is, first and foremost, a nation of freethinkers who refuse to be swayed by demagogues and con artists masquerading as leaders. In addition, we must heed the wisdom of Socrates, who famously proclaimed: “Know thyself.”
For Sri Lanka, this is a call to self-awareness and introspection. Before questioning others, we must first inquire within. What does it truly mean to be Sri Lankan? Only through such honest self-examination can we begin to form a clearer vision of who we are and what we aspire to be.
Consider the rhetoric of patriotism, often invoked as a shield for inaction and mediocrity. To ‘stand up for national interests’ is a noble goal, but what does it entail in practical terms? Is it waving flags and singing anthems while rivers choke on plastic and forests fall to greed? Or is it the quieter, more arduous work of holding oneself accountable, of making personal sacrifices for the greater good?
History provides ample examples of nations that have grappled with these questions. Clean Sri Lanka must redefine citizenship as an active, participatory endeavour rather than a passive entitlement.
This redefinition requires engaging in meaningful social discourse, a practice that has all but disappeared in an age of polarised shouting matches and echo chambers. To be a clean citizen is to reclaim the public sphere as a space for reasoned debate and mutual understanding. It is to reject the facile binaries of us versus them and progress versus tradition, and to embrace the complexity of a pluralistic society.
The dialogue must not shy away from contentious issues – caste, class, ethnicity, religion – but must confront them with honesty and a commitment to a dignified life for all. As the philosopher Hannah Arendt observed, “Politics is the realm of freedom,” and freedom, in its truest sense, demands the courage to engage with the ‘other’ without pretence or malice.
A revolution of values
To be a ‘Clean Sri Lankan’ is to demand that every individual be afforded the dignity and respect necessary to reach their fullest potential, not as a cog in a bureaucratic machine but as a human being imbued with intrinsic worth.
This vision is not without precedent. The Scandinavian countries, often held up as models of social progress, did not achieve their status through superficial reforms. They invested in education that prioritised critical thinking over rote memorisation, in social safety nets that ensured dignity for all, and in governance that valued transparency and accountability.
Sri Lanka, too, can aspire to such heights, but only if it abandons the comforting lies that have long sustained its inertia. As George Orwell warned, “To see what is in front of one’s nose needs a constant struggle.” That struggle is the essence of Clean Sri Lanka.
At its most radical, this initiative challenges the very foundation of the nation-state. What does it mean to be a Sri Lankan?
The identity crisis that plagues Sri Lanka cannot be resolved through slogans or superficial unity. It requires a profound 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 entity, not through enforced homogeneity but through a celebration of its diversity.
Yet, even as we envision this utopia, we must remain vigilant against the seductive allure of perfectionism. The pursuit of cleanliness, whether physical or ideological, can devolve into puritanism, where dissent is silenced and conformity is imposed.
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 inclusivity, where failures are met with understanding rather than condemnation.
In practical terms, this means designing systems that encourage participation without coercion. Imagine a nation where civic engagement is not a chore but a source of pride and fulfilment. Where communities take ownership of their public spaces, transforming them into hubs of creativity and collaboration. Where technology serves as an enabler of transparency and accountability, rather than a tool of surveillance and manipulation. Where education equips students not only with knowledge but with the moral courage to challenge injustice.
These are not pipe dreams; they are achievable goals, provided we have the collective will to pursue them.
Ultimately, Clean Sri Lanka is about liberation. Liberation from the hypocrisies and doublespeak that bind us, the fears that paralyse us, and the divisions that weaken us. It is about becoming free men and women who take responsibility for their lives and their communities, who demand more of themselves and their leaders, and who refuse to settle for anything less than a nation worthy of their aspirations. It is, in the truest sense, a revolution — not of violence, but of values.
(The writer is the author of ‘After Assad: Is Syria the New Libya in the Mediterranean?’ and a Senior Manager at the Sri Lanka Ports Authority [SLPA]. The views expressed are personal)