Chinese Poet Ma Zhiyuan (1250-1321AD) from the Yuan Dynasty wrote below lines describing an image of an old man traveling though an uninhabited landscape at sunset evoking the sorrow of loneliness.

Withered vines, old trees, crows at dusk

A small bridge, flowing water, cottages hushed.

Ancient road, west wind, a lean horse plods

The sun sinks low - the heartbroken traveler, lost and alone.

One might think of above when seeing PM Narendra Modi flying home over Mannar Island but many believe he left with happy memories especially from Anuradhapura. Some Sri Lankans may remember PM Jawaharlal Nehru enjoying Anuradhapura and the iced water dispenser he gifted to the pilgrims visiting the Maha Sthupa (Ruvanweliseya). If aeronautical engineering was developed long ago, Emperor Ashoka may have visited with his son, daughter and the ‘Bodhi’ sapling (oldest tree in the world with written records) instead of sending it with his daughter by ship. Emperor Ashoka should be remembered with gratitude for eradicating tribalism and helping to establish a Sri Lankan civilization (Ref Mahavansa). Chinese women also benefitted from the ‘Bikkuni Sasana’ due to Indo Lanka relations back then. Although Sri Lankans at some points boycotted Indian products and even renamed ‘Bombay Onions’ to reduce violence at grassroots, majority Sri Lankans managed to maintain cultural and trade bonds unbroken.

What may trigger and prevent conflicts?

History notes many instances where Sri Lankans took military steps to control violence with links to economic expansions in South India. Notable were when the Administration capital shifted to Yapahuwa from Polonnaruwa and to Sri Jayawardenepura 100 years before western colonization. In Yapahuwa the Chinese helped construct the shrine for the tooth relic with ‘Yapahuwa Lions’ and Chinese Admiral Zheng He helped enthrone Parakramabahu VI who gave political leadership to establish Sri Jayawardenepura which still stands as the Administrative capital (Ref. history).

Sri Lankans should remember that whenever they formed strong governments, unexpected conflicts erupted due to the most unexpected causes. In 2024 they elected a strong government. The challenge for the people would be a ‘Modi Vivendi’ (working arrangements between conflicting interests or practical compromise to maintain stability). If conflicts are properly managed with a ‘Modi Operandi’ (a proper procedure or method of operating) (Ref. Collins), Sri Lankans can reap benefits from the expanding South Indian economy and the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ of China. If so they can ‘rejoice’ or ‘be happy’ true to the ‘Pali’ meaning of Modi (Ref. Pali – English dictionary).

(Views expressed are personal/ photo source www).