The Silk Road Journal by Mahika Ming

As per the famous Chinese folk tale, the world was in total darkness having never seen light and people could not imagine what light was. One day ten brave red Crows began a journey to bring light to the dark world. They flew through dangerous paths till they saw brilliant light and heat in the darkness of space. The Crows flew around the area learning its secrets and gradually their bodies started emitting light and heat. When they returned to earth each was seen as a bright star. Their return appeared as a slight glow on the dark horizon.  When the Crows returned, the world lit up and people felt the warmth which came with them. Some even burned to death due to the heat. Others who lived in complete darkness were afraid to see light. An archer who assumed that he was the savior of earth tried to shoot the crows but realized that if the crows are gone the world will be in total darkness. Since then the tenth red crow rises each morning and flies around the world giving light and warmth till it goes to rest on the solar tree.

Sri Lanka has been in darkness during various periods since independence. Whenever such happens light and warmth were ushered by the least expected personalities who were merely gray persons no one ever noticed. According to some analysts Sri Lanka experienced dark periods during 1956 (discrimination against Tamils), 1962 (discrimination against Catholics), 1971 & 1987 (JVP terrorism), 1981 (burning of Jaffna library) etc. As per many analysts the 30 year bloody conflict unleashed by the Tamil Tigers is seen as the darkest period ever. Sri Lanka is coming out of the global darkness of COVID 19 pandemic experiencing unprecedented difficulties. Public may see archers try to shoot the Crows to take the country into darkness but masses should be shrewder to use the Crows (Kaputas) to get the best possible light and warmth to brighten the lives of the grass roots.

The writer is an analyst with interests in the financial and sustainable development sectors with postgraduate exposure in the Far East (mahika.ming@gmail.com).