A prosperous tomorrow: the realisation of the right to development through Mahinda Chinthana goals

Abstract

This paper will focus on the ways and means of using the home-grown development strategies set out in the Mahinda Chinthana for creating a society where every Sri Lankan enjoys prosperity and peace. Background: It is said that Human Rights, Peace and Development are inextricably linked and are all parts of a triangle and that one cannot exist without the other two components. Special emphasis of this paper will be on Development as a Human Right. Human Development means the Development of the human person in recognition of his inherent dignity. Globalisation must embody the right to development which the General Assembly of the United Nations has declared to be an inalienable human right and of which the human person should be the active participant and beneficiary. However, one must remember that the concept of Human Rights was born out of Asian cultural and religious beliefs such as �Dharma� and �Ahimsa�. It is submitted that peace, contentment and development of the human being that is assured by the Right to Development under International Human rights Law; can be delivered more effectively through home-grown, indigenous, national policies and strategies. Research Problem: Can the Right to Development of Sri Lankans be guaranteed through the achievement of Mahinda Chinthana Goals? Hypothesis: It is hypothesized that that rather than blindly following foreign models in the implementation of the right to development, equitable development in Sri Lanka can be materialized through national mechanisms such as Divineguma and Mahinda Chinthana Goals. This is because these ideas and endeavours were born out of Sri Lankan soil; developed by Sri Lankan minds. Research Methodology: This research will require gathering of relevant data from interviews, different documents, journal articles, text books and websites. I hope to conduct interviews with State and non-State actors and the general public and determine how the Mahinda Chintana Goals could be implemented and how it can be coordinated and connected with legal and administrative mechanisms. The main focus of this paper will be the Mahinda Chinthana Goals of the Affectionate Family, Diriya Kanthawan (resourceful women), Rights of the differently-abled, enhanced personal incomes, housing for all, the prosperous village and national consensus towards honourable peace. The above areas will be analysed in the light of Human Rights and duties. Practical recommendations will be presented in the form of activities which could be integrated into the National Action Plan on Human Rights. The possible obstacles to the realization of these goals will also be discussed.