Sri Lanka: Moving from nationalism to multiculturalism | Daily News

Not sure how realistic this vision is, and multiculturalism only came about in Canada when immigration ‘diluted’ the basic anglophone/francophone duality:

Who would doubt that we, as a nation, would be better off if we could engage with one another in a less polarized manner? We cannot get “beyond” these oppositions to achieve national unity, however, despite our desire to do so. Indeed, this desire is a large part of the problem – or, depending on how one views it, the solution – because attempts to transcend the oppositional character of these debates tend to reinforce them. The national unity question that drives our conversation makes it futile, lost in the very terms of the quest. But to the extent that our dialogue continues, those that participate are at least united in their oppositions. This is the bind that ties.

Multicultural society

If the majority of us can agree on a path to achieve national unity, it will eventually lead our country into a solid multi-cultural society. In such a society the different cultures are made inclusive, tolerated and accommodated, and these trends are institutionalized in legislation. Canada, Australia and other western countries, where multiculturalism is the national policy, respect religions, ethnicity and cultures of different communities and their cultural rights, while a secular law common to all protect their human rights. They are not allowed to have a legal system (e.g. Sharia law) or practices (e.g. animal sacrifices) that are contrary to the laws of the country.

Canada, for instance, has, a Multiculturalism Policy from which the plethora of new immigrant communities has benefited in more ways than one. For instance, I know of many Sri Lankans who own their own properties in salubrious neighbourhoods in Canadian Capitals. The key to that effort lay in the fact that all three levels of government – Federal, Provincial and Municipal – provided that immigrant community with the means of generating the revenues not only to purchase a substantial building but to continue to maintain their cultural identity in that city.

Source: Moving from nationalism to multiculturalism | Daily News