Major public meeting on Sri Lanka to be held in London

(August 20, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) Following relative silence for the past three months, section of the United Kingdom based Sri Lankan diaspora has decided to hold a much needed public meeting to discuss about peace, reconciliation and political resolution to the conflict in Sri Lanka.

The newly formed Alliance for Peace and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka (APRSL) has planned to hold the meeting on 2nd (Friday) October 2009 on the theme of ‘Post War in Sri Lanka – Peace and Reconciliation a way forward’ in the Central London in a prestigious hall symbolising the very meaning of peace, reconciliation and non-violence.

Speakers representing the Tamil, Sinhalese, Muslim communities, British parliamentarians and important speakers of international acclaim are expected to address the meeting. The meeting will be chaired by an eminent British parliamentarian and the Chief Guest will be a well known Lord. The APRSL Vice Chairman said that details of the event, when finalised, will be given widest publicity.

The APRSL’s mission statement adopted by all three Sri Lankan community members refers to wide range of issues affecting Sri Lanka and as an active group it is holding its first public meeting to campaign to achieve its goal. APRSL’s mission statement states:

‘Standards of governance have continued to decline since Sri Lanka gained independence six decades back. A vision for a multi- lingual, multi-religious, multi-cultural and multi-community nation was lacking among the political parties contending for power in the newly emergent nation.

‘The fact that there is more in common among the peoples of Sri Lanka was glossed over, while the differences were exaggerated in order to garner votes from a fragmented electorate. The pursuit of power without scruples has fractured the nation at various levels, with the communal divide-Sinhala vs. Tamil, leading to a brutal and barbaric civil war and a demand for a separate state for the Tamils.

‘The failure to embrace accommodative politics, respect constitutional norms and adhere to basic moral principles has thwarted Sri Lanka from achieving her potential, while causing immense suffering to sections of her people and have failed to achieve ‘Unity in Diversity’ amongst the communities.

‘Corruption and violence of all sorts have become endemic and are thriving national industries. All the above factors have contributed to make a mockery of rule of law and brought about a decline in ‘Good Governance’.

‘The current situation in Sri Lanka dictates the need for a visionary approach, to arrest further decline in all aspects of national life, bring about a national reconciliation and set in motion a vibrant accommodative democratic process for national revival through political empowerment encompassing all her peoples.

‘Socio-political structures have to be remade where necessary, strengthened where required and the people empowered to the greatest extent possible. The stranglehold of the politicians at all levels of national life has to be broken as a national priority. Sri Lanka has to become a pragmatic, forward looking nation, unencumbered by both her recent and ancient past.

‘Tragic events of the past three decades have given rise to a vibrant, prosperous, and skilled Tamil Diaspora, which has strong emotional and family ties to Sri Lanka. This Diaspora continues to have strong interest in the affairs in Sri Lanka and is not only a major asset for the Tamil community in Sri Lanka, but potentially for the whole country. This asset has to be cultivated and mobilized for the betterment of both the Tamils and the country at large.

‘This Diaspora has to also participate in the process of conflict resolution in Sri Lanka.

‘It is the objective of this grouping to:

1. To bear upon the Government of Sri Lanka and other participants in the political process to resolve the Sinhala-Tamil-Muslim aspirations through an accommodative process in a transparent manner.

To achieve this, the following activities will be undertaken:

* Campaigning internationally on social, political, human rights and humanitarian issues of concern to all Sri Lankans.

* Establish socio-media structures to deal with issues affecting vulnerable Sri Lankans both within and outside the country.

* Educate, motivate and harness youth in the Diaspora to become involved in the conflict resolution process both inside and outside Sri Lanka.

* To lend a hand to resolve the conflict in Sri Lanka.

2. To harness the resources of Sri Lankan Diaspora to develop and strengthen the socio- economic structures within Sri Lanka and within the Diaspora itself.

3. To bring about the awareness that we are all Sri Lankans irrespective of where we may be living around the globe.’
-Sri Lanka Guardian