In order to emancipate the people of this country from the dire straits that threaten to engulf them it is imperative to determine an unswerving main objective. It is suggested that the definite main objective should be the creation of conditions favourable for this country’s heterogeneous population to live in brotherhood or, in any other words, to co-exist in peace and dignity in any part of the Island as one Sri Lankan family or nation. Further, any person should have the right to carry on his/her legitimate business, profession or other occupation in any part of the island without any fear.
In the pursuit of the main objective indicated above, it is absolutely necessary to give pride of place to humanism, which can appropriately be adopted as the overall guiding principle in solving knotty matters as between one citizen and another, and between one community and another. It is earnestly hoped that the key players at the peace negotiating table will pledge to one another that none of them has a hidden agenda, and that they will consider all matters in dispute by letting reasons to prevail over emotion: emotion has been in "the stock-in-trade" of selfish politicians to incite gullible sections to rage and mutiny.
In connection with many conflicts in society we cannot conveniently ignore the bane of persisting poverty of the masses, whose purchasing power has been rapidly deteriorating on account of the impact of both internal negligence and external factors. The peace negotiators should be cognisant of the fact that poverty is also a basic component of the cause of the conflict faced by them to be settled. Achievement of substantial poverty alleviation requires the care and consistent attention on a long term basis extending perhaps to the periods of two or more successive regimes. During the course of the last century there have been uprisings in revolt both in the Southern and northern areas of the island. For the sake of a durable peace, it is vital to ensure that there should be an equitable distribution of wealth and income of the entire nation accruing to persons so that the share of the toiling masses will enable them to live above want and not depend on chariry of the rich. It is observed that some of the givers of charity will not acquire merit because they themselves had subtly, or otherwise exploited the poor in some, form or other.
The common cord that binds all communities is humanism, which is, after all, the essence of the teachings and preachings of the authors of the four religions believed in by the vast majority. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that the dignitaries in Sri Lanka at the apexes of Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam should form a joint mission of mercy, that is, an alliance evolving a master mind to assist in the creation of favourable living conditions as envisaged in the main objective referred to at the beginning of this writing. There is no doubt that the dignitaries by virtue of their talent and dedication are eminently qualified to undertake the onerous task involved. While appreciating several endeavours already made individually by the top level hierarchy of all denominations it is anticipated that the combined mission will put the peace process on a firmer footing. The alliance of mercy will, of course, determine its own strategy: in any case, it is suggested that the alliance should visit the north and have frequent discussions with the LTTE and others involved there: it should liaise at regular intervals with the government, the opposition and other leaders in the South. Periodical bulletins of activities and comments will be expected by the public.
D. Kuruneru,
Moratuwa.
