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| Sunday, 24 February 2002 |
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Maha Sangha, society leaders hail ceasefire Religious leaders and leading citizens have begun to welcome the Peace Agreement between the Government and the LTTE. The Ven. Banagala Upatissa Thera, President of the Mahabodhi Society, Sangha Nayaka of Japan and Chief Incumbent of Sanchi Vihara, has called on "all rational and peace loving people" to support the peace process. Extending his support for the Government's peace effort, the Nayaka Thera in a statement yesterday, has urged the Prime Minister not to be deterred by "discordant voices". The Ven. Banagala Thera further said: "Our people, weary of war, exhausted by the brutality of a conflict that has become part of our daily existence look forward to the restoration of peace. "We are convinced that the permanent ceasefire that the Government hopes to achieve will give the nation a reprieve that will allow us all to experience the tranquillity that this island enjoyed more than three decades ago. "The Hon. Prime Minister has assured us that the security and territorial integrity of our land will never be compromised. We accept this assurance unreservedly, for he has given no indication of wavering from this commitment. Therefore, I make this appeal to all rational and peace loving people to be wise and strong and extend our collective commitment to the peace process. "It is saddening to note that there are discordant voices and expressions of doubt and suspicion. But we take solace in the fact that it has been an integral part of our nation's folly that has brought us to the brink of disaster as a nation state. The history of post-Independence Sri Lanka as regards communal harmony in our pluralistic society is in amalgam of mistakes, partly due to distrust and mainly due to the failure to realize that dignity of man is the birthright of every citizen of this land. It is indeed fundamental in the teachings of the Buddha. To the Hon. Prime Minister I wish to quote again from the teachings of the Buddha. "Selo yatha ekaghano- Vatena na samirati, Evam ninda passannesu- Na saminjanti pandita" "As a solid rock is not shaken by the wind; Even so the wise are not perturbed amidst praise or blame". (Dhammapada) The Ven. Warakawe Dhammaloka Thera, Lekhadhikari, Asgiriya Chapter: "The present peace trend in the country is heartening. It brings both parties to the conflict together. But, there is a lurking doubt whether the Government was too hasty in signing an agreement before mutual, equal measures of trust manifested in both communities. The LTTE has been rather constrained in its contributions for peace, viz. releasing only ten detainees and opening a few roads whereas we have given them everything but arms. We have heard of LTTE building bunkers in Polonnaruwa and collecting arms. I believe citizens in the North and East should have all the amenities that we have in the South. But, both parties must show transparency in their actions towards peace. Then only the support of the whole nation could be gained for the peace process." Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne, Founder, Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement: "I, as an individual with the Sarvodaya Movement, whole-heartedly welcome the signing of the peace agreement. It commits both sides to stop killing one another without resorting to arms again. We know this is not the end to war but it is a very good first step and we all should co-operate. In any situation, there are loop-holes, but looking for them should not be our attitude. We should consider how the agreement stops killing people and facilitates the next step of fostering a harmonious, psychological environment for both Sinhala and Tamil people to talk to one another. People's participation will help the Government and the LTTE negotiations towards peace". |
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