Voices for a better tomorrow:

The old year is behind us and a new one has just begun. Even though we are already four days into 2009, the sound of firecrackers that ushered in the New Year still echo in our minds and the festive mood lingers on...

There is so much to do and look forward to now that a new year has dawned. Twelve months lie ahead, packed with exciting possibilities, so why not plan for a productive year? Like the glorious Sun that rises every morning to warm the Earth and give it a new lease of life, we should make use of each new day to refresh our spirits and forge ahead to make this world a better place to live in for everyone.

Let the failures of the old year turn to ashes; we cannot undo them, but we could certainly learn from them.

If we let the negatives of the old year cloud our outlook, we would never be able to make positive changes in the New Year. With the right attitude and approach we can make 2009, an year that ushers in peace and prosperity to our motherland.

Each of us have our own dreams and our own goals to achieve in this new year. But we all have a common wish - that is for peace in our beloved motherland, soaked in the blood of hundreds of innocent civilians who have been killed, and the brave armed forces personnel who have sacrificed life and limb for the country, due to the ethnic war.

Without peace there can be no progress. Without peace there can be no life, especially for the future generations.

Children are the worst affected victims of any disaster, whether man-made or natural. The scars the wars leave on the minds of the world’s children can never be erased. Life may never be the same again for these innocent, helpless victims of wars that they never started.

We may win the battles of war, but it’s often the children who have to pay the price later; they have to battle a more dangerous enemy in the form of hunger and poverty as homeless and orphaned children who have lost not only their innocence, but also their trust in adults. Isn’t the misery and suffering they undergo through natural disasters and abuse enough, that we should add to them?

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) adopted by the UN states that “children would have ‘first call’ on all resources and that world leaders would always put the best interest of children first in good times or bad, in peace or in war, in prosperity or economic disasters”. But, what have we really done?

We have given them a world plagued by global warming, poverty, war and suffering. It’s time to make a change now. So, let’s join hands and give ear to the little voices crying out for a better tomorrow. Let’s make peace the theme of our lives in 2009.

Nethmi C. Wickramarathne - Good Shepherd Convent, Kandana

“Due to the long-drawn ethnic war, most children have been deprived of even

their basic needs like education, shelter, clothing and food. Of course there are

other reasons such as poverty and natural disasters that have led to such a

situation.Children too have been greatly affected by the economic problems in the country. They have to struggle for a living and face a lot of difficulties in life.

Some children have been forced to step in to make ends meet and help their families, due to poverty, the war and many other reasons.

I wish for two important things in this New Year - firstly to see the end of this terrible ethnic war which has taken so many lives, and secondly to see the tear-stained and gloomy faces of children changing in to smiling faces.”

Visal Yasodara - Madampe Madya Maha Vidyalaya,Madampe

“I wish this country gains peace in this new year. The war is hard on everyone. We must all get together to solve the ethnic crisis that has destroyed many lives. At present all Sri Lankans are faced with a lot of problems, especially economic and social.

If not for the ethnic war, life could be much pleasant. At least this year, we should be able to enjoy life without having to live in constant fear. I wish a happy and peaceful New Year for everyone.”

Shafna Uvaiz - St. Paul’s Milagiriya

“I wish for a better world where every child is treated equally and fairly. Today children are greatly abused and need to be protected a lot. I also wish that people would do everything they could to protect the environment - because the world is facing severe problems due to climatic changes caused by environmental pollution.

Planet Earth, the only home we have, needs to be protected from being destroyed. And of course I wish for peace, not only in our motherland, but also around the world.”

Thilina Subash - Siddhartha College, Galle

“My foremost wish is that this little island nation of ours becomes free of the shackles of war and achieves peace in 2009.

I also wish to see ‘alleviation of poverty’ become a reality.Life is a huge competition. We should have a strong will and the strength of character to overcome the many challenges we face. Determination plays a key role in this connection.

Therefore, I ask all Sri Lankans to have the determination to achieve their respective goals and dreams in 2009.Finally, I wish everyone a peaceful, prosperous new year filled with health, wealth and happiness.”

Dilshan Neranjan - Wesley College, Colombo

“Children are one of the most affected segments of society when it comes to wars, natural disasters and violence. We are the innocent victims of both man-made and natural disasters. Children dislike war especially, so I wish to see the end of this war we are presently facing.

I wish to see a land which is peaceful and self-sufficient, with all communities living in harmony. I never want to see or live in fear of a natural disaster such as the tsunami we experienced or the deadly earthquakes that occurred in China in the past.

My wish is to see people living in freedom and happiness.”

Mohamed Amjath - Zahira College, Kalmunai

“Children must take an active part in leading our country to peace and prosperity. We must work hard to gain our future happiness. If we take measures to solve the serious problems the people in our country are facing today, then we can create a better world for everyone.

There is so much strife and suffering in the world and we all must play our part in changing this situation.”

M. Azman - Bandarawela Central College, Bandarawela

“We know that poverty has been a root cause of most of the problems in our country. So, I fervently wish to see some positive measures being taken to eradicate at least some of the major problems poor people face, through various poverty alleviation programmes.

“Today life has become very competitive and I wish for strength and courage to overcome all hurdles and face the many challenges that come our way in 2009. But above everything, I wish for peace in our motherland. May everyone enjoy a happy and peaceful 2009!”

Eshani Senevirathne - Visakha Vidyalaya, Colombo

“I don’t like the way our people, even some children, are divided over the ethnic crisis. I’m a Sinhalese, but unfortunately I don’t have any friends who belong to other races.

But I would like to have friends from other ethnic communities. The present ethnic crisis has made people of both communities wary of each other and I hope the gap between the two communities would be bridged in this new year.

If we put aside our differences and unite, we could build a socially and economically developed and peaceful country in the future. I wish we could lay the foundation stone for this in 2009.”