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Humanity triumphs - Ven. Kotugoda Dhammavasa

'The current peace effort is one of the best things which has happened to this country. It has brought to the surface the innate nobility of Lankans. It may contain some short-comings but rejecting it out of hand, is not at all advisable. Instead, we must strive to overcome these short-comings and forge steadily ahead until we achieve peace'.

Thus advised the Ven. Kotugoda Dhammavasa Nayake Thera, Secretary General of the Sri Lanka Amarapura Maha Sangha Sabha, when asked by the 'Daily News' about his impressions of the Government's peace effort. One of Sri Lanka's most respected Buddhist prelates and renowned for his moderate views on the country's conflict, Ven. Kotugoda was one among several prominent personalities who were consulted by top officials of the Norwegian embassy here, prior to the launching of the peace process.

When asked whether he had a special message for the Sinhala community at this critical juncture, Ven. Kotugoda said that the whole of society must help in advancing the peace process and ensure that the best results are reaped from it.

'The war has gone on for 25 years. The conflict has worsened over the years and not ceased; it has only brought disaster over the years. Some prominent countries, including India, told us to resolve the problem peacefully. But the conflict was aggravated by foreign intelligence agencies. Lankans on both sides of the divide died in large numbers. Among them were innocent citizens who were caught up in the cross-fire. Property was wantonly destroyed and the country suffered grave harm", the Thera explained.

"We can't go on this way. War is nothing less than destruction and ruin. This country must be saved and preserved for posterity - this is a prime duty of our's. The current peace process gives us an opportunity to do this, the prelate pointed out.

"Because of the prolonged conflict, mutual mistrust and suspicion has been sown among the main communities. Although this mistrust cannot be ended in a hurry, we must in speech and action erase this mistrust sensibly.

"Some extremists may express reservations about the peace effort. But we must not dwell on these negatives. We must go right ahead and resolve this problem once and for all and realise peace, Ven. Kotugoda emphasized. He also stressed that except for a few monks, the vast majority of bhikkhus is supportive of the peace process.

While expressing his gratitude to the major countries which support the peace process, the prelate thanked Norway in particular for its untiring efforts in helping launch the negotiatory process.

Ven. Dhammavasa also said that special thanks should go out to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for bringing about this positive turn in the peace effort. He did well to build on the sound foundation that President Kumaratunga had laid for peace.

Ven. Dhammavasa concluded by emphasizing the need for a united, broad-based peace effort. President and Prime Minister, Government and Opposition and all sections of Lankan society, he said, need to join hands in this major peace initiative. - L.O.

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