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Sri Lankans abroad and those in the country yearn to have a peaceful future for this island nation. Our country is unique in many ways. The natural beauty and the human resources are the wealth with which all the people in the island can hope for a bright future.

To achieve happiness for all, the peace process should be sustained with confidence and the will to maintain peace towards prosperity should be firmly rooted in the hearts and minds of all sections of the Sri Lankan population. This great country has been called the Pearl of the Indian Ocean'. This pearl had a great past.

Why can't it visualise a bright and enviable future by building the structure of peace on a concrete and reliable foundation? As every one knows the internecine warfare has completely wrecked the contented good life of all the people in the country. Obviously some have suffered more than the others. Time has come to move forward to set the house in order forgetting the past and forgiving the wrongdoings of one another. Peace is a flower that springs from the heart. Every human being longs for peace.

The soldier who fights and the volunteer with a lethal weapon definitely hates killing and destruction. But they are in the battlefield to perform a certain kind of duty not because of their willingness to kill but because he/she is draw into a peculiar swirl in the stream of life which propagates violence.

Violence is condoned by governments and organisations which fight for certain goals. But violence breeds violence and destruction. This is a vicious cycle which can only be reverted by peaceful, peace negotiations and political solutions.

Those who have thought seriously about the defunct nature of wars have finally settled down to talk of peace, for peace and have decided to adopt peace as the way of life in Sri Lanka. In order to bring about lasting peace there should be many avenues open for change of attitudes through debates and discussions. The contributions made by professionals, politicians, academicians and even the ordinary people in the country are the foundation on which the peace structure can be built on.

Once the structure is firm the economic and environmental issues could be thrashed in the open and solutions could be found. The cost of living in the country is rising to such heights that the poverty level also keeps rising. To keep these under control and to see that the rich and the poor lead a comfortable and healthy life peace should last.

Pollution control and a clean environment are the essential ingredients for healthy and happy living.

The diesel oil exhaust waste from the cars, lorries and vans hang up in the air even at night's when the vehicles are off the road like a curse waiting to pounce upon to create unspeakable havoc. The dumping of rubbish in the rivers, waterways and beaches is a despicable habit which should be nullified with education and strict supervision. Cleanliness, which is one of ancestral, inherited virtues should be propagated and promoted in public places. Lasting peace is the only means through which these goals could be achieved. Respect for law and order, discipline in daily life are the essential ingredients for a peaceful social life. Peace at home leads to peace in the family and thus it extends wider and wider in a concentric circle to the community at large, to the country and the whole world in the end.

Learning to respect law and order brings about discipline in the daily life of every human being. When this becomes a habit it dies hard. Let us cultivate this habit in the name of peace.

Another factor that is prominent in adding to a country's prosperity is transparency and honesty in public places. The religions that we fondly adhere to, teach us to be perfect morally and ethically. Perfection may be the attributes of gods but striving to be perfect could be the attribute of humans. Striving to be honest and transparent and keeping ourselves free from bribery and corruption will lead us to a happy and prosperous future.

The concerted efforts of all only could bring lasting peace. Let the individual, family and community virtues like hospitality, kindness and mutual understanding of our pluralist society permeate all around our country. Let the peace bells chime and let us in chorus repeat:

We are peace lovers
Peace is our means
Peace is our end
Peace will make our land
A Paradise on Earth!
Varatha Shanmuganathan
Canada.

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