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An impetus to the peace effort

The temporary stoppage of the peace talks has given many people an opportunity to take stock of the situation and do something that can contribute towards the peace process. Even though the leaders on both sides are not sitting across the table talking to each other right now, the ceasefire is still on and people-to-people contacts are getting stronger. For example, thousands of visitors from the South visit the North daily and vice versa, experiencing each other's cultures.

They have freedom to travel without fear and it is unlikely that they will ever want war again.

Religious leaders have a major role to play in the peace process and in building bridges between different communities. They have a powerful voice in the community and a close relationship with the political establishment. They can be ambassadors of peace in turbulent times.

It is in this context that we welcome the good news about a path-breaking initiative by the Mahanayaka of the Asgiriya Chapter Most Venerable Udugama Buddharakhitha Thera. The Venerable Thera will visit Jaffna later this week. This is the first visit to the Peninsula by a Mahanayaka Thera in 30 years.

The Venerable Thera is expected to address a public meeting in Jaffna in which he will make an appeal for the resumption of the peace talks. His visit will coincide with a peace pilgrimage to Nagadeepa by 2,000 Buddhist monks and a large group of lay persons. They will take the A9 highway to Jaffna, spread the message of peace en route and hold a special religious ceremony for peace at the centuries-old sacred shrine. The World Solidarity Forum, which is arranging the prelate's visit, will also conduct a workshop on 'Coming to a Common Mind and Raising a Common Voice', which will be attended by the clergy representing the main religions in Sri Lanka in addition to several lay intellectuals.

These are laudable initiatives, considering that some religious figures and prominent lay persons have chosen to criticise the peace moves without ever going to the North and seeing for themselves the massive destruction caused by the war. Visiting the North will enable these prelates to gain an understanding of the travails of the common man affected by two decades of ethnic conflict and add momentum to the demand for re-starting the peace talks.

Vibrant links between the North and the South are essential to unite the country. The language barrier and travel restrictions have kept Northerners and Southerners apart for so long, enabling war hounds in both regions to paint a totally distorted picture of the other side. This is changing, thanks to new educational initiatives (teaching Sinhala to Tamil children and vice versa), regular youth exchanges and the easing of travel barriers. Northerners have realised that the war kept their region at a standstill, while the rest of Sri Lanka surged ahead.

Those in the South know that peace is vital for further development.

'Coming to a Common Mind and Raising a Common Voice' is indeed the need of the hour. The coming together of dignitaries from all religions on one stage signifies the growing desire on the part of religious leaders to see the dawn of peace. Their clarion call for peace will no doubt permeate the rest of society and send a strong signal to decision makers in the North as well as in the South that war should not be an option.

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