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New Year Messages - 2004

President's New Year message

President Chandrika Bandaranaika Kumaratunge in a New Year message expressed confidence that the Sri Lankans have the strength and courage to defeat the attempts of a handful of misguided persons to sow discord and incite hostilities among the people.

The message:

Another New Year dawns today. It is customary to extend New Year greetings. Time has come, however, to ponder whether our greetings we only limited to words.

In the New Year all of us wish peace, joy, and prosperity. This wish can be realised only by living in amity with one another and by respecting the beliefs, customs and traditions of one another.

It is no secret that our country has fallen into a very pathetic situation due to the two-decade-old ethnic strife. The search for a just solution to this problem has taken years and it continues to this day. It is a matter for satisfaction that the LTTE which started the war has stopped its violent acts.

Yet recent events cause me concern and fear. During the last few days we heard that attempts by an extremist minority to incite religious clashes. It is a consolation that only a handful has participated in these violent acts. We should not, however, forget that these extremists are acting on narrow selfish interests.

People of all races and religions lived in unity and peace in the country for centuries. At a time when they are attempting to come out of a two-decade old ethnic conflict, I believe we Sri Lankans have strength and courage to defeat the attempts of a misguided handful to sow discord and incite hostilities among the people and to achieve peace and live in unity.

May such courage and strength of our people, enriched with the Buddhist teachings of compassion and tolerance and the humanitarian teachings of Hinduism, Christianity and Islam during the New Year

Wish you a peaceful and prosperous New Year! May the Triple Gem bless our country! May all deities bless our land!!

Vanakkam! Assalamu Alaikkum! .

Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan

The Secretary-General of the United Nation said in his message:

"In 2003 we did not live up to the promises we made earlier to make the world a better place. We let ourselves be swept along by the tide of war and division. 2004 must be different. It must be the year when we begin to turn the tide". Following is the full text of his message.

"Dear Peoples of the United Nations.

"Your Organisation, which I have the honour to serve, just been through one of the hardest years in its history. We have seen war in Iraq, and deep divisions among nations, about grave issues of war and peace. On 19 August, in a bomb attack on our headquarters in Baghdad, we lost some of our best and most beloved colleagues. These events have distracted the world's leaders from dealing with other threats - threats which, to most people, are more immediate, and more real.

"I mean the threats of extreme poverty and hunger, unsafe drinking water, environmental degradation, and endemic or infectious disease.

"These dangers stalk large parts of our planet. They kill millions and millions of people every year.

They destroy societies. They fuel division and desperation.

"After a year of war and division, it's time to focus more of our energy on people's health and welfare.

It's time to make sure that poor countries have a real opportunity to develop. And it's time we took decisive action to save the resources of our planet.

"Yes, we have to fight terrorism. Yes, we must prevent the spread of deadly weapons. But let's also say yes to development. Let's bring hope into the lives of those who suffer. Without development and hope, there will be no peace.

"Just over three years ago, at the Millennium Summit, leaders of all nations pledged to provide that hope.

"They set themselves precise, time-bound targets - the Millennium Development Goals. To meet these Goals would cost only a fraction of what our world spends on weapons of war. Yet it would bring hope to billions, and greater security to us all.

"But in 2003 we did not live up to these promises. We let ourselves be swept along by the tide of war and division. 2004 must be different. It must be the year when we begin to turn the tide.

"We can turn the tide against HIV/AIDS, if we act on the "three-by-five" initiative - the World Health Organisation's plan to get three million people on anti-retroviral treatment by 2005. It's a bold target, but it can be met - if rich countries, poor and afflicted countries, governments, civil society, the private sector, and the United Nations system all pull together - and if the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is fully funded.

We can turn the tide against hunger, if we all work together to make existing food stocks available to hungry people everywhere, and to help Africa produce the extra food it needs. And we can turn the tide in world trade, if governments do as they promised, and make the current round of negotiations a true 'development round".

"We don't need any more promises. We need to start keeping the promises we already made.

"Let's all make that our New Year's resolution - and I wish you a very happy New Year"

Minister Karu Jayasuriya

Minister of Power and Energy, Karu Jayasuriya while expressing his warmest wishes for a prosperous and united Sri Lanka, with hearts filled with patriotism during the New Year, said in his message.

'We, the Sri Lankans have now reached at a decisive and critical juncture. The future generation would give the credit or discredit on how we behave and how we make decisions in the present. Therefore, every person who takes decisions regarding the country at this juncture should be convinced of this fact. 'Men may come and men may go.

Governments will emerge and disappear and new governments will govern the country and will be destroyed within a certain period of time. However, some expectations and beliefs of the people last long. Sometimes these expectations and beliefs become the obstacles that disturb the future achievements.

Some of these beliefs might be coming from generation to generation. There can be some instances where these traditional hypothetical beliefs would become drawbacks of our future commitments. On such occasions we must have the strength to break off such manacles. We, the Sri Lakans need such energy today.

It has become necessary to build up that energy to create the Sri Lankan identity in a country where the Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim and Burgher races as well as Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic Catholic and Christian followers live together.

'For this hearts should be kept inspired with broad thoughts. Interests of the public should never be suppressed in order to fulfil any narrow aspirations. We must ourselves develop the courage to look into and to accept the benefit the country would get not the benefit we get personally.

For that, qualities such as dedication, patience, mercy and kindness are essential. What we could see from the surface should be same as that we see inside. Otherwise, it will not be easy to break off the manacles of distrust.

'Now, it is the high time to initiate a comprehensive national program for this purpose. Perhaps, this would be the last chance the history has granted to us.

'It will not be difficult to win these real challenges if we are well determined to act in a common consensus creating the love for the motherland in our minds and not letting the racialism and separatism run over the patriotism.

We will consider the forthcoming year 2004 as a year with a firm determination towards a new vision. We will lay the foundation of a year of determination and act accordingly for a prosperous future. My fervent hope is that all of Sri Lankans be courageous and strong enough to achieve such goals. Undoubtedly the undermentioned stanza of Ravindranath Thagore, the well-known poet in Bharatha, from his reputed work "Geethanjali" would provide us a good guidance.

"Where is the head unbowed?

"Where is the head unshaken?

"Where is the freedom set free?

"Where is the world undivided by rock-wall called personal disputes?

"Where is the heart that pure words flow from the bottom of it?

"Where the persevering man is raised to the prosperity?

"Where is the pure gush of water of justice is safe from fatal desert called out-dated customs?

"Where is the mind persuaded by you towards broad thoughts and to noble purposes?

"My Lord! keep my country awaken for that paradise called freedom.

"My heartiest wishes to all the Sri Lankans for a prosperous, glorious and peaceful future".

Cooperatives Minister, A. R. M. Abdul Cader

Cooperatives Minister A. R. M. Abdul Cader in a special New Year message said all parties concerned should resolve to restart the stalled peace process and strive to bring lasting peace to the country in the New Year.

The message said there was no need for the country to go back to war. What we need to do is to fashion a country where Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims could Co-exist in a peaceful environment respecting each others rights. In all probalitity the New Year may be an election year for the country. Even during elections all parties should act in an exemplary manner ensuing peace and democracy. It is in such a manner that any party could win the confidence of the people.

Mr. Cader concludes his message by wishing all a happy and propersons New Year.

Leader of the Opposition Mahinda Rajapakse

Leader of the Opposition Mahinda Rajapakse said in his New Year Message:

"As Leader of the Opposition, it is my fervent wish that the Year 2004 will be the beginning of an era of genuine peace and prosperity for Sri Lanka.

The first step towards this objective is to adopt a humanistic approach to problems, regardless of class, race or religious divisions.

"It goes without saying that ethnic and religious harmony is pivotal to a country's progress and stability. This idea can no longer be allowed to remain a mere concept but has to be effectively implemented.

Development should not be confined to statistics but should be reflected in the quality of people's lives.

"There has been much unrest among working people in the past year. They have been plagued by the rising cost of living and what they perceive as the denial of their just rights.

The country's human resources and its productivity have been badly affected as a result. These issues undoubtedly have to be addressed without further delay. Intelligence, patriotism and ethnic and religious amity will be the corner stones for a truly prosperous Sri Lanka."

Minister P. Chandrasekaran

Minister of Community Development and Deputy Minister of Irrigation and Water Management P. Chandrasekeran said in his message:

"While expressing my heartfelt greetings on the eve of the New Year, I wish to share my thoughts with you for the forthcoming New Year. The peace process enter into the third year consolidating what has been gained during the last two years.

Those who realized the need for peace and its process consolidated their progressive thoughts by ending the war which lasted for last two decades.

"The Movement of Peace under the able leadership of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has continued with all hurdles and disturbances it faced during the last two years. Mr. Velupillai Prabakaran-Leader of LTTE has expressed his concern of bringing peace by saying the war will not be continued.

"The Up Country People's Front too has extended its full support for the peace initiatives of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

"We firmly believe that the halt of peace talks due to the situation in the south is temporary. The prevailing setback will be overcome with the support of the international community, specially with the good intentions of India which may help in the progress of the peace initiative. Let us pray at the dawn of the New Year for ever lasting peace and economic prosperity for social uplift".

Ceylon Workers Alliance

Director Administration of Ceylon Workers Alliance and General Secretary of Ceylon Estate Staff's Association R. K. Suresh in a new year message said:-

"It is with great pleasure that, I take this opportunity to extend my warmest greetings to the people of the country, who join, millions of people in the world to celebrate the New Year.

"Now we are in the process of ending the pangs of two decades of war and building a peaceful country. This should be an honourable peace, which guarantees human rights of all races and religions.

Accordingly for a peaceful community life to dawn on the people of this country, on this day the agony and mental distress of the refugees, who had migrated from the North-East should be dispelled.

Their fear also should be cleared providing an opportunity for the people of all communities to lead a peaceful life enjoying equal opportunities in the country including the Eastern Province is very essential. As such the solution to all problems is to act with mutual understanding and human love shelving the petty political differences. 'The plantation workers, who play a very vital role for the stability and viability of the economy of the country have been granted voting and citizenship rights, which were deprived to them since several decades ago and pray that in the year of 2004, their quality of life will be raised and higher wages granted.

"On this New Year day, let us all resolve to join hands and build an atmosphere, where everyone can live in unity and amity and understanding in this multi-racial and multi-religious country. 'On behalf of the Ceylon Workers Alliance and the Ceylon Estate Staff's Association, we wish the people of all communities a bright and happiest future on this day.'

Co-operate towards religious co-existence

The Rt. Rev. Duleep de Chickera, Bishop of Colombo, urged all Sri Lankans to reject violence, religious disrespect and suspicion and move towards constructive dialogue.

The Bishop in his New Year message said: "My New Year message to all Sri Lankans is a call to reflect on and co-operate towards religious co-existence in our country.

"In this regard, I first call upon all Christians to live a life of continuing self-criticism. It is only through identifying and correcting our own failings and inadequacies that we honour Christ and become easier to live within a muli-religious society.

"Secondly, I wish to remind all Sri Lankans of our common privilege of belonging to a country that comprises four living world religions. This is a national heritage that must be valued, protected and celebrated. Consequently, I plead with all Sri Lankans to do all they can to protect this national asset from being a cause for conflict and tensions.

Providing space for each other's identities, listening to each other and appreciating the good in each other's religions is the responsibility of each one of us and the only way forward for all.

"Thirdly, I would like to reiterate the fact that all Christians of this country belong to Sri Lanka; all Christians love, value and cherish the traditions and history of our peoples and share common aspirations. The majority of Christians belong to the Sinhala and Tamil cultures and speak the languages of our people. Together with our brothers and sisters of all faiths we experience the same hardships and share the same hope for peace and goodwill for all.

"Finally, I would like to urge all Sri Lankans to reject violence, religious disrespect and suspicion and move towards constructive dialogue. As a country, we face many complex and burning crises such as poverty and the negative effects of globalisation, the ethnic problem and the current political deadlock. Building on ethnic and religious harmony will strengthen us in our efforts to resolve such problems collectively. Let us commit ourselves afresh in the New Year to this great task ahead of us.

"I wish to end with an exhortation given to the people from the church's liturgy. It speaks to us all. 'Go out into the world in peace, be of good courage, firmly hold on to that which is good, repay no person evil for evil, stir up the indifferent show compassion to the helpless, stand with the harassed, honour all people....

"I wish you all peace and blessings in this New Year."

by WP Governor Alavi Mowlana

Western Province Governor Alavi Mowlana in a New Year Message yesterday wished all people of Sri Lanka a happy New Year filled with peace and prosperity.

"I sincerely wish the entire country a period of national unity and religious harmony throughout the New Year through the farsighted course of action by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga" stated the New Year message.

by Minister Arumugam Thondaman

The New Year message of Housing and Plantation Infrastructure Minister Arumugam Thondaman, the Chairman and the General Secretary of the Ceylon Workers Congress.

I wish all Sri Lankans peaceful and prosperous New Year! I am happy that the people of a Indian origin after 55 years could celebrate it with dignity as Sri Lankan citizens. I extend the support of the CWC to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for his effort to continue the peace talks with the LTTE for a lasting peace during this New Year. I pledge to commit myself to solve the problems and challenges of the Tamil people.

by Anura Bandaranaike MP

SLFP Gampaha District MP Anura Bandaranaike, in his New Year message wishes the people of Sri Lanka the necessary strength to achieve the sublime objective of building a prosperous sovereign Sri Lanka where national unity will prevail.

"Last year was a decisive one for all of us, in every way. The Government's process of dividing the motherland cantred in the guise of peace. UNP regime successfully forged ahead the process of transferring national resources to the hands of the foreign capitalists. The national culture and the national heritage were methodically betrayed to alien powers.

The challenge of rescuing the nation from this calamity is before the inhabitants of this country who belong to diverse denominations of Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher and Malay communities. Political signs are emerging before us aspiring for the unity of the patriotic progressive political forces in order to establish national harmony, sovereignty and prosperity.

We have traversed a major part of the journey towards this end. May the people relentlessly harness their strength throughout the ensuing year to make the sublime objective of national unity, sovereignty and prosperity, a reality", wishes MP Anura Bandaranaike.

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