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Saying 'yes' to peace

President Kumaratunga's concern over the future of the Ceasefire Agreement is proof that peace continues to be the number one priority of the country's political leadership.

What sparked off renewed concern in the President over the stability of the peace process were the unsettling incidents of last week, which included yet another attempt on the life of Minister Douglas Devanandan. Besides the few precious lives which were lost in this incident which brought back memories of the barbarism of the past, sporadic incidents of lawlessness continued in the East.

Hundreds of thousands of Lankans are likely to associate themselves with the sentiments of the President. Come what may, the majority of Lankans wouldn't want to revert to those bad old days of the war which brought distress and horror to all sane persons of the land. They would prefer if their political leaders soldiered on to peace and increased on the gains which have already accrued to Sri Lanka as a result of the peace effort.

However, those harbouring anxieties in their hearts cannot be faulted for their creeping mood of despair.

Mutual recriminations and rifts among some parties to the conflict have brought fresh anxieties and misgivings. It is as if things that could have been taken for granted at one time are being steadily undermined.

The danger in this situation is that it is being exploited by those who want to plunge Sri Lanka into strife once again. In other words, some are seeking to fish in troubled waters.

Therefore, nothing could be left to chance. As the President pointed out, the renewed mandate received by the Government at the recent PC poll, is a re-endorsement by the people of the Government's peace plan. Therefore, 'let there be no more delays', is our request. The Government needs to get down to the task of negotiating with the LTTE and this is likely to impact positively on the country.

There is no ducking the fact that it is the standstill in the peace effort which is generating doubts and fears among some. The recent violence is a result of this void which has opened-up in the body politic. If all relevant parties are engaged in the negotiating process once again, we would be having greater stability.

It is certainly not the case that some are so naturally inclined to violence that they would be fighting shy of engaging in talks. This is certainly not so. The absence of negotiations, on the other hand, generates doubts and fears and this triggers violence.

National Arts Theatre

A National Arts Theatre was a long felt need which will soon become a reality. The Chinese Government has agreed to provide US $ 17 million for the construction of the National Arts Theatre in Colombo.

The 14,000 square metre facility will have a modern acoustically-balanced theatre with 1,250 seats and other facilities such as foyer, dressing rooms, restaurants and car park.

Every country that cherishes art in its various manifestations must have a national arts theatre or similar facility. This new international-standard facility will be a nucleus for all performing arts and offer a forum for local performing artists, as well as for foreign troupes by providing modern technical and artistic facilities.

There are only a few good theatres in Colombo. Only a handful of stage theatres are found in the provinces. As for musical concerts, there really is no truly world-class facility where a listener can absorb every subtle nuance of the music created by a classical orchestra. A few cinemas in Colombo can match those in the West, but even they can be updated with the latest digital projection systems. Our art galleries are nowhere near their counterparts in other parts of the world. This is a lamentable state of affairs.

The National Arts Theatre will hopefully combine all these in one complex. Artists should be able to make use of its facilities and hold their performances at reasonable rates and the gate prices for cultural performances too should be affordable. Free performances and exhibitions should be arranged where possible. Otherwise, the whole purpose of having a National Arts Theatre will be negated.

While being a forum for showcasing the best of local talent, the National Arts Theatre could become a magnet for attracting renowned international acts - orchestras, ensembles, solo musicians, dance troupes etc. Colombo, which is already on its way to becoming a regional commercial centre, could also aspire to become a cultural hub. Tourists are likely to attend the big international events at the National Arts Theatre, thereby generating foreign exchange.

Judging by the Arts Theatre's design, it promises to bring winds of change to Colombo's drab architectural scene. Architecture is an art in itself and a lifeless building would not have mirrored the Art Theatre's aims.

Once the National Arts Theatre is operational, the Government must seriously consider having similar centres in places such as Galle, Kandy, Jaffna and Trincomalee. After all, the arts thrive in the hearts and minds of arts lovers everywhere.

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