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| Saturday, 01 January 2005 |
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Let us all unite - President President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga in a New Year message said: "The year 2005 dawns at a time when our nation is experiencing the aftermath of a tremendous disaster, unprecedented in the annals of our history. The year 2004 ends proving to us all one prime truth, we are at the mercy of the mighty forces of nature. However we should understand the message cloaked in this cruel act of Nature. The loud message is that man should not be confined to boundaries of race, religion, class and caste. Nature metes out even treatment to all. At this moment we are humbled by this natural calamity. The determination of every Sri Lankan to raise their heads through tears and sorrow is laudable. Let the dawn of 2005 give us strength and courage to face the challenges posed by this natural disaster. Let us sink all man-made barriers of ethnicity, religion, class and caste and unite to rebuild a single nation and show the outside world that we are capable of rising united to face any calamity and emerge victorious. Our country with a heritage of over 2500 years has faced many a challenge in the past. I believe that we are capable of facing this challenge as well. As we have pledged at the Adhisthana Puja yesterday, the last day of 2004 let us the Sinhalese, the Tamils and the Muslims unite as one, to share our joys and sorrows in the future. This is a fine opportunity for us to look at the ethnic struggle from a new perspective and realise the need for a new approach for a permanent solution. Let us give serious thought to creating a new environment suitable for all communities and religious groups to live in a united Sri Lanka, as one nation, with equal rights, while preserving our individual identities. If wisdom prevails and all political parties grasp this reality, we Sri Lankans could live in a united Sri Lanka. Let us learn from this disastrous experience and unite to build a new nation. I wish Sri Lanka unity in the New Year." Refrain from merry making - Maha Nayake Malwatte Chapter Mahanayake Thera the Most Ven. Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Maha Nayake Thera of the Malwatte Chapter in his New Year message said: "Under tragic circumstances of the tidal wave disaster which we will not forget for centuries to come, people must think of the transient nature of worldly affairs and resolutely endeavour to make the new year a better one by helping the millions of victims to gain some relief. The catastrophe of the tidal wave struck the nation when it was thriving hard to end the two decades of cruel war. We clearly understand that the people were eagerly awaiting to fulfil their hundred and one aspirations in the course of the ensuing year. According to our historical annals, in Sri Lankan society consisted of people filled with Buddhist ideologies based on compassion, charity, fraternity, peace and harmony. When we look back, we have to regret that the year we just ended was made black by despotic ideologies that over-ran these virtues bringing about an unjust and indisciplined social set-up rapidly. We were able to gain the power of changing a government through the democratic process of holding a fair election, but we misused that power for our own detriment to achieve selfish gains and resorted to strikes. Threats and demonstrations, alcoholism, gamble, vice, rape, child abuse and reign of the underworld supported by social elite thrived in the South, during the year. This happened while the atrocities, murder and political killings in the North were countless.In addition we suffered floods and droughts, that kept us worried throughout the year. It was under such pathetic circumstances that the tidal wave struck us. It was heartening to witness that people of all denominations, irrespective of their ethnic identities such as Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim and Burgher and even the LTTE cadres joined hands together without any discrimination to combat this situation. It augers well for the new year to see all religious leaders, political leaders, local and foreign voluntary organisations united as links of a single chain on this moment of national disaster. I appeal to all to restrain themselves from merry making at this hour of national sorrow and divert all resources intended for carnivals and shows, towards alleviation of suffering of the disaster victims to see the country prosper throughout the New Year." Our prayer that God will bring light out of darkness New Year message from Rt. Rev. Duleep de Chickera, Bishop of Colombo As we begin a new calendar year, I offer greetings to all the people of our country as we as a nation mourn the unprecedented loss of lives, the inestimable ravage to property and the trauma and shock caused by the Tsunami disaster. I wish to take this opportunity to offer my personal condolences and that of our Church to all those affected by this tragedy. It is our prayer that God will bring light out of our darkness and hope out of our despair. I have already visited the East and the South and intend visiting the North within the next few days to offer my solidarity with the affected people and to see and hear for myself the impact of the disaster on the people. Even horrific calamities such as this provide opportunities for growth and new life. There has been overwhelming humanitarian response from all quarters. Our people and the International community have responded magnanimously. Barriers that divided have been crossed admirably. There have been, as must be expected, shortcomings in the coordination and distribution of relief. But these have been the exception. The lessons learnt will equip us to handle better the work of rehabilitation that must follow soon. I therefore urge all our people to re-discover our different and shared spritualities and to work relentlessly together to overcome the tragic repercussions of this disaster. This experience has the potential to teach us new lessons about ourselves and others and our mistakes of the past. I have no doubt that this common experience of suffering and solidarity will strengthen our resolve and journey towards unity, justice, peace and reconciliation for all. The Tsunami disaster leaves us with no option but to dedicate 2005 towards the long and arduous journey of building a just and content society for all. I wish Peace and Blessings to all people of Sri Lanka. One country, one group of humanity - PM Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse in a New Year message said: "A traditional New Year greeting to you Sri Lankans who are deeply shocked in the fate of the biggest tragedy in history will be considered as sheer nonsense.But I wish to go beyond tradition and wish you all a happy New Year with a more loyal feeling and sincere heart. We who have been quarrelling with each other dividing ourselves not only on ethnicity such as Sinhala,Tamil and Muslim religions such as Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and Islam but also on caste and geographical lines, have been attacked by a tidal wave which erupted from the Indian Ocean without any such differentiation. Although lives of thousands of our close relatives and friends have been lost and properties and villages had been damaged, the furious tidal wave had given a new pride to the Sri Lankan Nation which had been divided and shattered. It has taught us that any of the above mentioned differences and divisions did not give any value for a person to earn a living. Similarly it has taught us that if we are to make a living we had to do it only by raising our heads as one country and one group of humanity. It is this eternal truth which had been proved by the people of the south rushing food and other aid to destitute people in the North and East, LTTE members rescuing army soldiers swept by the tidal waves and soldiers who fought with the waves to save the lives of the LTTE members and the Tamil people. It has been amply proven before us that it is after facing such great catastrophes most countries including Japan, USA, China and Russia had achieved miraculous economic and social revivals. As the New Year dawns, let us resolve to use the tears shed in the face of this greatest tragedy, a foundation to build Sri Lankan Nation. The greatest honour we could offer to thousands of Sri Lankans who went on their last journey without any proper religious or last rites was to dedicate ourselves towards building a prosperous new country and nation abound with democratic values and peace. Today as Sri Lankans we are shedding tears. But let us from the bottom of our hearts resolve to build a country where its people would not have to shed tears any more. Therefore let us make this day as a day of dedication and revival to rise up as one nation". My sorrow - Mangala Ports, Civil Aviation and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera's New Year message; "This year begins with a trail of tragedies in a number of countries in the Asia Pacific region triggered by the earthquake and tidal wave that devastated many countries including our own Sri Lanka. I express my sorrow to all victims affected by the tidal wave and wish those displaced and injured both physical and mental speedy recovery." The Minister also thanked all professionals and the public who united by a common tie to serve relentlessly to provide relief to the victims. The Minister made special reference to the media who rose up to the occasion with full understanding of their media responsibility. "The year 2005 will be a year of rehabilitation of the country out of its present catastrophe. Everybody will have to shed diverse differences and unite in fraternity to rebuilt the country with dedication," stated the media release. The year 2005 marks an year of courage, relentless endeavour, dedication, unselfishness and an year of the masses. Rebuilding the country is the noblest tribute to the people to faced unsalutory burial under tragic circumstances. Our Government is dedicated to leave aside all other tasks and rehabilitate the ill fated masses. It reminds me of the saying by Earnest Hemingway that "Man can be destroyed, but cannot be defeated". I wish you a new year dedicated to rebuilt the country with courage and strength". |
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