Tolerance is basis of Peace - LAC

Sarath MALALASEKERA

The world celebrates the International Day of Tolerance on November 16. On November 21, the International Day of Peace will be celebrated.

These two International Days for Tolerance and Peace are interlinked and are aimed at refocusing attention of individuals, families, communities and countries to the twin global values of Peace and Tolerance.

Since the end of World War in 1945, the year of the founding of the United Nations, the planet was spared from a catastrophic third World War. The United Nations provided a global forum for ventilating hatred and grievances.

However, it was the nuclear deterrent that acted as a negative global peace maker. Absence of a Global War of catastrophic proportions, however did not ensure that the people of the world were enjoying the bliss of peace.

The destructive international wars were replaced by more disastrous internal wars within countries. The former Yugoslavia was torn asunder into fragments resulting human misery but sub-Saharan countries are crippled by bloody conflicts and pervasive Aids virus. Sri Lanka’s ethnic war has now lasted unabated for 24 years.

Tolerance is a fundamental humans value and peace is a bi-product of it. The key for fostering of any multi cultural, multi linguistic, multi religion and multi ethnic society should and can develop only on the basis of tolerance and respect for divergency.

Political parties mostly based their agendas to ensure support from divergent ethnic religious and cast groups.

Intolerance between and among these groups has retarded the holistic and sustainable development of this country. The LAC organised islandwide school arts competition to counter intolerance in homes and promote zero tolerance of domestic violence, the breeding grounds of intolerance.

Winning artists will be recognised and awarded prizes on November 16 from 2.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m at the Central Bank Auditorium at Rajagiriya. There would also be an exhibition of paintings, the LAC states.