Buddha, Sri Dalada Maligawa, Kandy (Temple of the Buddha's Tooth). Photo VDuBourdieu©2009.
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) has lifted restrictions on British visitors to parts of Sri Lanka. This is a swift response to the ending of war in the country.
As Sri Lanka readies itself for the long haul, it is better placed than many other countries to heal its wounds.
Some 70% of its population follows the peaceful Buddhist tradition and many people are aware that mind, body and spirit can be healed with Ayurvedic medicine.
Healing the individual person as a whole is an ideal analogy for a country in the process of learning how to live with its many different facets as a whole, once again.
In the context of the FCO announcement on July 7, here are some excerpts from the President’s speech to the Sri Lankan nation earlier this year.
(More about travel to Sri Lanka, here.)
In a speech broadcast to the nation on the ending of war in Sri Lanka, the President outlined his hopes for the future- May 19, 2009.
“Our aim was to liberate our Tamil people from the clutches of the LTTE,” said H.E., the President and Commander-in- Chief, Mahinda Rajapaksa, delivering the opening address at the historic Parliamentary fourth session.
His main points were:
- “The war against the LTTE is not a war against Tamil people;
- “Our aim was to liberate our Tamil people from the clutches of the LTTE;
- “Our heroic forces have sacrificed their lives to protect Tamil civilians;
- “The victory we have gained by defeating LTTE is the victory of this nation and the victory of all people living in this country.
Elephant, Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage. Photo, VDuBourdieu©2009
Protecting the Tamil speaking people of this country is my responsibility. That is my duty. All the people of this country should live in safety without fear and suspicion.All should live with equal rights. That is my aim.
Let us all get together and build up this nation,” he said.
“As you already know our Motherland has been completely freed from the clutches of separatist terrorism.
From now on it is only the laws enacted by this sovereign Parliament that will be that will be in force in every inch of Sri Lanka,” the President added.
Full text of the address: H.E., President Mahinda Rajapaksa, at the ceremonial opening of Parliament, Sri Jayawardhanapura - Kotte, May 19, 2009.
I declare open this fourth session of Parliament at a time the people of our country, as well as the entire world, are celebrating a great victory.
I address this session of Parliament at the historic occasion when the hopes and expectations of the Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher, Malay and all people of our country for several decades, to see a Sri Lanka that is free of murderous terrorism, have been realised.
Frangipani - symbol of peace in Sri Lanka; painting by Anupvega, photo by VDuBourdieu©2009
Friends, (In Tamil)
This is our country. This is our mother land. We should live in this country as children of one mother. No differences of race, caste and religion should prevail here.
Over the last thirty years, the LTTE has killed many people. Sinhalese, Tamil and Muslims - many have been killed. The war against the LTTE is not a war against Tamil people.
Our aim was to liberate our Tamil people from the clutches of the LTTE. Our heroic forces have sacrificed their lives to protect Tamil civilians.
The victory we have gained by defeating LTTE is the victory of this nation, and the victory of all people living in this country.
Protecting the Tamil speaking people of this country is my responsibility. That is my duty.
All the people of this country should live in safety without fear and suspicion. All should live with equal rights. That is my aim.
Let us all get together and build up this nation (Tamil ends).
Guru Karunapala demonstrates Angam techniques. Photo by VDuBourdieu©2009
Footnote:
Guru Karunapala and some of his pupils will be taking Angam, the traditional Sri Lankan Martial Art to the north of the country in order to teach youngsters positive ways in which to express their energies.
