Presiding Officer, the Clergy, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am very much honoured by the
kind invitation extended to me by Anti-War Front
Movement to be with you on this significant occasion
on the International Day of Peace to share with
you my views on the peace process.
We have assembled here to discuss
about the viable future peace process, long before
the tears of thousands of our fellow country men
and women have not dried out. We are here to discuss
about the future peace process while thousands of
men, women and children are suffering in the refugee
camps and other form of temporary shelters, maintaining
stoic silence, with a big question about their future.
Now the reality is that every community
of this country is at each other’s throats.
The Tamil Community is blaming the Sinhala Community
for undermining their rights and the Muslim Community
is blaming the Tamil Community for uprooting them
from their own soil. More and more misunderstandings
and more and more disputes cross our path pushing
back the progress of the widely expected peace.
The profound question before us
now is whether all the parties concerned genuinely
long to sit and talk without any pre-conditions
and all the parties concerned are ready to sit and
talk with give and take approach. These are the
questions that could determine the fate of the viable
future peace process. When I mention about the give
and take approach, my mind recalls the pact that
Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) entered
into with his rivals.
Let me speak a few words about
the Pact of Hudaibia, one of the world famous pacts
in the world’s history. For the first time
after his expulsion from his own soil, Prophet Muhammad
(Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) proceeded to Makkah
with his followers to perform Umrah, one of the
significant obligations in Islam. His forward movement
was blocked by his enemies at a place called “Hudaibia”.
Both parties agreed to a truce. Most of the articles
of the treaty entered into were obviously against
Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam).
According to one article, Muhammad
(Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) had to go back to Madeenah
without performing Umra rituals. Another depicted
that in case one from rivals’ side happens
to go to Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam),
he must return him to his rivals, and if anyone
from Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam)’s
side happens to go to his rivals, he would not be
sent back to Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam).
The most disadvantageous situation was that Muhammad
(Sallallahu alaihi wasallam) was not allowed to
inscribe his title in the accord as Apostle of Allah.
However, how humiliating it was, Muhammad (Sallallahu
alaihi wasallam), with his own hand, erased the
title, as a gesture of goodwill. Despite his loyal
comrades’ strong protest, he returned to Makkah
without performing Umra. Finally, he saw the treaty
he entered into with his rivals, worked well for
him.
Now let us consider the peace move
that every son and daughter of this country long
to see? For me, peace and reconciliation in Sri
Lanka is only a lip-service. No one seems to reach
a workable settlement with heart and mind with dedication
and commitment. We cannot bring down peace from
heaven. It has to come out from the bottom of the
heart of each and every citizen of this country.
It is not a black hole, too, if all the warring
parties listen to each other and speak with open-mindedness.
All the prevalent misunderstandings and disputes
are preventable if we steadfastly dedicate ourselves
to peace. Everybody has to bear in mind that unless
all the communities respect each other in all aspects,
understand the feelings of each other, preserve
the rights of one another, have regard for the theories
of equality of human beings, brotherhood of human
beings and freedom of faith and adopt the give and
take approach, achieving of lasting peace is totally
impossible, peace cannot materialize, and Herculean
efforts of the religious leaders, politicians and
others to establish peace will, undoubtedly, end
in vain.
From where to resume the peace
talk is the pertinent question now and has become
the focal point. On this important occasion, let
me suggest a peace and reconciliation committee
comprising representatives of all the parties and
communities. So that, changing of the governments
will not sidetrack the peace move. We have a good
lesson in the recent history of South Africa’s
Nelson Mandela era. He appointed a peace and reconciliation
commission under the chairmanship of Archbishop
Desmond too too. Representatives from all communities
were absorbed into the Too Too Commission. As a
result, people enjoy peace there. That country has
11 languages. All the 11 languages have official
status. We have only three. Official status for
all three languages, too, is a lip-service. As long
as these shortcomings linger, this poor nation will
not reach its destination.
I am afraid the time will not permit
me to deliver a long talk. Before I return to my
seat, I would like to make a humble appeal to all
the parties concerned to be transparent, honest
and tolerant while they are talking and all the
parties that constitute the present Government to
speak with one voice rather than revealing their
own feelings and views about the peace talk until
a final settlement is reached.
On this fifth International Day
of Peace, I cross my fingers that the peace talk
will resume very soon and our blessed motherland
will enjoy durable peace.
May Allah, Almighty bless this
pint-sized gorgeous Island with eternal peace, happiness
and prosperity!
Thank you.
