The Hindu : National : New initiative for peace in Sri Lanka

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 02, 2006

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New initiative for peace in Sri Lanka

S. Vijay Kumar

MADURAI: A new peace process has been initiated to end ethnic clashes in Sri Lanka. With an imminent danger of a full-scale war breaking out in the island nation, prominent personalities in India and neighbouring countries will work on evolving a long-term peace solution.

The Maha Bodhi Society has formed a Committee for Peace in Sri Lanka in which the Dalai Lama, the Archbishop of Sri Lanka, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar of the Art of Living Foundation and D.R. Kaarthikeyan, former Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation, among others, will be members.

Ceasefire violations

Talking to The Hindu here on Tuesday, Mr. Kaarthikeyan said that at least 65,000 people were killed in the ethnic violence over the years that ruined the country's economy. But for the clashes, Sri Lanka would have been one of the most prosperous and peaceful countries in the world.

Since January this year, there were ceasefire violations resulting in the death of more than 1,000 people. "There were omissions and commissions on both sides and a debate on who is at fault will go on forever. Unfortunately, the world is not paying sufficient attention. Some members of the committee have visited Sri Lanka and we are meeting in New Delhi on August 7 to discuss further course of action."

Mr. Kaarthikeyan said there was an "imminent danger of an all-out war breaking out again" that would put the lives of thousands at peril. The Maha Bodhi Society enjoyed considerable credibility in India and Sri Lanka. Its president B.K. Modi is the convener of the committee. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had met a few political leaders of Sri Lanka. "We will work on evolving strategies to bring both parties [the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam] to stop the present disturbed condition from breaking into a full-scale war."

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