The Best Answer to Extremism: Building One Sri Lankan Society
MELANI MANEL PERERA
The Sri Lanka Public Health Guild says the best way to build a nation is to build a national society with a sense of Sri Lankan-ness without making changes according to ethnic communities. The Guild represents 57 civil society organizations and individuals. A former advisor and convener and former health education official/social activist Sirimal Peris tells it like it is in this exclusive interview with The Catamaran.
The Catamaran: How do you see the factors that led to the unrest in Sri Lanka following the Easter Sunday attacks?
Sri Lanka and its citizens became a victim of terrorist and extremist attacks. It was an unfortunate and barbaric incident. What happened 22 days following the attacks was not terrorism. It was harsh extremism. At present this country has been led on an extremist path. These terrorist and extremist activities cannot take place in a decent society.
Leaders, who should guide people along the right path with pure Buddhist philosophies. A country identified as Sinhala Buddhist has instilled hatred in the minds of its citizens. It is unfortunate that the actions and thoughts to live by are being used to divide and separate instead of us learning to live together.
The Catamaran: What is our national obligation as citizens?
All religious customs should be practiced and brought under a logical common law. Additionally, not dividing schools in the country based on ethnicity is necessary. Instead an environment of coexistence should be fostered. Divisions and categorizations begin at school level and must be stopped. What’s more, human rights should be an official school subject to enable children to understand their rights, the rights of others and the necessity to protect these rights.
The Catamaran: Who should take lead on this?
People with moderate views in society with a positive attitude. Religious leaders who are willing to have alternate view points, youth, social activists and all citizens who have meaningful societal roles and can contribute must raise their voices.
This article was originally published on the catamaran.com
