Student peace education workshop held in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 23 December 2003, 12:24 GMT]
Two-day residential workshop on peace education organized by the Trincomalee zonal education of the North East Provincial Ministry of Education, for Tamil, Sinhala and Muslim students was held in Trincomalee Sri Vigneswara Maha Vidiyalayam on Saturday and Sunday, civil society sources said.

The event was held under the direction of the Sri Lanka's Central Ministry which has asked the provincial education ministries to conduct peace education workshops for secondary students through out the island.

Trincomalee Zonal Director of Education Mr.K.Thilakaretnam addressing the workshop on the objective of peace education said peace could return to the country only all communities recognize and respect the rights of all other communities. Especially, majority community should come forward to safeguard the rights of other communities in the country.

"Peace is vital for the economic development of Sri Lanka. Talking of development without achieving sustainable peace is futile," said Mr.Thilakaretnam.

He added the urgent necessity of peace has now been felt in the country and all communities are clamouring for permanent peace having experienced a brutal war for over two decades, which had ruined the country's economy and development.

"War broke out when the majority community stepped on and deprived the rights of minorities. Majority community leaders should adopt an approach that could help the other communities to enjoy their fundamental rights. Even under the current ceasefire internally displaced Tamil people have been forced to stay in refugee camps as they have been prevented from returning to their houses and lands," he said.

In addition to becoming aware of the importance of respecting fundamental rights of every citizen, the participating students obtained valuable social experience interacting closely with students other communities.