FLC Countdown: 7 Days, Updates

With only just over a week before the conference, the volunteer orientation begins tomorrow. At this 5 hour long meeting, the local volunteers will be oriented to all their responsibilities for the conference. More specific details on the volunteers’ work will be revealed at another orientation directly before the conference, which begins on August 7. The time until then promises many challenges for the SLU team. Work on the video of the conference documentary has made some notable progress. The interviews with the SLU leaders are almost completed, and Tom is currently working on slides to correspond with the main sessions delivered by prominent Sri Lankans. The profile of Prashan, Sri Lanka Unites’s president, is completed and it will be sent to CBS for their upcoming series, Ripple Effect. This series will document young people achieving positive change around the world.

FLC Countdown: 8 Days, Reflections

Registrations and invitations have topped the schedule for the past few days, and it has been refreshing to observe the preparations fall into place. Much of today was spent delivering invitations for prominent residents of Colombo to attend the opening ceremony of the 2009 Future Leaders Conference. Destinations ranged from the U.S. Embassy to individual residences, and the trip to deliver the invites took us through many of Colombo’s 15 districts. Though the days grow more stressful as the conference approaches, Sri Lanka Unites continues to work tirelessly. The three of us who delivered invitations, Wishanth, Sri Lanka Unites’s UK representative; Shehara, SLU’s general assistant; and myself maintained a positive attitude despite mounting pressure.

Working under pressure or duress is necessary if one is to work for a dedicated organization. Realizing one’s beliefs in the world requires a great deal of personal sacrifice, both of time and energy. The final object is often what keeps the members moving forward since the thought that work is valuable and has meaning is sufficient compensation for the pains of drudgery. It is a known fact that those who feel their work is meaningless have a harder time enjoying life, even if their work pays well. Fulfillment is necessary, and it leads one to a sense of accomplishment and purpose. Sri Lanka Unites provides the shining light at the end of the tunnel. All of its members have approached the organization of their own initiative and have shown that they are willing to sacrifice their energy for a greater good.

FLC Countdown: 8 Days, Updates

Registrations continue to flood in with only 8 days left till the conference. Every school will be allowed to send 7 to 8 students. The schools represent all of Sri Lanka’s ethnicities, and some international schools have been included also. There are 7 schools coming from the North Central Province. Giritalegama M.V, Vidyaloka Model School, Bendiwewa M.V, and Sewamuktha Kandaura M.V, will be attending from the Polonnaruwa District; while Galenbindunuwewa Central College, Central College-Kekirawa, and Kandulugamuwa Vidyalaya will be coming from the Anuradhapura District. The Batticoloa District in the Eastern Province has responded enthusiastically providing 6 schools. Mankerny Roman Catholic Tamil School, Vakarai M.V, Pethalai Vipulanandha Vidyalayam, Al-Hira Maha Vidyalaya, Eruvil Kannaki M.V, and Puthukkudiyiruppu Kannaki M.V are all attending the conference. The Western province is providing the 2 following schools: Methodist College from the Colombo District and Good Shepherd B.M.V. from the Gampaha District. Of the 3 schools provided by the Northern Province, the Jaffna District is sending students from Jaffna Hindu College and St. John’s College. Sudents from St/Xavier’s Boys College in the Mannar District are also attending. Finally, the Matara District in the Southern Province is sending students from St.Thomas’s College Matara.

FLC Countdown: 9 Days, Reflections

When faced with injustice or war, there are several natural responses. Unfortunately, apathy is too often the default response. When injustices in the world do not directly affect an individual, apathy becomes the shield to keep one’s world safe from outside interference. For those who see and feel injustice firsthand, apathy cannot provide respite. The state of the world cannot be ignored in such a case, and new responses arise. Cynicism, an acknowledgment of the world’s evils combined with conscious resignation, becomes yet another barrier to protect one’s carefully crafted sphere of concern. The truth is that both of these responses are walls meant to keep the most natural response at bay, compassion. If the deep problems of the world sink into the heart and mind, then compassion is the only responsible reciprocation. Compassion does not leave those it touches unchanged, and perhaps that is why so many people will go to great lengths to evade it, for fear of change.

A group like Sri Lanka Unites does not have the luxuries of apathy or cynicism. This is a group that deeply cares for the others of their native country. Like all others who have been touched by compassion, the journey does not end with mere emotion. Emotion leads to action, and sustained action leads to commitment. Commitment is what keeps one moving, even when emotions run dry. This is what Sri Lanka Unites stands for, a committed change for the future so that there will no longer be a need to feel the injustices of war.

FLC Countdown: 9 Days, Updates

Schools from Colombo and Nuwara Eliya, an inland region of the country, have recently sent in their completed registrations, bringing the roster ever closer to completion. SLU met with Sri Lankan Justice C.G. Weeramanthri today and he is now a confirmed speaker for the conference. Justice Weeramanthri is one of the most important legal personnel in the world, and a shining asset to Sri Lanka. He is the former Vice President of the International Court of Justice and he has faithfully advised Sri Lankan judicial matters for many years. Furthermore he is interested in Sri Lanka Unites as a whole and has agreed to discuss his future role in the organization once the conference is over.

In the past week, the SLU team has been receiving an increasing number of calls from the Sri Lankan Diaspora who express interest in Sri Lanka Unites. This result was not expected until after the conference, when the publicity of SLU is expected to rise dramatically. This unexpected encouragement is a boost to the organization’s growing reputation as well as its finances since many calls requested more information on sending funds.

FLC Countdown: 10 Days, Reflections

Today’s young people of Sri Lanka show a marked difference from the previous generation. At the Volunteers Informational Meeting, the SLU team remarked on how the youth today put the older generation’s attitudes to shame. Students from all parts of the nations have shown a desire and to meet others who are not like themselves, and it seems the country can begin to heal from its past. Students from Jaffna and Batticoloa, in the north and east of the island, are willing and eager to relate to their peers in Colombo and Matara, in the West and South of Sri Lanka. It has been noted that 90% of Sri Lankans are willing to live together in peace. It is time these people were given a voice to direct the future of their country. Those who did not grow up with the years of hatred that led to the war are reaping the benefits. They have seen the effects of war in their own lives and yearn for a Sri Lanka that has moved beyond its internal strife. Some of these youth will be attending the Future Leaders Conference, as well as their first hopeful steps towards a new Sri Lanka.

FLC Countdown: 10 Days, Updates

In the past few days, an encouraging number of students have registered for the conference. These new pupils have brought the total number of confirmed attendees up to approximately 160 people. Including the teachers sent to chaperone the students and the local and international volunteers, the total amount of confirmed guests is near 300. Since the attendance goal has been shifted upwards from 350 to 400, only 100 students are left to complete their registration. Many schools that have expressed interest currently have applications so Sri Lanka Unites should be receiving the last of the completed applications in the next week. SLU has recently received more funds to make the new and enlarged reach of the conference possible, and the remainder of the cost is within grasp.

Some famous entertainers and singers have agreed to help SLU and support reconciliation by performing at the conference. James Li and Dushyanth, the winner of Dancing Stars, a dancing competition and reality show, will be performing the opening day of the retreat, Friday August 7. The following day, Ashanthi, the famous Sri Lankan singer who has gone international with her work, will be performing along with Krishan, the first-ever Tamil hip hop singer. Finally Billy Fernando, a musician skilled with almost any instrument, has agreed to lend his talent to the cause. All of these musicians have achieved a large measure of success in Sri Lanka and will be greatly appreciated by both the students and the SLU team.

FLC Countdown: 11 Days, Reflections

The conference building lies over an hour outside of Colombo in a relaxing and quieter region surrounding the city. So for 1 ½ hours, I and 9 others took a van ride early in the afternoon to examine and settle on some last details for the site. During the ride I appreciated the amiable atmosphere that the group exuded. I have mentioned before how SLU had a warm and familiar feel. However, at this point, I felt that I was able to see past the professionalism and realize that SLU was more like a family than a corporate body. It certainly has all the ability and willpower to be a professional organization whenever necessary, but the glue that keeps the organization together and cheerful is their remarkable good spirit. Others from the outside who have seen the group together have also remarked on how well SLU seems to gel. By just listening to the conversation throughout the trip, I felt that I was a part of a family rather than a temporary and foreign assistant. This cohesion is all the more intriguing since Sri Lanka Unites draws on young people coming from a variety of backgrounds. The group contains both Sinhalese and Tamil members though this point is never brought up in conversation unless diversity is being emphasized. If this group is indicative of the Sri Lankan youth as a whole, then there truly is a strong reason to be optimistic about the weeks, months, and even years to come.

FLC Countdown: 11 Days, Updates

Preparations for organizing the conference space are under way after today’s visit to the conference site. The space is an impressively modern facility with plenty of amenities and outdoor space for the students to relax. The auditorium itself can comfortably seat 500 people, easily over the 450 needed for the students and volunteers. Several lounges exist that will be available to the students, including an elevated, comfortable rooftop location. As far as sleeping accommodations are concerned, there are several options in and around the site that would suit our needs including villas and apartments.

The video documentary and the conference slides are proceeding excellently. Two sections of the conference presentation have been completed with very good quality. The video documentary will include interviews with the leadership of Sri Lanka Unites. Several of those interviews were completed today, providing some quality footage for Tom Kearney to use. If everything goes as planned, the video documentary will be featured on CBS by Mark Gordon productions, the same producer of Criminal Minds and Grey’s Anatomy. The show is called Ripple Effect, and it is designed to portray young people effecting positive change around the globe. Currently, the situation in Sri Lanka is set to become the pilot episode with Sri Lanka Unites being a primary player in the episode’s actual content. This opportunity provides some much welcomed publicity and promotion for SLU’s cause and beliefs.

FLC Countdown: 12 Days, Reflections

Today, dozens of Sri Lankan volunteers descended upon Colombo for the Volunteers Informational Meeting. Amidst the conversation and icebreakers, the dream and components of Sri Lanka Unites were discussed in detail and. The Future Leaders Conference, though at present focus of the organization, is only one segment of SLU. The follow-up work with conference is just as important, and there will be an awards ceremony next year to celebrate those students who pursued reconciliation most avidly. In addition, Sri Lanka Unites hopes to establish Houses of Reconciliation around the country to provide the resources and community for young people to change the future.

After the layout of the organization was explored, the volunteers themselves expressed their opinions of the current ethnic divide. One such person related how the divide between the Sinhalese and the Tamils was largely imagined. He stated that there is no large difference between these two groups, only the language separates them. Many members of small village communities never leave their area, and the lack of exposure to other regions contributes to their misperceptions of others. In fact, language has been a big issue in the history of Sri Lanka, sparking several pieces of legislation that either promoted Sinhala as the only national language or included the use of Tamil in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

FLC Countdown: 12 Days, Updates

With the onset of the volunteers’ arrival, a large part of the meeting was devoted to expounding their job description. The volunteers for the Future Leaders Conference will fill a supporting role in uniting the students. All students coming to the conference are divided into small groups of 7 students each with 2 assisting volunteers. Each group will be a heterogeneous mix of different ethnic groups hailing from various districts around Sri Lanka. Naturally, the attendees will be uncomfortable in this unfamiliar setting and will want to remain with the people from their districts. The job of the volunteer is to help these students outside of their comfort zone and to engage them in conversation with one another, transcending created and artificial barriers formed from years of mistrust. The similarities between people from all parts of the country will be realized as their local stereotypes are broken down.

Some volunteers are attending for more specific reasons. The American team of artists from Orlando will be promoting a sizable 8 ft. x 32 ft. canvas that will be used towards the end of the retreat. Students, encouraged by the volunteers, will have the opportunity to paint their own impressions of what reconciliation is. Other volunteers will be coming for website support and other specific tasks to cover every feature of the event.

FLC Countdown: 13 Days, Reflections

Perhaps the biggest advantage of working towards social change outside of political office is the long-sightedness it affords. Politicians not only have to constantly prepare for the next set of elections, but they are swayed to design their policies in a way that provides immediate benefits with little thought of the long term costs over the span of several decades. During today’s weekly 5 hour meeting, SLU discussed possible short term sacrifices that could be implemented in the interest of a long term investment. This type of forward thinking is necessary for a new generation of Sri Lankans. Not only must we understand the past, but we must construct the future so that its eventual consequences do not unwittingly lead to a reiteration of a tragic history.

SLU’s forward thinking is also evident in its choice of speakers. This evening, the VP’s family hosted a dinner for Sri Lanka’s premier cricketer, an internationally renowned athlete. After we were all introduced to Sanath Jayasuriya, he confirmed his desire to speak at the conference and inspire a new generation for a post-war Sri Lanka. This man’s importance lies in the fact that he is a figure the youth of Sri Lanka respect and admire. Though a politician or expert might not be as well known to the young people of tomorrow, a famous athlete can carry a direct connection with the youth that have come to see him as a national hero.

FLC Countdown: 13 Days, Updates

Sri Lanka Unites has planned two excursions for the coming week. On Monday, the team will be traveling to the site of the conference to examine the auditorium and living spaces that we have opted to use for the incoming students. A firsthand examination of the grounds will ensure that all arrangements go according to plan when the conference begins. With the quality of the facility assured, arriving students will find their rooms ready while the space in the auditorium will be best utilized for their convenience.

Many schools in areas like Batticoloa and Colombo have already replied and expressed interest in the conference, but the ultimate responsibility lies on the SLU team to follow up on the school’s reply and ensure the arrival of the students from all sections of the country. At present, current campaigning in Colombo has led to the involvement of educational institutions from all of Sri Lanka’s major religious backgrounds. Beginning next week, a team excursion will shift our focus to Kandy, the mountainous interior of Sri Lanka. Kandy holds an important demographic for our student attendees since it contains the heart of the ancient kingdoms that resisted successive colonial rule until the British in 1815.

FLC Countdown: 14 Days, Reflections

If the vision and expectations of Sri Lanka Unites are to be truly appreciated, the past must be thoroughly examined. In what context does the hope for a better future arise? Years after its separation from Britain, Sri Lanka was considered successful, developing nation. Its peaceful transition to independence was coupled with its strong belief in democracy. Sri Lanka was later praised for willfully reversing its socialist policies. And yet, 60 years after independence, Sri Lanka is not considered to be a success story, but a case study in the development of terrorism. The exact causes of social unrest can obscure the underlying source of the civil war, a misunderstanding of other cultures inhabiting the island.

A sense of national community is inextricably linked to the future. In the past, ethnic groups have been unable or unwilling to look past their needs as an isolated group. War, by its very nature, cannot create a unified Sri Lanka as it enforces inaccurate stereotypes and cultivates a subculture of fear and mistrust. Sri Lanka must come to terms with the fact that it represents a plurality of cultures with various backgrounds. People on all sides of the conflict have taken this diversity to be a disadvantage to achieving their goals when such is not the case. Diversity does not dilute regional interests, but rather, enriches them. Breaking down artificial walls between peoples creates a positive awareness of others that contributes to integrated communities dedicated to working together to achieve each other’s goals. It provides a larger context from which the needs and attributes of each region are more fully explored as their understanding of others is reflected back upon the beholder. The danger lies in refusing to cope with a multicultural national society by creating barriers to all those who are outside one’s own kind, not in the plurality of cultures itself.

FLC Countdown: 14 Days, Updates

As more and more registrations for the conference are collected, Sri Lanka Unites is ever closer to creating a conference where all regions of the country are represented. The areas around Jaffna are especially of interest as much of the war was concentrated in that area. Since the one road that connects Jaffna to the rest of the island is open only at unpredictable times, the city is almost an island unto itself. For this reason Sri Lanka Unites is exploring the option of chartering a “peace flight” to bring the students from this area to the conference. In other news, the international volunteer team from Great Britain has arrived, and we are excited to have them here as the conference is only two weeks away. The UK team is only one of several nations coming to assist with the conference. Teams from The United States, New Zealand, Rwanda and India will also be joining as the Future Leaders Conference of 2009 draws closer.

FLC Countdown: 15 Days, Reflections

With just over two weeks before the start of the conference, preparations are increasingly important. Flexibility is required, and this often requires working around daily obstacles. Meetings do not always happen as scheduled and plans do not always fall into place. The fact that work is continued unabated and on schedule is a testament to those who believe in hope for this country. The Sri Lanka Unites team has shown incredible resiliency when dealing with any potential issues. Every problem that I have seen so far has always been resolved with efficiency and realism, and a strong sense of optimism and belief in the success of the organization is ever-present and well-founded.

Though a youth organization like Sri Lanka Unites has to be organized meticulously, the ability to work around unexpected developments is necessary. Flexibility is the meeting place of meekness, ambition, and the acknowledgement that it is impossible to control all outcomes. Unfortunately, Sri Lanka has experienced a lack of flexibility in the past few decades that has contributed to its civil woes. Flexibility is part and parcel of cooperation, and cooperation is what is needed in this nation. This, at times, requires sacrifice, the willful abandonment of one’s own aims in order to accommodate someone else’s needs.

FLC Countdown: 15 Days, Updates

A conference for the reconciliation of Sri Lanka is certainly a good idea, but stopping there can turn it into a missed opportunity. The Future Leaders Conference is designed to be inspiring, but it is also designed to be just the beginning. Every student who attends will receive a post-conference guidebook that outlines a 52 week follow up plan. The book includes plans to both form school clubs and to initiate activities that benefit the local community. By providing rewards and scholarships for the schools that are most proactive, SLU will foster and encourage a nationwide movement from the most elementary level, where the youth become responsible for creating a new future.

Sri Lanka Unites’s plan is that the conference primarily be a Sri Lankan supported movement with Sri Lankan volunteers. This serves to unify the participants in the conference since the 80 or so volunteers in this category are a symbol for the support of the nation for this movement. To balance this, SLU has made provisions for approximately 20 international volunteers to represent international interests so as to lend me weight to the importance of this venture. Volunteers have all been assigned different roles and responsibilities so that the conference and the scope of its preparations will go as smoothly and as organized as possible.

FLC Countdown: 16 Days, Reflections

If the Future Leaders Conference of 2009 is to be a success, then its crowning glory lies in the detail. The leadership of Sri Lanka Unites met today to discuss a wide range of topics related to the upcoming conference. Many different topics were discussed in detail, from the proper and most appealing design for use on the promotional bands to the specific bookkeeping details of recording donations. Throughout a lot of technical details meant to make the conference the best that it can possibly be, the atmosphere maintained a warm and familiar feel. It occurred to me that not only was Sri Lanka Unites promoting a unified, national community, but that they embodied a supportive community themselves. Larger victories are often reflected in smaller successes, and the family of Sri Lanka Unites is a reflection of their dream for the nation. A national community that is supportive, and offers constructive criticism with the aim of building the nation is surely a better alternative then the destructive and violent tendencies experienced by people on both sides of the conflict for the past 25 years.

FLC Countdown: 16 Days, Updates

I have been an eyewitness to Sri Lanka Unites strategy over the past few days. Already, the youth of the nation are beginning to hear about Sri Lanka Unites and are approaching the organization of their own initiative looking for more information about how to become involved with the reconciliation of their country. Though, of course, not every student who responds can attend the conference, there are other ways that Sri Lanka’s future leaders can support the organization, giving credence and support to those who do attend. Sri Lanka Unites is designed to have a snowball effect. Once the conference is underway, the organization will be much better known around the country. The following conference will be recognized as a serious national movement and will attract even more interest than the current conference. The increased scale of the next conference lends itself again to an even higher awareness of the dream of reconciliation. After the current conference, Sri Lanka Unites will begin selling their promotional bands in Sri Lanka, (in addition to their sales abroad) and people will be able to recognize the logo and associate it with the vision of peace and understanding that Sri Lanka Unites has come to represent.

Recently, students from Colombo and southern Sri Lanka have registered, fast on the heels of the Lankans to the North and East of the country. It is increasingly made clear that this effort is a priority not only on our end, but on the end of those who will be attending the conference. In fact, some schools are not even waiting for an invitation, but are asking to be allowed to send students to the conference. From where we stand now, it seems that path that SLU has chosen has all the markings of success.

FLC Countdown: 17 Days

Organizing the Future Leaders Conference requires a strategy that addresses fronts on all levels, from the local grassroots connections to the offices of Colombo. Thus, on July 21 I found myself accompanying Prashan and the leadership of Sri Lanka Unites at a meeting with a high-standing potential guest speaker for the conference. The main topic was securing funds for students from Jaffna to attend the conference. From here the conversation often diverged onto possibilities for the far-reaching impact of the conference. It was easy to see that everyone involved was excited about the positive consequences that this unprecedented gathering of students could bring to Sri Lanka. I found the group united around the need for the students to be engaged with the conference and inspired by the speakers so that reconciliation would become a true goal as the participants sought a realistic understanding of their fellow citizens. In short, both sides of the conversation could easily agree that the success of the conference depended on both Tamils and Sinhalese feeling united to each other through their common nationality.

One of Sri Lanka Unites’s appeals is its direct confrontation with the minds of the next generation. Legislation of all kinds can be passed in an effort to control the actions of the populace, but if their hearts are not convinced of the need for these measures then action will only breed more hatred and contempt. For instance, education reforms intended to level the playing field tend to anger any disadvantaged groups. What is needed is not forced action, but a shift in the priorities of the people. Measures intended to reform the nation should be a result of a population already moving in a new direction, not the vehicle for foundational change itself. As long as the old modes of ethnic competition remain then neither side will be satisfied with what they have. Cooperation, rather than competition, moves the self interest from just one group of people and enlarges the scope to include the entire nation. Sri Lanka Unites correctly recognizes that legislation aimed at healing Sri Lanka will only be effective after the people are willing to believe that their futures are intertwined with the whole of the country and not along their ethnic boundaries.

The war torn regions of the nation have been the first to respond to Sri Lanka Unites. Encouragingly, 7 schools from the Northern and Eastern Provinces have already confirmed their registration for the conference. In the North Central Province, Giritalegama M.V and the Vidyaloka Model School from the Polonnawurra District have committed 7 and 8 students respectively. From the Anuradhapura District, Galenbindunuwewa Central College will be also sending 7 students. Four schools from the Batticaloa District in the Eastern Province are also registered. Mankerny Roman Catholic Tamil School, Vakarai M.V, Pethalai Vipulanandha Vidyalayam, and Al-Hira Maha Vidyalaya are each sending 7 students to the conference.

Speeches and discussions on the topic of reconciliation are key to reaching and uniting the hearts and interests of the students. The Future Leaders Conference will draw numerous notables from Sri Lanka and abroad such as Ambassador Jayantha Dhanapala, the former UN Under-Secretary General for Disarmament; Kushil Gunasekara of the Foundation for Goodness; the marketing and business strategist Rohantha Athukorala ; the reconciliation psychologist Dr. Dominic Dixon; and the development activist Kumar Rupasingha. These speakers will all be contributing to the unity of Sri Lankans around their common interests.

FLC Countdown: 18 Days

My name is Timothy Campbell and I'm an intern here for Sri Lanka Unites. I'll be writing to keep everyone informed of the work that is underway to make the Future Leaders Conference of 2009 a reality in the next 18 days. From the moment I arrived, I have been impressed with the dedication and vision of the Sri Lanka Unites's members. I'm excited to be part of this effort in any way possible as the energy of this movement is palpable and contagious.

With less than three weeks to go, preparations for the Future Leaders Conference of 2009 are both excited and hectic. With 25 long years of civil war at an end, the timing of the conference could not be better. Sri Lanka is ripe for reconciliation and the opportunity for a better future. The youth of the country need to be told a different story from the one that has become so entrenched in the minds of the older generations. If the future is not to repeat itself, the old stereotypes must be avoided a new spirit of cooperation and understanding must be forged. Instilling the vision of a hopeful future in the participants is of vital importance, and one of the goals of the Future Leaders Conference is to show Lankan students the kind of future that is possible when reconciliation becomes the aim of the people.

As for the details, the Future Leader’s Conference will draw 350 students from all districts of Sri Lanka (including the war-torn areas). Sri Lanka Unites is working hard to register students, and at this point, 80 students have already registered.

The conference will also involve a video presentation that is currently being prepared by Tom Kearney, a specialist in video editing and presentation. Tom arrived in Sri Lanka on Wednesday, July 15, and already, he is hard at work preparing the opening slides and videos for the conference. His skills are put to good use and I can personally say that his work is visually and emotionally moving and should be well-received at the conference.