Future Leaders Conference Season 3: The Final Day

A Friend’s Forgiveness

After a late night of fascinating discussion, the international team awoke later than usual and arrived at Asgiriya just after 9:00 in the morning. The din of enthusiasm had already subsided as Prashan entered the stage to announce the post-conference activities that were to be initiated after students left for their homes later that day. The final day of the conference was not only the most emotional, but also marked the event’s “cultural morning.” Most attendees and staff members had arrived at the stadium dressed in traditional clothing derived from their ethnic or national roots. The appealing visual quality of the scene was apparent as the marquee was filled to capacity with a colorful combination of muted and vivid hues that spanned the length structure. Among the international guests, traditional dress from Kenya, Congo, and India were all present among many other types of cultural clothing. The final morning of the conference exalted the vast diversity present in an island of relatively small land area. In the quest for unity, one cannot accidentally disregard the multifaceted diversity that gives Sri Lanka its charm and character.

The large gathering gave way to team small groups as students trekked across the stadium to their familiar niches. For the next hour, these young people admitted their suspicions, stereotypes and unfair thoughts they had directed at others of different ethnic backgrounds. Each person on the team asked for the other’s forgiveness and assistance in creating a better nation, united as one people in their diversity. This event was an exceptionally emotional time for the pupils as this conference represented the first time that many students shared a positive experience with a person who only recently would have been considered an enemy. Upon returning to the marquee, students took turns introducing a person they had recently befriended who hailed from a different district. Many young leaders clarified that their peer was one of the first people they had met who held a differing ethnic background. The audience was excited as the fruits of months of preparation were being revealed for all to see. Due to the fact that a large portion of the Buddhist Perahera festival was to occur that day, the noise level of the conference had to be kept lower than usual. An ingenious solution was devised. Whenever the students desired to show their appreciation of a speaker, they would emulate the sound of rushing wind and lift their hands instead of clapping. The students’ adherence to this newfound method speaks volumes about their self-control and respect for their surroundings.

A Welcome Surprise

After resuming their seats, a treat long in the making awaited the participants of the Future Leaders Conference. Staff members took the stage to introduce the premiere of the SLU music video, shot and edited by American volunteer Ben Morrow. The footage features young people across the nation uniting for the cause of reconciliation. Symbolically, student leaders constructed a mural of the Sri Lanka Unites logo as the SLU staff sang about the need to overcome past hatred. As the music faded to silence, students “whooshed” enthusiastically for the production.

After the video, a welcome surprise lay in store as His Excellency Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa decided to visit the conference and observe the ongoing events. Currently in Kandy to observe the Perahera festival, His Excellency wished to acquire a firsthand perspective on the vision and purpose of Sri Lanka Unites and listen to the students’ reaction to the conference. All eyes strained to get a passing glimpse of the powerful head of state as the President made his side-entrance directly below the stage. During this period, the best young orators were scheduled to make a speech on the necessity of reconciliation and the means to achieve a lasting peace. One speech was given in each of the three primary spoken languages on the island. Afterwards, Prashan De Visser gratefully thanked the President for sacrificing his time in order to benefit the students by his presence. His Excellency revealed his appreciation, and, after several minutes, exited the stadium.

Departure

Shortly after His Excellency’s departure, the attendees themselves returned to Trinity for a celebratory finish to a whirlwind of new experiences. The staff and international team stayed back at the stadium for several minutes to look after some details before rejoining the students at the College. By the time we reached the campus, the pupils were hard at work obtaining the contact information of everyone they knew. The international team and I found ourselves bombarded with enthusiastic smiles and requests for email addresses, phone numbers, and an endless stream of photos with the eager students. After the initial flurry of activity, the assembly continued the celebration on the quadrangle where dancing ensued. Before long, students began saying their goodbyes. One by one, buses from all over the island whisked by the entrance of the main hall of Trinity College and collected their respective passengers. Friends embraced and tears flowed as the crowd thinned until only volunteers and staff remained. In a remarkably brief period, these young leaders had forge friendships that would continue for many years to come.

Walking among the abandoned halls of Trinity College on the heels of several days worth of exuberance is an eerie experience. Only a few hours before, these same spaces were filled with the tumult of students clamoring to savor their last few moments together. Now, the scattered few that remain are mostly volunteers from Trinity, gathering the sleeping mats and discarded trash that litters the ground. These leaders-in-the-making have decided to spend an extra day to clean the College of all the daily trash that inevitably piles up in the presence of large crowds. The SLU staff and international volunteers assisted with the cleaning process for several hours before celebrating the successful conference by watching the colorful and extensive procession of Perahera wind through the city of Kandy. Despite numerous uncertainties, the third season of the Future Leaders Conference had been an unparalleled success. After a well-deserved respite, the Sri Lanka Unites team will continue to stride forward by initiating their follow-up program and visiting dozens upon dozens of schools on an island wide tour designed to raise awareness and encourage the youth to focus their efforts on achieving national reconciliation in Sri Lanka.

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Future Leaders Conference Season 3: Day 3

The Future Belongs to the Young

The cheers that permeated the previous morning had not abated as the international team strode into the conference room on the start of the penultimate day of the Future Leaders Conference. Socializing and general merrymaking was the order of the hour as students passed the time until the first session. At 9:00 am, Ashan Malalasekara, the Founder and Executive Director of the Youth Progressive Foundation, addressed the crowd on the many variations of youth organizations across the world. Currently, groups are at work in Israel and Palestine promoting personal understanding between the two peoples through visiting refugee camps while sports and educational programs are used to teach the importance of children’s rights in South Africa. Digital and social media have become increasingly foundational to the livelihood of these organizations as they garner support from the local youth. In Sri Lanka, the time is ripe for such organizations to gain traction as 26% of the population is composed of young people.

The facial expressions within audience betrayed their interest in the subject matter. Many set motionless, wrapped in thought as they listened to the words of the speaker with focused attention. As the youth acclimate to their new environment and construct a theoretical framework for perceiving reconciliation, they have become increasingly engaged in the more intellectual portions of the conference. Their response has made it clear they now possess a better grasp of the gravity of their role in Sri Lanka. Malalasekara’s depiction of real world examples continued to aid the mind’s voyage from the sphere of theoretical knowledge into the realm of practical action.

A key aim of Sri Lanka Unites is to spread the vision of youth-led reconciliation abroad, and the Future Leaders Conference is not exempt from this goal. The conference began the afternoon by hosting a panel of five international delegates to discuss the problems and situations facing their own country. Kaustaubh (India), Pascal (Democratic Republic of Congo), Benson (Kenya), Sean (US), and Xola (South Africa) all shared the unique challenges that the youth from their native land faced. Many young people are distraught over the current cultural and political systems that plague their country and desire an alternative to the violence and useless blame-shifting of the past. All of the individual who presented at the conference are active in the grassroots life of their communities, and some have already talked with SLU to assist in developing their own youth movements.

Taking the Stage

International involvement at the conference donned a decidedly casual tone as Prashan introduced the Sri Lanka Unites Australia team that had arrived earlier to support the event. The students grinned as the speakers belted “Land Down Under” to a troupe of Australian Sri Lankans dancing their way to the front of the stage. After a brief introduction and presentation that affirmed their support for the vision of youth-led reconciliation in Sri Lanka, SLU Australia departed the stage to allow the student leaders to deliver some presentations of their own creation. Staff was on site to observe the youth’s songs and various forms of vocal performance in support of reconciliation and solidarity with their fellow Sri Lankan attendees. Team affiliation played no factor in the content of the event as all demonstrations associated themselves with the efforts and purpose of the others.

Leadership and Bonding

The second session of the day commenced with a dual presentation by Nayana Karunaratne and Anushya Coomaraswamy. Both notables spoke of the qualities necessary in student leaders. To become a leader, one must be willing to listen to others in the group, be informed of the peculiarities surrounding a given situation, and be able to act confidently and decisively. Additionally, one must realize their own physical limits and take precautions to rest and prepare for what it is they hope to accomplish. Ms. Karunaratne and Coomaraswamy took a special interest in the Q&A session. Though all sessions have an interval dedicated to answering questions from students, both women particularly relished engaging the students directly and clarifying their points. The students themselves were no strangers to making their thoughts known. For instance, one brave student inquired about achieving the proper balance between listening to others and following personal intuition and vision. Questions like these revealed the increasing willingness of students to apply what they had been taught.

A second round of sports resumed for the day. Cheers once again rang out across the stadium as team-specific chants spurred the students into action. Team volunteers often seized the initiative in encouraging their teammates and promoting creative cooperation. Other staff members and international delegates took advantage of the moment to leisurely stroll across the grounds and erase the stress of the day by watching the ongoing competition and taking snapshots of the surrounding scene.

As the last shafts of the setting sun illuminated the marquee, the electrifying atmosphere of the previous night’s entertainment was replaced by the subdued aura of Shane Smith’s guitar. The crowd listened mesmerized as the American volunteer executed a skilled performance of several tracks containing blues music. A few minutes later, a contingent of the SLU volunteer staff stepped forward to interactively teach the students a special composition written by the Orlando team. As the first half of the evening expired, the talented rapper Krishan arrived at the stadium and reignited the hectic scene that had prevailed the day before. Students were free to join the rapper on stage and all participants enjoyed themselves thoroughly for the next 45 minutes. Reverberations from the excitement could easily be felt within the overlooking conference rooms where Sri Lanka Unites remained hard at work coordinating the details of the events to come. Due to the celebrations of the nearby Buddhist Perahera festival, adjacent volume levels were to be kept at a minimal after 8:30 so that the festival could continue unhampered. A joyous bunch of youth retired early for dinner and sleep at Trinity College.

Future Leaders Conference Season 3: Day 2

The Morning Comes

The first thing I noticed as I rode into Asgiriya stadium was the noise. The Thursday morning air was brimming with the cheers and chants of twenty newly formed squads, each desiring to outdo the other with the extent of their enthusiasm. Each team had developed their own unique variation of a slogan and felt no compunction about sharing about it with everyone within earshot. The stone-faced seriousness that characterized the student’s arrival had dissipated as fast as the light rain that briefly fell that morning. Though the conference has only just started its second day, youth from across the nation were already forging friendships with people they once considered enemies. An hour earlier, the teams were eating breakfast together at Trinity and participating in icebreakers to grow their ability to work as a single body. The team volunteers themselves had a meeting even earlier to discuss the events that coming day and encourage one another in their vital roles.

As the students settled down, Ambassador Jayantha Dhanapala rose to deliver the first session of the day. The former under-secretary general of the U.N. spoke of the importance of responsibility and the initiative present within the youth dedicated to creating a better nation. To move forward, Sri Lanka must cease shifting blame to others. While psychologically satisfying, such posturing does nothing to improve the nation’s well-being. Language remains a massive barrier to true reconciliation. If one wants to understand his fellow countrymen, then learning their language is the best place to begin. As citizens understand each other, the mutual discovery of commonalities lends itself to an expanded mindset that includes those outside of one’s ethnic group. Finally, students should never be afraid of criticism when their actions are grounded in truth. If the youth get caught up self-perception and self-consciousness, then no progress can happen. Imagine the state of India or South Africa if Gandhi and Mandela had stopped their movements because of their critics’ remarks?

The Visual and Performing Arts

As the respected ambassador took his seat, the students’ teamwork and creativity was soon to be tested. The SLU staff had compiled various Sinhala, Tamil, and English newspapers at the edge of the stage to prepare for the first real competition of the conference. Teams soon discovered they had been allotted the task of sifting through the newspapers to find appropriate cuttings. The fragments then had to be arranged in a collage that symbolized reconciliation and the future of Sri Lanka. All three languages had to be used and every member of the team was required to be involved in the process. In only one hour, the creations were to be submitted for assessment. With their team’s first impression on the line, groups fanned out across the stadium to begin brainstorming. Across the grounds, there were students huddled in small circles looking downwards as they arranged various snippets of paper on a background canvas. The final results conveyed a vast range of creativity, from cleverly assembled photos to choice selections of emblematic quotations. In the final decision, the Kilinochchi Kingsnakes took first place while the Polonnaruwa Pirates and the Kegalle Kohawks garnered second and third place respectively.

One of the Future Leaders Conference’s more ingenious activities began at 11:30 am. Forum Theater gives the students an opportunity to simulate the process of identifying and correcting injustice. SLU volunteers and staff begin the event by acting as characters of different ethnicities in an everyday situation. At some point in the script, an injustice will occur. Students can then pause the scenario, “rewind” to the beginning, and replace any actor they wish. They can then use their newfound role to either prevent the injustice from appearing or correcting its effects. For example, one situation depicted a member of the Tamil community boarding a bus and being mistreated by the other passengers because of the stereotypes regarding his ethnicity. After the skit’s conclusion, students replaced certain actors and replayed the circumstances while standing up for their unfortunate countryman so that he could get the equal treatment he deserved.

After lunch, more points were available as teams vied to convey the best presentation on the potential of their own actions after the conference. Every team chose a member to address the crowd with a speech, skit, or visual performance. Regardless of the team, the entire audience roared with approval after every appearance. SLU staff rewarded the teams with most moving and dramatic performances by allotting points to their respective teams. Dr. Asanga Wijeratne took center stage for the second session as he lent the students some more immediate and practical advice. For the youth to take charge of a nation, they must first take care of themselves. Dr. Wijeratne continued his lecture to discuss personal wellness, personality development and its relationship to healthy leadership.

Cricket and Concerts

The day’s sports competition allowed the students to release their energy in a constructive manner. Teams paired up and set out across the grounds to compete at games such as cricket. At this time, the extent of the bond between the participants was revealed. Showing genuine comradery, teammates cheered each other onward, encouraged those who struggled, and found innovative ways to increase their edge in some of the more inventive competitions. Lasting a full two and a half hours, students seemed to never weary of racking up runs, regularly whacking the ball out of the stadium, and generally having a grand time.

Certainly the most vibrant highlight of the day was the evening’s comprehensive entertainment package. The faces of the crowd were lit with exhilaration as they were called up by team to dance to the best of their ability for a two minute frenzy. Waves of music flooded the stadium as the marquee’s structural supports resonated to the bass of the tower speakers. My own expectations were far surpassed as the bonding that had occurred in a mere twenty four hours testified to the flexibility and tolerance of the Sri Lankan youth. As the media booth blasted its special playlist prepared for the occasion, a general atmosphere of frivolity prevailed until the night’s main attraction arrived, King Ratnam. At 8:00, the professional Tamil rapper arrived from Colombo to illustrate his support for SLU and delight the audience with several of his tracks. Before he could begin, a sound check was required, and an amazing sight unfolded. To accommodate a noiseless environment, the students lowered volume to near silence. The level of coordination and contrast to the noisy scene that had only just prevailed was truly striking. After two minutes, the crowd simultaneously resumed their previous enthusiasm as Ratnam took the stage and delivered a powerful concert. After a full day, staff, volunteers, teachers, and students alike returned to their beds happy, grateful, and exhausted. Though it had only just begun, the conference was already half way completed. If the past at all foreshadowed the days to come, then Sri Lanka Unites could already count the venture as a resounding success.

The conference is being LIVE-STREAMED for the first time! From Wednesday the 10^th through Saturday the 13th, you can follow it at www. npiptv.com

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Future Leaders Conference Season 3: Day 1

The Arrival

At 8:15 am, the SLU van rolled up towards the gate of Trinity College. With the arrival of the first day of the Future Leaders Conference, there was not a moment to lose. Sri Lanka Unites promptly set about preparing for the students impending presence. By 9:00, young leaders from every district descended upon the college in droves, often looking tired and nervous about the days to come. Though the first half of the day was devoted entirely to registration, the SLU team needed to move quickly to put the students at ease and move them into their rooms. Classrooms at Trinity had been previously converted to house students for the duration of the conference. Theresa Bennett, Thilini De Visser, and all those who worked at the front desk had their work clearly defined as they the met and registered over 600 students through the course of the day. By 3:00, the students had finished arriving and had settled into their rooms. Shortly thereafter, they began the trek to Asgiriya stadium where the opening ceremony was to be held.

Meanwhile, the cricket grounds were humming with activity. The majority of the SLU staff members had been directing preparations for the opening ceremony since 9:00 am to introduce the students to the fully revamped Future Leaders Conference. By the time the youth arrived, the covering for the marquee was in the final stages of construction and the stage electronics were being patched. With so much happening, no one was left without a role for long. International volunteers kept themselves busy arranging 700 chairs in consecutive rows in front of the stage while the npiptv crew worked steadily to devise their own studio within the conference room overlooking the grounds. The equipment they furnished has allowed live-streaming of the conference for the first time. Currently, members of the diaspora and others all over the world will have the ability to witness the change in Sri Lanka first hand. After a 30 minute delay due to technical difficulties, the seats were filled, and the speakers were primed for the third season of the Future Leaders Conference.

The Opening Ceremony

At 5:30 pm, the Future Leaders Conference Season 3 began. With hundreds of people watching, Sri Lanka Unites screened a video showcasing the cause of reconciliation. Like a tree that needs roots to grow, peace and healing need to place their foundations in the cultural perceptions of the people. Prashan proceeded to introduce the conference and welcome the students to the largest ever annual gathering put on by Sri Lanka Unites. Once again, the youth had defied expectations and agreed to invest in the future of their country without relying on the failed stereotypes of the past.

As a sign of respect to the nation and the cause of reconciliation, all the students joined in a rendition of the national anthem. Representatives from all parts of the island and abroad walked to the front to participate in a traditional candle lighting ceremony. No Sri Lankan should feel that they are irrelevant within their country, and all citizens should be proud of their national heritage. Once everyone had taken their seats, the Trinity College principal addressed the audience. The civil war had taken its toll, and principal made it clear that he had seen firsthand the devastation that war could bring. The time is ripe for a new generation of Sri Lankans to engage the well-being of their nation. The country cannot afford to wait for others to take the initiative. The future of the nation belongs to the youth, and they must rise up to meet the opportunity that has been given to them. As SLU staff member and announcer Selyna stated, “It is diversity and not division that we have in Sri Lanka.”

This year’s Future Leaders Conference possesses an unparalleled number of international delegates and members of the Sri Lankan diaspora. As a representation of the international community’s solidarity, the President of Sri Lanka Unites Australia, performed a traditional Sri Lankan dance. While many volunteers hail from various Western nations, Kenya, South Africa, and the Congo were also represented. Notable Sri Lankans were also present. Among them was Ambassador Jayantha Dhanapala, the former under-secretary general of the UN and one of Sri Lanka Unites’ earliest supporters.

Themes, Teams and Tunes

Though the inaugural session was over, the excitement had only just begun to build. SLU staff member Ramzi Zain Deen made a hilariously hyped entrance and proceeded to review the conference’s rules and regulations, likening himself to a major general. As the lights accented the stage in dim red hue, the screen came alive to play the team introduction video and showcase the groups that were to become the core facilitators of friendship and cooperation for the rest of the conference. Old teams such as the Colombo Chargers, the Galle Gladiators, and the Batticoloa Bandits made a return appearance, while ten new teams debuted to accommodate the sheer quantity of participants in this year’s conference. Soon, students were proud to be a part of teams like the Gampaha Gators, Mattara Magicians, Ratnapura Rhinos, and the Ampara Astros. To smooth over the initial insecurity of the students, each team had been assigned three volunteers with at least one trilingual member per team. As night overtook day, the conference concluded with some exciting dance music to further lighten the mood. The students informally congregated by their team to become acquainted with their newfound peers and, perhaps, to begin forming some lifelong friendships. From that point onwards, participants would no longer be organized their schools. Instead, all activities are coordinated through the teams which incorporate students of every religion and ethnicity.

With the stadium shrouded in darkness, the students returned to Trinity College where a warm dinner and some well-deserved sleep awaited them. The SLU staff itself was posted in various locations around the city. While some opted to stay at Trinity to look after the students, the international volunteers remained at the guest house that they had inhabited the previous day. After a rough beginning, Sri Lanka Unites was obviously excited about the potential that the first day had revealed. The atmosphere was comfortably relaxed as we unwound and discussed the future opportunities that faced Sri Lanka Unites. As for the present, never before had so many students representing such a vast swath of the population assembled in one venue. We retired for the night on a hopeful note, knowing that the first full day of activities awaited us in the morning.

The conference is being LIVE-STREAMED for the first time! From Wednesday the 10^th through Saturday the 13th, you can follow it at www. npiptv.com

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Countdown to the Conference: 1 day - The Final Moments

With the advance SLU team and several international delegations assembled in Kandy, work began in earnest. Due to an unforeseeable alteration, the main events of the conference are now to be held at Asgiriya cricket stadium, a spacious venue located a 10 minute walk away Trinity. While accommodations will remain at the college, students and volunteers will be transported to the grounds every day for the duration of the conference.

The day promised to be busy. At 9:00 am, the assembly divided the many pending errands between the organizers. A round of introductions acquainted everyone present with the individuals from Sri Lanka Unites Australia and students from Kandy who would be assisting us that day. Teams were assigned the tasks of creating informational signs, mapping out the restrooms and showers of the stadium, reviewing the current state of SLU finances, obtaining private security for the new location, finalizing housing for the technical staff, and organizing lighting for the sizable marquee to be erected at the site. Despite the enormity of the necessary preparation, the team dutifully set about their work to accommodate the new location. The air was abuzz with chime of ringtones as teachers and students called to confirm their place at the conference, and the final details were confirmed.

For the next 12 hours, the other international volunteers and I worked on our laptops from a conference room on the second floor of the stadium. Throughout the whole day, we could observe a team hard at work setting up the marquee that would be used to shelter students from the harsh sun. At 5000 square feet, the marquee will house the stage and contain seating room for all 750 participants. Other members of the team walked to and fro across the grounds, double-checking facilities and deciding the best way to direct students from one location to the next. As night fell and the team reconvened on the first floor, the news team from npiptv was hard at work setting up their studio and equipment to support the ongoing feed of the conference that was to go live the following day. Prashan held a meeting for the initial volunteers that had arrived from Kandy and congratulated everyone on making this conference possible. After a week that had contained a lot of close calls, Sri Lanka Unites is finally ready to host the largest Future Leaders Conference to date! Tomorrow begins the detailed account of the groundbreaking conference and its impact on the students.

The conference will be LIVE-STREAMED for the first time! Beginning on Wednesday the 10th, you can follow it at www. npiptv.com

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Twenty20 Cricket Match!

For many Sri Lankans, cricket is more than just another sport. It is THE sport. It is a defining symbol of national pride with many Sri Lankans identify. The competitive spirit is focused abroad in a healthy display that unites citizens in their common cause. Current players such as Kumar Sangakkara and former players like Sanath Jayasuriya inspire young students and cricketers alike to become a force for good in their nation.

Click the following link if you are unfamiliar with the basic rules of cricket http://www.angielski.co.uk/cricket_rules.htm

The particular show on display Monday night was exhilarating. The game was the second match of a best-of-three series versus Australia, one of Sri Lanka’s skilled cricket rivals. Sri Lanka had won the first game and hoped to take the series in a clean sweep with the coming match. The home team was up at bat first and scored a respectable 157 runs. The action became heated in the second half as Australia began closing that distance rapidly within the first 6 overs. Australian batter Shane Watson racked up over 50 runs before Ajantha Mendis dismissed him. From that point onwards, the onus was on Sri Lanka to slow the momentum of the opposing force. The team showed superb bowling ability and slowed the Australian advance to a crawl. Mendis became the first bowler ever in Twenty20 to take six wickets in a match. Still, the initial gains were not to be taken lightly, and with only 3 over left in the game, Australia only needed approximately 30 runs to surpass Sri Lanka’s score. The game was undecided until the last couple of bowls which ended in a Sri Lankan victory, 157-149. The crowd erupted into cheers and continued to take the celebration onto the streets!

The upcoming conference will be LIVE-STREAMED for the first time! Beginning on Wednesday the 10th, you can follow it at npiptv.com

Countdown to the Conference: 2 days - In Transit

With only two days remaining before the Future Leaders Conference, several team members gathered their belongings and made the journey to Kandy. On this occasion, a trip that nominally takes four to five hours was elongated into a daylong excursion as logistics and minor hiccups compounded the time of travel. Unexpected instances at the office delayed our departure until noon while an attempt to repair the van’s faulty air conditioning had the team sidelined for 30 minutes before we decided to move on.

Once out of Colombo, rest remained elusive. Constant phone calls to confirm preparations added to an already hectic series of days. Eventually, communication settled into a lull, and the team was allowed some sleep to prepare for the larger tasks that still lay ahead. Several traffic jams later, the sun had set and the clock read 7:20 pm. At long last, we pulled into Kandy and contacted those who had arranged for our reservations.

Upon arrival, we rendezvoused with the first of the short-term international teams. A group of four volunteers from Orlando, Florida and one man from South Africa had arrived in Sri Lanka the previous Saturday to exclusively assist with the conference’s execution. Most of the Orlando team had been present two years ago to witness the beginning of the annual Future Leaders Conference. Inspired, they decided to return to follow up on the progress that Sri Lanka Unites has made since that time. To reveal our appreciation of their participation, all international delegates attended a cricket match that evening between Sri Lanka and Australia. An enjoyable evening ensued and the Orlando team later retreated to their hotel to rest for a large scale SLU team meeting that began the following morning at 9:00 am. The rest of us rejoined the remaining SLU staff in a guest house that would become our base of operations for the next 6 days. Exhausted, the team collapsed onto their beds and awaited the following day.

The upcoming conference will be LIVE-STREAMED for the first time! Beginning on Wednesday the 10th, you can follow it at npiptv.com

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Countdown to the Conference: 3 days - Tolerance and Coexistence

While ethnic tension is arguably a fundamental form of division in Sri Lanka, it is only one form of conflict. Religious and class differences have become intertwined with the ongoing rift and have complicated any rational explanation of the past 30 years. As much as the theme of ethnic reconciliation has been emphasized at the Future Leaders Conferences in years past, religious toleration and cooperation is still an important objective.

This facet becomes especially evident when viewing the student’s artwork created specifically to express their mental image of successful nation building in Sri Lanka. These pictures emphasize coexistence and a mutually beneficial relationship between the different people groups. Most pictures also possess Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, and Islamic symbols tied to a united Sri Lanka to emphasize its religious heritage. The drama sessions have also revealed the fact that the religious diversity present in Sri Lanka is not lost on the students. Fortunately, they recognize the need for religious cooperation to build a stronger nation.

As conflicts around the world demonstrate, religious wars can be just as deadly as ethnic ones, and Sri Lanka must address all forms of conflict if it wishes to maximize its hidden potential. A prominent speaker at a former Future Leaders Conference once stated that Sri Lanka has had the privilege of having four of the world’s great religions live side by side for hundreds of years. This fact must remain an asset rather than become a liability for true progress to occur.

Religious and ethnic divisions are not identical in nature. Different religions have separate worldviews inherent in their belief system while ethnic identity does not necessarily carry such formidable philosophy. Even so, most religious adherents are not extremists. If the moderate majorities are allowed to speak and overcome the fringe voices that advocate violence, then real peace is possible. There is no excuse for violence or war, and coexistence is beneficial for all those who participate.

The upcoming conference will be LIVE-STREAMED for the first time! Beginning on Wednesday the 10th, you can follow it at npiptv.com

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Training Finale

            At 9:00 am, 48 students from around Colombo assembled in Methodist College’s main auditorium for the second and last day of volunteer training.  The morning opened with a discussion encouraging the volunteers to be as social as possible.  When the students arrive, they will be naturally insecure as they meet fellow young leaders from across the island.  Some may feel that they have to prove themselves in the minds of others.  The volunteers must deconstruct those natural reactions and lead by example.  The conference cannot afford to have volunteers that take themselves too seriously.  The sooner everyone realizes that the conference is not a competition, the better. 

            Following this discussion, the prospective volunteers introduced themselves and proceeded to become acquainted with others in the room whom they had not yet met.  Shortly thereafter a recap of the 1^st conference was screened interspersed with explanations about the roles that the volunteers were to fulfill.  A panel of SLU team members and veteran volunteers came forward to address the questions of the audience and provide strategic tips for teambuilding. 

            After break, Prashan and Theresa proceeded to provide a day-by-day breakdown of the events at the conference.  Volunteers have the responsibility to direct their team from one location to the next while ensuring that they have time to shower, eat, and take care of any other necessities.  A brief review of the rules and regulations was soon to follow, and the entourage then proceeded to the courtyard where a slew of teambuilding activities awaited.  The games forced the volunteers to utilize everyone on their team and while they built trust with one another.  The widespread approval and success of these exercises was evident from the loud cheers and general noise that filled the college.  At 2:30 pm, the games ended and group photos ensued before people left for their respective destinations.  

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Countdown to the Conference: 4 days - Exporting Reconciliation

            During the civil war, many Sri Lankans left the nation to seek their well being abroad, forming communities that have become known as the Sri Lankan diaspora.  Many of these Sri Lankans have given up on the future of their country and refuse to return.  SLU realizes that garnering a rapport with the diaspora sends an international signal that not all is lost in Sri Lanka.  The diaspora communities are more likely to possess necessary to support Sri Lanka Unites as well as hold advanced degrees that could be put to good use in their native land.  For these reasons, Sri Lanka Unites has wishes to discuss the future of the country on a personal level with these individuals.

            SLU is currently in the process of expanding their reach abroad.  SLU chapters already exist in the UK, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and the United States.  These branches host their own programs that address their respective diaspora communities as well as perform fundraising for SLU in Sri Lanka.  In time, these chapters may host their own conferences to direct attention to the progress that has been made in Sri Lanka.

            Eventually, Sri Lanka Unites wishes to create a template for peace building that can be used by other nations to address their own internal divisions.  These movements can support one another by directing global awareness towards the grassroots support of reconciliation and nation building.  As these movements gain momentum, fundraising and taking advantage of existing public networks becomes easier and more streamlined.  If these things are to happen, then Sri Lanka Unites must remember to stay true to its roots and always let the people direct the engine of reconciliation.

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Future Leaders Conference 2009

Check out this video featuring the Future Leaders Conference held last year! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up7Pye_VnOI&feature=player_embedded

Countdown to the Conference: 5 days - Balancing Act

            As the third season of the Future Leaders Conference draws near, competing particulars of the planning vie for priority.  The hallmark of an efficient organization is its ability to perform under pressure, and Sri Lanka Unites has seen its fair share of challenges arise in preparation for the conference in Kandy.

            From determining the optimal number of students to attend the conference to pursuing sponsors, the SLU team has exerted a phenomenal amount of effort these past few months.  Though Sri Lanka Unites is divided into different departments, the sheer scale of the events necessitates that every person work to the best of their ability.  Still, time constraints force sacrifices and important decisions.  After a long and thoughtful discussion, the number of students allowed to attend the conference has been modified to 600 with a full attendance roster of 750 including teachers and volunteer.  In this manner, all attendees can receive the attention they deserve and receive the best possible experience.

             Sri Lanka Unites is continuously torn between pursuing sponsorship and fundraising or developing new content.  For a charity like SLU, striking the right balance can be a difficult task.  Financing new programs is expensive and additional funds are always appreciated for a non-profit organization.  In the past, Sri Lanka Unites President Prashan De Visser has incorporated fundraising into his travels abroad, often seeking connections with the diaspora communities around the world.  Funds obtained from these trips go a long ways towards making events like the Future Leaders Conference possible.  In the near future, Sri Lanka Unites also plans to make use it its funds by releasing a monthly magazine dedicated to the cause of reconciliation and to keeping the organization’s expanding network informed of all relevant happenings.

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Countdown to the Conference: 6 days -Why Does Reconciliation Matter?

            Many scholars consider Sri Lanka to be a textbook scenario for the transformation of ethnic conflict into civil war.  Now that Sri Lanka’s war has concluded, one could be tempted to question the need for reconciliation.  Isn’t it possible to develop the nation’s economy and improve the lives of the people without resorting to homegrown notions of healing?  It may very well be possible for Sri Lanka to see real gains in the coming years without ever explicitly addressing reconciliation.  However, Sri Lanka cannot reach its full potential unless its inner divisions are laid to rest.

            There are three problems with ignoring the need for reaching an ethnic accord.  Though the most visible manifestation of ethnic division has ceased to exist, the rift itself remains.  Unless this is corrected, Sri Lanka will always face the continual prospect of renewed violence, perhaps even another war.    The second problem lies in the underlying psychological damage done to the populace.  Many Sri Lankans had friends or family members who died in the war.  Reconciliation provides the means for these families to find closure on the tragic times they have witnessed.  Finally, the economic cooperation and coordination of the island can be greatly improved by engaging in reconciliation projects.  Businesses and investors will feel less uncertain about expanding in Sri Lanka, and the nation’s domestic enterprises can have a less restricted reach across their country.  For these reasons, achieving reconciliation becomes an obvious choice.  South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission after apartheid is an excellent example.  In Sri Lanka, we hope and work that the people themselves may desire an alternative to hatred and violence.

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The Youth and Reconciliation

Check out this link written by Sri Lanka Unites to mark its progress! http://print.dailymirror.lk/opinion1/12215.html

Countdown to the Conference: 7 days - Ideology

            Before any preparations can be made, a vision of the final product must exist.  Plans that do not have the capacity to recognize their own completion run the risk of becoming derailed or prematurely terminated. A generic utopia is not a realistic ideal, and Sri Lanka Unites has not blindly stuck out on path for reconciliation without any notion of the goal they strive to reach.  SLU hopes to achieve a cultural shift in the national psyche from an “us v. them” mentality into an ideology based on mutual betterment of all people groups.    

            Ideologies, being similar to worldviews, can be either helpful or damaging.  Sri Lanka has had the unfortunate distinction of being a nation gripped by limited and hostile ideologies.  These ideologies have elevated isolated interests shared only by those of the same ethnicity while downplaying those who fell outside of the group.  Ideologies inherently carry a vision of an abstract reality in a subjectively perfected state.  Thus, any organization such as SLU maintains an ideology at the core of its being.  SLU’s ideology incorporates creating better world characterized by an enriched national consciousness where Sri Lankan identity can serve as a unifying factor for national progress.  Practical success is measurable and achievable.  Currently, Sri Lanka Unite’s network consists of over 5000 people.  After the upcoming Future Leaders Conference, this number has the potential to shift upwards rapidly.  The presence of homegrown community initiatives in schools around the nation are evidence of the first inklings of successful the penetration of many different strata of society.  These projects have begun to reshape the separate, harmful, and disjointed Sinhala and Tamil ideologies into a Sri Lankan whole.  Ironically, all ethnicities benefit from this expanded worldview and avoid having to forego their own pride and uniqueness.

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Countdown to the Conference: 8 days - The Other Side of Reconciliation

            The desire for reconciliation alone achieves nothing.  Dreams must be linked to action, and theoretical posturing must be supported by practical thinking if any lasting change is to be achieved.  As its name implies, the Future Leaders Conference intends to not only achieve reconciliation, but to promote leadership qualities in the students.  Gandhi once said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”  This is an oft repeated phrase at SLU functions that support youth empowerment.  If you will not work for the change you believe in, how can you expect anyone else to put forth any effort?

            Change does not occur on its own, no matter how badly we wish it would.  The students who attend the Future Leaders Conference must not only desire reconciliation, but also take responsibility for upholding its principles.  While reconciliation in Sri Lanka is the ultimate goal of Sri Lanka Unites, teaching the characteristics of leadership is just as important.  The youth of the nation must be equipped with the personal characteristics necessary to found and cultivate school projects that increase understanding between peoples and provide tangible benefits to the community.  In a nation where options to become involved with existing reconciliation and community development projects are limited, SLU is laying the groundwork by preparing individuals to actualize their own ideas.

            Forming future leaders has several benefits.  First, it encourages the reconciliation movement to expand at an exponential rate.  Student leaders, by example, inspire their younger peers who did not have the opportunity to attend the Future Leaders Conference.  A substantial leadership program has the greatest chance to make grassroots change sustainable.  Second, it allows the next generation to direct the future they wish to see.  These students understand the attitudes and needs of their districts better than the Sri Lanka Unites core team and are the people best suited to lead reconciliation initiatives in their schools.  These students will be hear from many inspirational figures at the coming conference, and their experiences there will inform their decision of how to live as leaders.

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Advancing Forward

Read what the Sunday Times had to say about the second Future Leaders Conference!
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/100829/Magazine/sundaytimesmirror_05.html

Countdown to the Conference: 9 days - Champions of Change

            Last year, Sri Lanka Unites launch an initiative entitled “Champions of Change.”  In addition to the community projects outlined in the post-conference guidebook, interested students were given the opportunity to partner with another school from a different section of the nation to achieve a mutual interest.  For instance, St. Peter’s College in Colombo has partnered with a school in Jaffna and recently concluded a basketball tournament in their school to raise funds for their project.

            This program combines prominent elements of Sri Lanka Unite’s philosophy.  Despite being independently valuable, reconciliation is also a stepping stone to engineering a prosperous future.  This initiative also seeks to strengthen Sri Lanka’s civil society and to urge citizens to take personal responsibility for the maintenance of their homeland.  Furthermore, Champions of Change allows for grassroots change to occur by pooling the efforts of multiple schools.  The benefits of reconciliation are made abundantly clear as projects that otherwise would have been too ambitious in scope are now attainable.  Schools with greater resources can address needs of areas that possess fewer means to accomplish their goals.  As these students work together, they are liable to discover more shared interests and can thus continue the relationship and the process repeats itself on a larger scale.  Champions of Change is an excellent example of the reconciliation in action as all districts can partner with each other to construct an improved Sri Lanka.

            A Champions of Change mentoring weekend will occur in December of this year for interested students that are active in their school SLU chapters.  Clubs that partner with other schools for exceptional community projects will also receive recognition and a well-deserved award at the upcoming Future Leaders Conference Award Ceremony.

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