Sri Lanka Unites

Chilling at Badulla

2011-11-07T19:56:00.000-08:00

We arrived at Badulla on the morn of Saturday, the 29th of October after being warned against travelling the night before due to bad weather conditions. The whole of Saturday was dedicated to team building and also looking into some very important logistics which involved washing our clothes! We had further discussions on the intra-ethnic conflicts and problems.

The next day, we all went to Dunhinda Falls, which is one of the most enchanting waterfalls in Sri Lanka. It was a long climb up, but it was worth all the calories that were burnt in the process. It was at Dunhinda Falls that we came up with the idea for a funny video channel on youtube. You will be able to follow that soon.

The next day, we started work again. We initially went to Uva Central College, which was the only school from Badulla that had attended the conference. After the completion of this assembly, we decided to expand our spectrum to include the Tamil and Muslim schools in the region too. So, we split up into 3 groups and visited some of the schools in the district. We took with us an introductory pack, which gave a comprehensive idea of Sri Lanka Unites, our mandate and our vision. Badulla Tamil Vidyalaya, Sarasvathy Vidyalaya, and Al Adhan Maha Vidyalaya are a few of the schools we visited.

That evening, we had a small workshop for the Girls Orphanage next to the Elders' Home where we were residing at Badulla. The workshop went better than we expected. Many of the Girls were very interested, and were involved throughout the workshop. We also made a donation of a few uniform and stationary packs to the girls in the orphanage. Overall, it was a very enjoyable experience.

Following that, we all retired to our rooms after planning to head out to Monaragala the next day morning. We were all rested and ready to take on another busy week. Despite the cold weather in Badulla, we had a great time. We are grateful to the Methodist Elders' Home for hosting us, and facilitating our meals during our stay.

Global Press Institute on Sri Lanka Unites

2011-10-31T03:52:00.000-07:00

Youth Lead Reconciliation Efforts in Post-Conflict Sri Lanka | Global Press Institute

Youth Lead Reconciliation Efforts in Post-Conflict Sri Lanka

The influence of this youth-led movement for peace and reconciliation has even spread beyond the shores of this small island nation. SLU chapters have sprung up in cities around the world among the Sri Lankan diaspora. Currently, there are SLU chapters in Melbourne, Australia; Toronto, Canada; and Washington D.C. and Orlando, United States. There are plans to begin chapters soon in Los Angeles, United States; and Wellington, New Zealand.

“Social media was the key to drawing in young people from the widespread Sri Lanka diaspora around the world,” De Visser says. “As they interacted with us on Facebook and through our website, they were inspired to join us in rebuilding one Sri Lanka.”

Dhanapala writes that their participation enhanced this year’s conference.

“The new features of foreign participation representation from the youth of the Sri Lanka diaspora and the TV coverage were excellent additions,” he writes. “The fact that the conference was held in Kandy during the Perahera was also good because it enabled all to share a common festival.”

Many of these chapters plan to organize Future Leader Conferences in their own diaspora communities around the world during the next year, encouraging reconciliation and celebration of the different cultures.

This year’s conference also drew interested observers from India, South Africa, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo. They have returned home inspired to replicate the concepts they saw in Sri Lanka, De Visser says. Youth leaders in Kenya, for example, are planning to have a Future Leaders Conference next year.

“Kenya’s tribal tensions led to violence in the last elections, and they are very eager to do something before the next elections in 2012 to create a coalition of Kenya Unites that will work to foster reconciliation,” De Visser says.

He says SLU’s community programs have benefited several thousands of people – both the young people implementing them and the Sri Lankans benefiting from them.

Dhanapala writes that the youth movement has even inspired adults like himself.

“I have been inspired myself by the enthusiasm of the members,” he writes.

De Visser says the youth believe that change is up to them.

“We believe that we need to be the change we want to see,” De Visser says. “We can never go back to a time where you just knew someone as a Sinhalese or a Tamil. Now we know their names and faces. We can appreciate a personality. We can judge each other by our character and not by ethnicity or the region we represent. We will not let the hatred of the past control the present and destroy our future.”

The Global Press Institute uses a unique training-to-employment model that empowers women in developing countries to become professional reporters. Global Press Institute reporters prioritize responsibility, solutions-based coverage and strong human storytelling. If you value our news content, please consider investing $1 for each article that inspires and informs you.

The SUNDAY LEADER speaks of SLU School Relations Tour

2011-10-31T03:35:00.000-07:00

Sri Lanka Unites – School Tour | The Sunday Leader

Sri Lanka Unites – School Tour

Sri Lanka Unites is a group of young people changing the country, and they are keeping at it.
After bringing students from all over the island to two youth leadership conferences, they are now on a bus tour of the island. I have been following their videos and stories online and it is really amazing to see.
Positive
Some people believe in boycotting Sri Lanka or punishing the government before reconciliation begins, but I don’t think that works. What about the young people that have to wait? For their sake, we have to start right now.
The vital task at hand is not rolling back the war, it is rolling out the future. It is about uniting Sri Lanka in heart and mind. In some circles, however, even talking about this is difficult. Among the diaspora, many people don’t identify as Sri Lankan and the term an identity is surprisingly controversial among the english speaking elite at home. Many do not like the flag, or want the government to make certain moves before they do anything. This, I think, is a minority. A vocal one, but the future doesn’t belong to them. There are many more people putting hope into action.
What is great about Sri Lanka Unites (led by Prashan de Visser) is that it is run by young people reaching young people. Rather than setting prerequisites for peace and documenting what is wrong, they are just going out and making a change. What I have seen through their experience is that the ground reality is actually a lot more hopeful than cynics would have you believe.
Simple
What is beautiful about what Sri Lanka Unites is doing is that it is so simple. Difficult and complicated to do, but simple in its final application. Kids are making friends with kids from other parts of the island. Before the war sports and scouts and stuff did this, but it needs a bit of a kick start. It is actually much more effective than any top-down political solution or even political devolution. These are kids making friends with other kids and actually uniting as people, not political parties or voters. Just people.
I was especially encouraged by a young man from Kegalle who said his new Tamil friends visited for local New Year and that they were visiting in December. I was also struck that a young man, Ashan, from Trinity said not only did his mind change, he changed his mother’s mind as well. That is how change generally works, especially change of the heart. From the youth, from the ground, a few young people at a time.
In another example, a young man from Jaffna visited Matara for the first time and was laughing about how he got a rose from a Sinhala girl saying, “I think we have reached the first step for reconciliation”.
Change
This is how change starts and reconciliation begins. It isn’t something the government can dictate or legislate, and it is not something that can devolve from the centre.
The government can certainly get out of the way or do more than it is doing, but reconciliation is ultimately between people on the ground. Rather than lobbying the centre or international bodies, true change makers like Sri Lanka Unites are doing it school by school, town by town, person by person.
Admittedly, a better education system would mix students from within towns and across regions (through sports, etc) better than it does, but civil society can pick up some of the slack. Each young person that groups like Sri Lanka Unites reaches becomes an ambassador to their families, to their communities and to the nation and world at large. They truly are supporting a new generation of leadership.
I for one find this very exciting, and you can actually follow it all without trekking round the country with them. Just ‘like’ Sri Lanka Unites on Facebook (facebook.com/pages/Sri-Lanka-Unites).
I think you’ll like what you see.

Short URL: http://www.thesundayleader.lk/?p=49986

Posted by sanjeewa on Oct 30 2011. Filed under Article 14. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Photo Gallery

Royal International Head Prefect's perspective

2011-10-31T01:42:00.000-07:00

contributed by Benislos Thushan

Following is Geethika Mannaperuma's (Head Prefect of Royal International School, Kurunegala) view on the assembly conducted there.

"On the 10th October, which was a Monday, 4 representatives of Sri Lanka Unites visited Royal International School- Kurunegala. The day’s assembly was basically based on the introduction of SLU to RIS. Ashfaque the head of the team along with Thushan, Thisara & Abishaek did a fantastic presentation which truly created an enormous impact on the students at RIS to join in hands with this youth movement to bring about a contrasting change in Sri Lanka. Although SLU was not a popular thing at RIS, this visit created opportunity to all the students who were willing to be a part of this network to fill up the registration forms and get their name in with SLU.

Further, the presentation by these four gentlemen truly inspired the present SLU members in RIS to create something positive within our school society. As a result we planned to carry out small workshops with each section in our school. We just completed our first workshop at RIS with the grade six students last Friday, which was the 14th October.

We are further planning to continue the inspirational programs with the entire school. This is all because we truly have learned a lot about what we should be doing to our motherland as responsible citizens. On behalf of Royal International School- Kurunegala I convey my most sincere gratitude to all the resource personnel at SLU. Also a very big thank you, the crew on the road trip for all you tireless efforts taken to reconcile Sri Lanka. Thank you so much Ashfaque, Thushan, Thisara and Abishek for stopping by RIS & spending time with us.

Navoda's Story

2011-10-29T13:56:00.000-07:00

Interview by Elijah Hoole

I’m Navoda Ediriweera from Sujath Balika Vidyalaya, Matara.I was participant at FLC 3, that’s how I got involved in Sri Lanka Unites.

I play the piano; music is my thing. I think music is apowerful tool when used appropriately. I hope to teach music one day. It’smainly in this field that I hope to contribute to Sri Lanka Unites.

Being a girl in itself is a barrier. Our school to someextent is conservative, which restricts our capacity to contribute toreconciliation. However our teacher-in -charge is very supportive andencourages us to do our level best for the cause.

FLC was a good experience. It was my first exposure totamils. Before the conference I found it difficult to differentiate betweentamils and tigers. But now I understand that tamils are no different from me. Ihave lots of tamil friends and I’m proud about it.

As a school club we’ve already done one small project. We spenta day with kids from the Buddhist Ladies’ Orphanage, Matara. We choreographed adance and taught them. We also sang songs and told stories to each other. Ienjoyed every moment of that experience. We are a new chapter and hopefully wewill be able to do more towards hope and reconciliation.

Hambantota: SLU's first presence

2011-10-27T20:23:00.000-07:00

On the 26th of October, we arrived at Hambantota where we signed into a place called Ruhunu Resort. We spent the night discussing the life and quotes of Martin Luther King, which was both inspirational and enlightening to us, eventhough we were tired from the activities of the day.

The next day we went to 4 schools, namely Therappuththa Maha Vidyalaya, Tangalle Balika Vidyalaya, Tangalle Boys School and Beliatte Maha Vidyalaya. We did not expect much of a welcome in Hambantota, since this was the first time SLU had come to Hambantota, and so you can expect our surprise when the first two schools we went to showed hospitality in the true Sri Lankan style.

The Principal of the Tangalle Boys School showed immense interest and pledged his complete support to our cause. In fact, he was one of the few people from the South who actually admitted that the ethnice problem required a deeper solution than just the conclusion of the war. The excitement and keen interest showed by the students here at Hambantota towards meeting the members our team, especially those from the North and East was very moving and inspiring.

In the evening we had a team building session where we discussed different forms of conflicts, and strategies that can lead to conflict resolution. This added a different perspective to the way we looked at conflicts - it is not necessarily a negative. It can be used to make a positive impact too, depending on how we resolve it.

Then we discussed a few conflicts that we see in Sri Lanka, which included not just the inter-ethnic conflict but also the intra-ethnic conflicts such as the caste problem, class problem, territorialism and intra-religious/inter-denominational problems.

Today we are on our way to conduct a workshop at Tangalle Balika Vidyalaya. But I can already feel in advance that the workshop is going to be an immense success. Today we will leave Hambantota, knowing deep within us that we have planted the seeds of reconciliation in really good and fertile soils!

Tamil and Sinhala Blogs!

2011-10-27T11:55:00.000-07:00

We also have a tamil and sinhala blog up and running, parallel to this blog. Our tamil blog is edited by Arzath Areef of Kalmunai and myself.
http://slutamil.blogspot.com

The Sinhala blog is maintained by Thisara Nishad from Kegalle.
http://sluroadtripsinhala.blogspot.com

Make sure you follow them too!!

Day of Rest at Matara

2011-10-27T10:22:00.000-07:00

On the 26th of October, on the day of Diwali we decided to take some time off our work, and have some time of fun and team building. We started off the day by having breakfast at a "Matara Bath Kade" (Matara Rice Shop). During this time we had a few interviews with Ashfaque, Kanishka and Thushan.

Following this, we went to the Polhena beach, and had an amazing time swimming and snorkelling. Many members of the team hadn't been to Matara before, and were greatly privileged to enjoy the beauty of the south and feel a part of it! Followed by that we went to Verahera Viharaya in Matara, the place which houses the largest statue of Lord Buddha in the whole of South Asia. This was a very exciting experience for all of us, and it also allowed us to be exposed to different religious perspectives.

Following that, we visited the Southern most point of the Island - Dondra Head. This was a very important point of our School Relations Tour, since we also plan on visiting Point Pedro, which is the northern most point of Sri Lanka.

Following this we left for Hambantota. It was a very important day of the tour, eventhough we didn't do anything much. Part of the purpose behind this tour is to admire and enjoy the beauty that makes Sri Lanka the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, and we achieved this to a great extent during our day of rest at Matara.

Ratnapura Dharmapala College , Yohan's Perspective

2011-10-25T07:13:00.000-07:00

by Yohan Perera

Our first thoughts on going to Ratnapura was negative. The main reason being the workshop at Kegalle Balika and the fact that we had to travel 2 and half hours for one school. It was my Manjula, Alex, Thushan and myself who left to Ratnapura at 4am on the 14th of October 2011. We didn't know what awaited us but Alex had a hunch that it was going to be something well planed.

His words were right cause the moment we got down, there were students dressed up in vivid national costumes representing the Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and Burghers. Indeed a shocker for all of us. Being 19, it was a very moving experience when small kids gave betel leaves and worshipped us. That was just the begining. The assembly was packed with cultural dances, acts ,songs etc. We felt that the whole team should have been their to experience the amazing commitment and the sense of love that the people in Rathnapura had towards the cause.

Reconciliation was not a new word for them because their school had so many quotes regarding peace and hope. After the assembly they gave us a small token to show their appreciation and this was the first time a school treated us so well. Their hearts were transparent. The students there were filled with loving words and caring gestures. The Deputy Principal of the school was very enthusiastic about the whole concept of youth led reconciliation. He was taken up by Thushan's contribution to SLU. And as always Thushan made many friends.

We all left with a warm feeling in our hearts. Knowing that we have made lasting friendships and won a part in the hearts of the people in Ratnapura. Let us Reconcile, Let us do as much as we can to make a sustainable change.

Day 1 of the Road Trip - Vishni's Perspective

2011-10-24T07:31:00.000-07:00

by Vishni Vincent

Every one were excited as it was the first day of the journey. The team assembled at Wesley College hall, as it was the first assembly. It indeed was a good start for a history making journey. The assembly commenced at 7:30 am, followed by breakfast at the School premises. Every one got into the bus for the first time and our first visit was to galle face green. We had a time of fun and fellowship there, we spent some time talking and sharing the importance of galle face to our brothers from districts out of Colombo. We took pictures. From there we all went to the new Sri Lanka Unites office, ( No. 113, Kynsey Road , Borella - Colombo 8. ) and started working together (painting, dusting and all the work to make our own office look whole), which was more than just fun. After all the tiring work we went back to Wesley College to have lunch, from there we went to Image Center, along the marine drive, Bambalapitiya. We had a session with Ambassador Jayantha Dhanapala. Lessons on the importance of my contribution for a united Nation, violence is NEVER a solution in any situation and many more such valuable ideas were discussed. Then the girls left, where the boys other than the people in Colombo were taken back to Wesley College after dinner, as all of them were hosted by Wesley College for five days.

Kandy Report

2011-10-22T09:32:00.000-07:00

By Malshani Delgahapitiya

10^th Oct. 2011

The 2^nd assembly for the day was held as HillwoodCollege. The grade 12 students of Hillwood attended the assembly.

The Sri Lanka Unites Junior Team (SLU JT), explained to thegathering, the importance of reconciliation and peace and how we as studentscan contribute towards this cause.

We left the premises after the assembly with the hope ofseeing a SLU chapter at Hillwood College Kandy in the near future, and headedto the Hindu Cultural Centre where we lodged.

After lunch, the junior Team had a team time, which we usedto learn and broaden our knowledge on reconciliation. The end of team time was always full of funfilled and memorable discussions about the morning sessions and getting to knoweach other more.

In the later part of the day, we spent time preparing forthe Kandy workshop which was to be held the following day at the Hindu CulturalCentre. Since our team consisted of multi talented and versatile youth fromacross the country, our team leader, Prashan Ayya suggested that we shouldpractice and perform a song after the workshop! We managed to practice the songwhile working on various other responsibilities each of us were given. It was challenging but we gave our best shotsto make the next day a success! After dinner, we watched the movie “Invictus”,to get a better knowledge about the great personality of Nelson Mandela.

11^th Oct. 2011

All of us were up and ready by 6 a.m. for the big day inKandy. Each person attended to the responsibilitiesthey were given the previous day. Atotal of about 60 students from Trinity College Kandy; Colombo InternationalSchool, Kandy; Royal International School, Kurunagala; St. Anthoy’s College,Kandy; and St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy attended the Kandy SLU workshop thatwas organized by the SLU chapter of Trinity College, Kandy. The students weremixed and put into several teams, irrespective of their schools.

The teams actively participated in all the games we hadorganized for them. Each game was based on a reconciliation principle. The mainattraction of the workshop was the forum theatre which showcased a series ofunjust events that was later corrected by the students. By the end of the workshop, the students werealso deeply moved and touched by the vision of Sri Lanka Unites, and they allpledged to work with SLU to rebuild our nation and to be the change that wewant to see in the country.

Kandy workshop- A Success!!

After a tiring morning session, the Junior Team was given amuch deserved break by Prashan Ayya. So together with few of our friends fromthe Trinity College, SLU chapter, we decided to go around Kandy site seeingbefore night falls. We had an amazingtime, yet again getting to know each other better and enjoying the beauties ofthe hill-capital. It was almost 10.30 p.m. when we got back to the HinduCultural Centre and we were all very tired! BUT! We all stayed up, to learnmore about one of the greatest leaders of the world; Nelson Mandela. After theteam session, we all went back to our rooms to have a good night sleep to beready to head to Nuwara-eliya the following day.

MY EXPERIENCE IN KEGALLE

2011-10-19T22:35:00.000-07:00

by Sanjeevan Marine

Went to Kegalle from kandy at themorning, and we started our assemblies for Kegalle. First we went to KegalleBalika Vidyalaya. Then we went to Duddly Senanayaka College and then went toKegalle Maha Vidyala. The school visits were such a nice experiences. I saw theSinhala Buddhist traditional things there.

Especially an unforgettableexperience in Kegalle Maha Vidyalaya, I met a boy from that school. His name isSanjaya. He participated in FLC 03. His father is a soldier in SL Army, and helost his arm in the war. So the boy hated tamil people.But after theconference, two of his best friends are tamil. The meeting with him was awonderful experience.

In the evening we went toPinnawela Elephant Orphanage. At the night we stayed in a Buddhhist place whichbelongs to SANASA. Our friends Manjula & Thisara arranged it well.

The next day we had a workshop inKegalle Balika Vidyalaya. Then we finished our activities at Kegalle.

*Kegalle was such a beautifullplace. It has an amazing geographical landscape. Its climate was superb…

I can’t forget my memories inKegalle.

Thank you!!

Summary of the First Leg of the Road Trip

2011-10-15T07:13:00.000-07:00

Let me start with apologising for not delivering on the promise of Daily Updates from the Road Trip. We did not have the web connectivity we needed for this. However, this summary of the first leg of the Road Trip is only a gist of everything that happened. I will put up more detailed posts on the more interesting aspects of the Road Trip.

On the 9th of October, we left Colombo at 4p.m. heading to Kandy. At Kandy we were hosted by the Hindu Cultural Center. Our special thanks to Kishin Siva and his dad for making that possible. In Kandy, we visited Trinity College, who were the host of FLC season 3, and the welcome there was amazing! We also visited Hillwood Girl's College. Part of the team went to Kurunegala district where they visited Malliyadeva Model School and Royal International. On the 11th of October we had a workshop for the Kandy and Kurunegala districts at the Hindu Cultural Center hall. It went off pretty well. The forum theatre, was one of the most interesting aspects of it. We had CIS Kandy, Royal International, Trinity College, St. Sylvester's and St. Anthony's participating.

On the 12th of October, we went to Nuwaraeliya where we had assemblies at St. Xavier's College and Beacon Hill Academy, followed by a workshop for both the schools. It was the most interactive workshop, and the response was excellent!

We left to Kegalle on the 13th, and visited Kegalu Vidyalaya and Kegalu Balika Vidyalaya. On the 14th, part of the team left to Ratnapura where they were warmly welcomed by Dharmapala Maha Vidyalaya which is our only member school in the district. The rest of the team conducted a workshop for the Schools of Kegalle district at the Kegalu Balika Vidyalaya. St. Joseph's Convent, Kegalu Vidyalaya, Kegalu Balika Vidyalaya and a few more schools participated.

That brought to an end our first leg! 5 days, 5 districts... Keep following as we continue to update you more about these 5 days and also about arrangements for the next leg, which will start on the 23rd of the month!

The Language Barrier

2011-10-15T06:17:00.000-07:00

"I do not know their language" said a boy from Hindu College, when I talked to him about the Champions of Change project and about their partner school, Joseph Vaz College, Puttalam. This got me thinking, on what more we can do to break this barrier of language. Mohanathas from Mullaitivu who is also a part of the Road Trip can only speak Tamil. But despite this, he still manages to get along with everyone else in the Road Trip team. He also says that he will be starting Sinhala classes soon, so that he will be able to converse with his fellow brethren.

The Champions of Change projects carried out by the Kegalu Vidyalaya students at their partner school Vattapali Mahavidyalayam in Mullaitivu is another prime example of how despite this language barrier we can still reach out and make a change! Like we've all heard - "Where there is a will, there is a way!"

First Update

2011-10-05T11:19:00.000-07:00

This blog post comes quite late, but I will try to summarise all the activities of the past 3 days since we embarked on this journey. This week, being a very busy week for all the schools in Colombo, with elections around the corner, Shakespeare drama competitions and Teachers' Day celebration, worked to our disadvantage. However, despite this setback we managed to conduct assemblies at Wesley College, Elizabeth Moir International and Royal College.

Today, we had the workshop for the Colombo district at the Royal College Skill Center, with a participating crowd of around 75 students from all over the district. Musaeus College and St. Joseph's College were introduced to SLU for the first time and they are already working on starting SLU Chapters in their own schools.

The past three days also included a enlightening discussion with Amb. Jayantha Dhanapala on his views on Reconciliation and Justice, and a interesting session with Sanjana Hattotuwa, on serving Social Justice by utilizing telecommunication and media.
Further, we also had a brainstorming session on injustices around us, and what we as the youth of this nation can do about it. More of this to come in our future posts...

Future Leaders Conference Season 3: The Final Day

2011-08-17T05:33:00.000-07:00

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.

Like what you’ve read? You can help support SLU’s mission by signing in under your own account at blogspot.com and adding this site. Alternatively, click “join this site” under the followers tab to sign in with your google account and join publicly!

Future Leaders Conference Season 3: Day 3

2011-08-15T15:06:00.001-07:00

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

2011-08-12T06:28:00.001-07:00

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

Future Leaders Conference Season 3: Day 1

2011-08-11T03:38:00.001-07:00

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

Countdown to the Conference: 1 day - The Final Moments

2011-08-10T00:16:00.000-07:00

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

Twenty20 Cricket Match!

2011-08-09T04:17:00.001-07:00

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

2011-08-09T00:06:00.000-07:00

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

Countdown to the Conference: 3 days - Tolerance and Coexistence

2011-08-09T00:01:00.000-07:00

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

Training Finale

2011-08-07T14:11:00.000-07:00

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.

Countdown to the Conference: 4 days - Exporting Reconciliation

2011-08-07T14:01:00.000-07:00

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.

Future Leaders Conference 2009

2011-08-07T13:59:00.002-07:00

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

2011-08-07T13:59:00.000-07:00

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.

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

2011-08-06T13:55:00.000-07:00

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.

The Youth and Reconciliation

2011-08-05T13:25:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-05T13:20:00.001-07:00

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.

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

2011-08-04T12:52:00.001-07:00

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.

Advancing Forward

2011-08-02T23:29:00.000-07:00

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

2011-08-02T23:13:00.001-07:00

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.

Countdown to the Conference: 10 days - The Local Cohort

2011-08-02T10:42:00.000-07:00

The upcoming Future Leaders Conference will incorporate dozens of Sri Lankan volunteers from across the island and abroad. The cohort consists of university students and young people aged 19 and older who have learned about SLU through its ever growing network and share its passion. Since most volunteers have finished secondary school, they monopolize the unique position of being able to relate to the students attending the conference while being mature and knowledgeable enough to fulfill their responsibilities. Their recent experiences lend them credibility as they encourage their younger counterparts to associate with their peers.

These supporters serve as role models for achieving reconciliation in Sri Lanka. Attending students have the opportunity to observe their older colleagues expending significant time and energy on increasing the well being of those they engage. In fact, not all volunteers are new to the conference. Some individuals have signed on as volunteers in every conference to date while others have had previous experience working with other youth organizations abroad. The students who participate in the conference themselves often have the opportunity to return as assistants in later years to aid in the operation of a conference where they were once guests. Before every Future Leaders Conference, several mornings are devoted to volunteer training where supporters review their roles for the upcoming event. Currently, Sri Lanka Unites has one more training session scheduled for this coming Saturday. As well as being on-site assistants during FLC, local volunteers are indispensable in the preparation for the conference. Volunteers assist in the school relations department and are involved with organizing specific logistics for the conference. Many of these young people have become good friends with the department heads and SLU staff members. Considering their position, these dedicated volunteers can be considered SLU’s vanguard of reconciliation, striving to be an example for generations to come.

Training Day

2011-08-01T23:54:00.000-07:00

Many different activities ensured an enjoyable morning

The first day of volunteer training occurred at the Methodist College in Colombo on Saturday. About 20 young students arrived to learn about the upcoming Future Leaders Conference and their role in its execution. After the projector and other materials arrived, the day started with a viewing of the documentary from FLC season 1. The DVD showcased interviews with Sri Lanka Unites team members and clips from speakers such as Sanath Jayasuriya who supported reconciliation and helped the students undergo a profound transformation. At the outset of the conference, most students were upset that they would be rooming with others outside of their school, yet by the end of the social whirlwind, most youth were asking their teachers if they could stay even longer.

Volunteers try to stand up by counterbalancing each other

Prashan continued to explain the vision and purpose of Sri Lanka Unites and how the volunteers could best act as facilitators between students who would not be able to speak each other’s languages. It is the volunteer’s role to enable the guests to feel as comfortable as possible in their new social setting. Interaction is important, and students must be willing to engage others from different districts. The morning continued with some team-building games followed by a quick lunch. Former and returning volunteers shared the experiences they had accumulated working at the previous two conferences, and provided encouragement for the newer members of the volunteer team. Afterwards, the members of the SLU staff met for a small meeting at a café to review the operations and school relations departments.

Countdown to the Conference: 11 days - An Uphill Battle

2011-08-01T08:09:00.001-07:00

The struggle to plant the seeds of reconciliation within the cultural consciousness of Sri Lanka does not occur in a vacuum but requires a battle against the darker tendencies of our human nature. The drive to succeed often lies coupled with a characterization of an enemy that must be overcome. The enemy can be real, fictional, abstract, or simply the personal demons that are unique to an individual. This otherwise neutral mentality can become a recurring problem when it is continuously manifested between people groups who have real potential for compromise and cooperation. Regardless of the reasons for the commencement of Sri Lanka’s civil war, the conflict has led to the ongoing characterization of the other party as an enemy to be defeated or, at the very least, bypassed. This reaction can draw out hostilities even when it is in the societal interest for fighting to cease. Unfortunately, the drive to implement one’s own limited agenda narrows the definition of success to a limited cultural sphere while excluding consideration of other people’s betterment. This, in turn, reinforces the depiction of others as hostiles, and a vicious cycle of hatred ensues.

Since such cycles do not crumble independently, Sri Lanka Unites strives to provide impetus for change by rewriting the ethnic caricatures and stereotypes that have become culturally embedded within Sri Lanka. The entrenched nature of the self-sustaining process implies that uprooting its foundation is difficult and can only theoretically occur at two points. Either the interests of both parties must expand to accommodate the needs of others, or the portrayal of the other must shift in a positive direction. If one of these options is accomplished, its implementation will strengthen the other link in the chain, and the cycle will be reversed. SLU has chosen the latter option as it has the potential to be the most accessible to the people for a grassroots organization. A friendlier disposition can automatically lead people to share common interests and goals which serve to further strengthen interethnic relationships. While this approach arguably represents the easier choice, it would be a grave mistake to think that sustaining peace and cooperation is as hands-off as maintaining hatred and needless warfare. Constant vigilance against the resurgence of these twin evils is always necessary so long as the drive to succeed can be corrupted.

Recording the Dream

2011-07-31T23:27:00.000-07:00

Eshan and Latha sing for SLU

Sri Lanka Unites has laid down the audio track for their upcoming music video. As most of the visual footage was already captured, the evening was spent in a dimly lit recording studio within the municipality of Welisara outside of Colombo. At 6:00 pm, the team initiated a 5 hour session by altering the composition of the musical accompaniment. While the verses were modified to better complement the melody, the words themselves focus on letting go of the hatred that has held the future captive for so long. The lyrics are a mixture of Sinhala and Tamil with a smattering of English for emphasis. Prashan provided Sinhala vocals for one verse while the assistant vice president, Christin Rajah, supplied another verse in Tamil. However, Sri Lanka Unites was not satisfied with a completely intra-organizational line-up, and the staff recruited several others to help with the audio recording. Eshan Fernando, a rising musician within Colombo and friend of SLU, also provided vocals while Latha lent her talent to another verse. The chorus features the singers in unison, describing the future that they wish to help build. Ben Morrow also arrived to obtain more footage of the production of the audio track itself for possible use in the music video.

The music video in its entirety will premiere at the Future Leaders Conference this August. The goal of this project is to introduce students to a musical package that combines appealing audio and visual quality with a strong, positive message. It is the hope of Sri Lanka Unites that this song will resonate with the youth and receive repeated radio coverage. In this manner, the message of reconciliation will be free to spread across the island.

Countdown to the Conference: 12 days - The Language Barrier

2011-07-31T12:00:00.000-07:00

If broadening the definition of progress necessitates constructive dialogue with individuals of other ethnicities, then the presence of multiple languages becomes a significant barrier. Practically, Sri Lankans will have a more difficult time cooperating with one another if they cannot understand the speech of their compatriots. Psychologically, language differences impose a barrier by making it easier to dehumanize others outside of one’s communicability. A failure to achieve verbal understanding halts personal connections and closes the main avenue through which one can discover the abundance of similarities that human nature and geographical proximity provide. Conversely, a concentrated effort to communicate with others in their lingua franca signals equality and eagerness to establish common ground. While English has provided a common language for Sri Lanka in the past, bilingual speakers of Sinhala and Tamil have an advanced start in uniting an island for the years to come.

At the Future Leaders Conference, the language issue is in the forefront of the minds of the planners. Fortunately, since most of the attending students are school prefects, being able to speak two or even three languages is not uncommon. Even so, every team will have at least one trilingual volunteer who is able to act as a translator between group members. Sometimes, words need not be used at all to fashion comradery. Actions speak for themselves, and cricket, football and other sports are a great way to encourage students to communicate while circumventing the disparity of the spoken tongue. The mutual effort of working for a common goal through games can launch lifelong friendships. For these relationships to continue, learning the language of the other remains critical. While some of the SLU team know both Tamil and Sinhala, many within the group are taking the time to become conversational in Tamil so that they can better further the work they carry on at SLU.

Countdown to the Conference: 13 days - Overcoming the Past for the Promise of the Future

2011-07-30T23:41:00.001-07:00

In recent memory, few conflicts have been as costly in terms of human life as the civil war fought in Sri Lanka. Decades of fighting have left deep wounds that have occurred to recently to be rejected, especially by the youngest members of society. While forging a future, the past cannot simply be buried. People do not forget personal sorrow on command, so it can hardly be expected that they will embrace a future when so much unresolved tension already exists. Sri Lanka Unites does not advocate mass amnesia regarding the past thirty years. Instead, the past must be addressed and overcome. Sri Lanka Unites has the following motto: “We will not let the hatred of the past control the present and destroy our future.” The Future Leaders Conference allots a time where all of the students can ask forgiveness from each other for the thoughts and actions that have denigrated their countrymen. These wrongs are not limited to Sri Lanka. Every person is guilty of pursuing goals at the expense of others, and only by reconciling previous mistakes with others can we hope to build a future together. The past must be forgiven, not forgotten.

The past also retains an additional function. As human beings, we have notoriously short collective memories. If the past conflicts are forgotten, then no safeguard can exist to foreclose the possibility of a repeat scenario of the recent hatred. The same suspicions and “us v. them” mentality that led to the war can resurface and cause strife anew if no lessons remain to remind the people of the horrible cost that was paid. By viewing the past with a lens free from any agenda and useless hate, it can serve a warning of the potential for ethnic hatred to rip the nation into warring entities once again.

The Beginning

2011-07-28T23:57:00.000-07:00

Read the Sunday Times' account of the first FLC for a revealing perspective on the potential of Sri Lankan youth!
http://sundaytimes.lk/100328/Magazine/sundaytimesmirror_01.html

Countdown to the Conference: 14 days - The Holistic Approach

2011-07-28T23:55:00.000-07:00

Students express reconciliation via art

Though the Future Leaders Conference will primarily target its efforts on reaching the youth of the island, the other attendees will not go unnoticed. Sri Lanka Unites does not believe in missing opportunities, and it has developed a smaller teacher’s conference to be held alongside the main events. While the younger generation holds the future, the teachers are responsible for shaping the minds that will take over positions of leadership. Past conferences have hosted talks created with teachers in mind, but this August marks the first time that a complete schedule has been devised for educators as well as pupils. In addition to the teacher’s conference, other events are being designed that address the local and international volunteers. Specifically, several sessions have been designed to encourage international volunteers to become involved in positive change they wish to see in their own country.

The third season of the Future Leaders Conference will be the most expansive and holistic event that Sri Lanka Unites has ever prepared. As in previous renditions, the conference includes notable Sri Lankan and foreign speakers, sports figures, sports, workshops, and small groups. The addition of the volunteer and teachers conferences is another means for SLU to expand reconciliation across the island. SLU does not wish to abandon the older generations that remember the earlier days of the civil war, especially since those individuals are likely to be the most affected by the conflict. In fact, the work of Sri Lanka Unites extends far beyond conference related activities. SLU has routinely sent aid to IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camps and adopted schools to fund education for needy students. To achieve national reconciliation, all available channels must be used as such opportunities are too expensive to forego.

Countdown to the Conference: 15 days - Integration

2011-07-28T09:15:00.000-07:00

Ethnic integration is a key component of reconciliation. Stereotypes and cycles of hatred breed on ignorance long after actual hostilities have ended, and Sri Lanka runs the risk of following this pattern if its ethnic groups do not interact and engage in dialogue. This week’s school relations meeting addressed this issue directly as the remainder of the accepted students were confirmed and divided into teams. Every FLC season to date has featured teams that compete in sporting events and bond during their small group sessions. Though the teams are designated according to major cities (Colombo Chargers, Jaffna Giants, Anuradapurah Avengers etc.) the student composition has no relation to these locales. In fact, every team possesses a wide variety of students without any ethnic or geographic predominance. This format encourages students to engage with those who they might otherwise avoid, and build positive relationships with those who were once considered enemies. This directly confronts the problem of a divided Sri Lanka by allowing friendly competition through sports to foster team spirit with those of different backgrounds.

The SLU team at the office reviewing applications

Most people stake their identity alongside a collective whole with which some notable similarities exist. Religion, ethnicity, and even personality can all serve as unifying factors for individuals within a group. The ethnic problem in Sri Lanka does not have to be resolved at the expense of one community. Rather, social communities can be redefined and expanded while ethnic identity remains intact. As Sinhalese, Tamil, Burgher, and Malay students interact at the conference, their identity enlarges until it is shared by those across the ethnic divide. Their goals now include those aims from those who used to be foreign and unrelated. It is difficult to swallow the alienation of a different ethnic group as a collective goal when your friends include those from that same ethnicity. If this can be accomplished, then priorities will shift to realign with the new state of affairs, perhaps without ever having to be consciously targeted.

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Countdown to the Conference: 16 days - Building Bridges

2011-07-26T10:50:00.000-07:00

At 5:40 am, the SLU van rolled through the sparsely populated streets of early morning Colombo to begin collecting those who would be travelling upwards to Kandy later that Monday morning. The purpose of the expedition was straightforward. The team was to talk to the administration of Trinity College, prepare sleeping accommodations, finalize eating arrangements, and determine session locations for the students. The time spent on picking up members throughout Colombo combined with the winding roads and heavy traffic all contributed to the fact that the noon sun was high in the sky as we pulled up to the gates of Trinity College. Nevertheless, the administration was gracious enough to accept our audience immediately in one of their professionally furnished conference rooms. The team soon split into pairs to view different parts of the campus and examine their suitability for the purposes that had been assigned to them. Despite the difficulties provided by the pouring rain and ponderous amount of steps and stairways scattered across the grounds, the college administration made it clear that they wanted to make our job as simple as possible. Needless and hypothetical expenses were cut to the agreement of both parties, and every facility that was not otherwise engaged was put on the table for optional use at the conference. Food availabilities were made flexible for the variety of requirements that the students’ medical conditions and religious duties had designated.

From Sri Lanka Unite’s inception, Trinity College in Kandy has been a staunch supporter of the Future Leaders Conference. Their SLU chapter has been an active and recognized club from the scores of clubs that have been established nationwide. In the opening stages of outlining a Future Leaders Conference that could accommodate 1000 participants, each member of the college faculty made it clear that they individually supported a joint venture between SLU and Trinity College. Both parties share the responsibility and neither is subordinate to the other. While strong interpersonal relationships are necessary within SLU, ties also need to be cemented on broader horizons. Old networks must be maintained just as new ones are initiated. A striking fact about SLU is its ever growing number of connections to passionate groups and individuals who wish to see reconciliation in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Unites does not renege on its relationships, and it continues to go out of its way to forge new contacts and recognize those who have been gracious enough to partner with our vision and cause.

A three hour visit was promptly followed by another four hour ride back to Colombo. Though most of the day was spent in transit, it was clear that the trip was both productive and successful. The helpful willingness of Trinity College’s administration was reflected in the smiles and excerpts passed between the SLU crew members. Aside from the technical success of the sojourn, perhaps the satisfaction was simply derived from the fact that the aspirations of the younger generation are taking hold of the hopes of many in all of Sri Lanka’s districts.

Countdown to the Conference: 17 days - Why Change Begins with the People

2011-07-26T07:58:00.000-07:00

One Tamil student who attended the Future Leaders Conference once said, “Hate was like me drinking poison.” The statement referring to his long-held hatred and disdain for the Sinhalese people. What occurred over the course of a few days in the middle of August was something truly remarkable. A boy who had once wanted nothing to do with his countrymen changed his heart and decided that the future could only be made together with the participation of the entire island. A mind that once strove to erect additional emotional barriers redirected itself to begin looking for a practical solution to the problem of ethnic division in Sri Lanka. It is the hope of SLU that these stories will be repeated on a nationwide scale.

Often, people make the mistake of believing that change must always occur from the top down. They neglect to notice that lasting change frequently occurs on the grassroots stratum and works upwards to construct a new culturally acceptable pattern for society. Thus, programs that do not target the hearts of the people and interact with them on the personal level are often doomed to failure. Any genuine widespread change in a societal attitude must originate within the minds of the people. Without this metamorphosis, only superficial changes will surface. Persons will tend to revert to their past actions when freed from external constraints, and old grudges that were never resolved will once again take precedence over the search for a feasible way forward.

Such thinking is the rationale behind many youth movements. Since the youth of Sri Lanka are more apt to be freed from the stereotypes and shackles of the past than the more entrenched generations of their parents, Sri Lanka Unites has entrusted the future of the nation to youth of all ethnicities who will one day grow into positions of leadership across the island. For most students, the change that occurs during the Future Leaders Conference is anything but external. The post conference activity of those who have attended the conference is evidence of the internalization of values which have been reciprocated as actions that invest in the future.

Countdown to the Conference: 18 days - A Day Off

2011-07-26T00:40:00.000-07:00

No organization can function productively 100% of the time, and Sri Lanka Unites is no exception. After a week featuring 3 departmental meetings, back to back appointments, more hours than could be counted at the office, and the filming of the SLU music video, Saturday brought a well deserved time of rest and enjoyment for the overworked team. In addition, the team took the opportunity to celebrate international volunteer Jordan Carr’s 20^th birthday. We assembled at a hotel for a long and relaxing lunch by the beach where we unwound and exchanged stories about SLU and the funnier aspects of our lives. Afterwards, we took a quick trip to the Pegasus hotel where we continued our conversations. Prashan De Visser, Joel Fernando, Sarge Perera, and Ben Morrow honed their cricket skills at batting practice until the rest of the party joined us for a game of volleyball on the sand. Local tourists and sightseers even joined in the fun and a good time was had by all. Finally, after leaving a few members who decided to retire for the day, we alighted upon Prashan’s family home where we gratefully consumed a large home-cooked dinner and generous dessert in honor of the birthday celebrations.

While taking time to rest as a group is enjoyable and relaxing, it can also serve two important objectives. First, it prepares the group for the work that still needs to be performed before the conference. Physical rest can, of course, prevent exhaustion, but metal relaxation can just as equally renew one’s vision and motivation to accomplish a mission. Second, time spent as a group away from the work setting strengthens the team’s ability to cooperate and proceed smoothly. In a charity like Sri Lanka Unites, interpersonal relations are of paramount importance. The most crucial of these relationships are the ones between the team members themselves as they exchange plans and information between departments. Identifying this ability between members of SLU is not difficult. Both the work and downtime atmospheres convey a sense of openness and willingness to communicate that enables all members to feel comfortable interacting with one another.

Countdown to the Conference: 18 days - Progress Report

2011-07-24T07:56:00.000-07:00

-Music video shoot occurred at the Sinhalese Sports Club.

-Progress on getting sponsors and fundraising.

-More volunteers are available for the conference

-Cover art for new guidebook approaching completion

-Sri Lanka Unites Kandy is working on accommodations and necessities for students when they come for the conference.

-SLU team will be heading out to Kandy on Monday to scout the conference site.

-Future Leaders Conference Season 3 trailer has been completed.

Music Video Shoot

2011-07-24T07:09:00.001-07:00

In an outing that represented the culmination of more than a week of painting and preparation, much of the SLU music video was filmed on the grounds of the Sinhalese Sports Club this past Friday. The mural of the SLU logo had been finished the previous day by the combined efforts of local and international volunteers, and the video team arrived with equipment in hand at the stadium by 2:00 pm. The team was busy deciding set up and shot locations until 3:30 when a group of students arrived to participate in the video.

Some quick instructions were followed with the first of several shoots. Students were filmed walking from the club lounge onto the stadium, each holding a piece of the SLU logo that depicts the nation of Sri Lanka. Once on the grounds, students were filmed assembling the logo and celebrating the representative accomplishment. Over the course of the shoot, more SLU members including Sri Lanka Unites President Prashan De Visser arrived to witness the event. It was clear for everyone to see that the students enjoyed themselves and were glad to be able to take part in the music video. After an enjoyable and productive time, the team packed up for the day around 6:00 and headed back to the office!

Countdown to the Conference: 19 days - Following the Road Around the Bend

2011-07-22T23:42:00.000-07:00

Out of all the programs and events that Sri Lanka Unites has initiated, the undoubted highlight of the organization is the annual Future Leaders Conference. This year, over 700 students are expected to attend with around 1000 people being present at the conference including teachers, local volunteers, and international assistants. SLU understands that the learning and transformation that the students undergo is a vital resource of reconciliation that should not be limited to a 5 day period every year. Enthusiasm wanes, passion weakens, and determination falters when vision is unsupported. These ever-present possibilities have led SLU to develop an advanced follow-up program to their annual conference.

The SLU post-conference system revolves around the following two interlinked components: a comprehensive guidebook and the establishment of local Sri Lanka Unites clubs. Upon returning to their schools, student leaders who attend the conference are often motivated to begin SLU clubs alongside like-minded students. Local clubs strive to increase their own grasp of nation building, derive valuable lessons from inspirational figures such as Nelson Mandela, learn the benefits of cooperation through experiential learning games, enrich their surrounding communities, and benefit those of different ethnicities.

To accomplish this seemingly daunting task, a guidebook has been developed that provides instructions for founding clubs dedicated to reconciliation. The guidebook then lends suggestions for service opportunities as well as optional events like film and article discussions. Voluntary possibilities are explored on a weekly basis that extend well over one year into the time window of the following Future Leaders Conference. At that time, SLU hosts an awards ceremony to recognize those who have shown outstanding leadership and commitment to the future of Sri Lanka. Such efforts have partially accounted for the growth of SLU and the Future Leaders Conference every consecutive year.

An Inside Look: Thoughts from a student

2011-07-21T23:31:00.000-07:00

Follow the link to read what one student has to say about how reconciliation and Sri Lanka Unites relate to himself!

http://groundviews.org/2010/09/02/synthesis-of-personal-reflections-reconciliation-sri-lanka-unites-and-me/

Countdown to the Conference: 20 days - A Sacrificial Generation

2011-07-21T23:26:00.000-07:00

If Sri Lanka Unites’ vision is to have any merit, its members must understand the concept of sacrifice. Sacrifice has been one of SLU’s themes from its inception, and no lasting change can occur without it.

Sacrifice is uncomfortable by definition. It requires foregoing the familiar in exchange for the hope of a greater reward. In a post-war Sri Lanka, this means an initially uncomfortable shift in mentality. It means rethinking opinions about others with whom one shares the island. It also means interacting with and helping those who have previously been considered enemies. Such actions are certainly not comfortable, but those same choices have a powerful payoff. When former enemies come together, both can work to mutually benefit each other and their nation. No more energy needs to be expended on breaking one another down, but rather, all attention can be focused on building a prosperous future.

At its core, the motivation to sacrifice stems from a belief in something greater than oneself. For Sri Lankan youth, it is the dream of a better country and of a future without suspicion. The false sense of purpose that was gained from a conflict based on senseless hatred dissolves, and the illusion is replaced by a greater purpose that brings healing and hope to all those involved. While every person acts in accordance with the extent of their sense of purpose, not all purposes are healthy. Regardless of the location, too many people are focused only on themselves. Ironically, this is counterproductive for building a better nation.

Costly sacrifices are often too difficult to bear alone, and Sri Lanka Unites has implemented a nationwide support system in the form of its follow-up programs to attend to this reality. The knowledge that other students from different backgrounds are working to achieve the same aim is crucial in gaining the impetus necessary to continue the work of SLU on the grassroots level.

Countdown to the Conference: 21 days - Overcoming Conflict with Culture

2011-07-21T00:14:00.000-07:00

A 45 minute drive from the SLU office took us to Selyna’s apartment in Colombo 10. That evening, we were to have a departmental meeting that covered the best way to schedule programs for the upcoming Future Leaders Conference. As we settled into the living room, the meeting began by consulting the time tables for the student’s arrival, registration, and opening ceremony. Soon, we were deliberating over different options for the students’ time to unwind in between workshops and small group sessions, and the conversation turned to the nature of conflict.

The program team in discussion while taking notes

Being a land that houses significant populations of four of the world’s five major religions as well as several different ethnicities, Sri Lanka has the benefit of drawing upon a rich cultural heritage from diverse backgrounds while possessing the simultaneous curse of an increased probability of fragmentation and war. One event that students will have the opportunity to attend during the conference is the Perahera festival in Kandy. The team agreed that the Buddhist festival is an example of Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage. In fact, an opportunity to see the Perahera festival may even be more appealing to those who come from Hindu, Christian, or Islamic backgrounds as they are more likely to be less familiar with the rich cultural display. Regardless, it is encouraging to see an event such as this approached without hatred from those of different faiths.

For many, the conflict lies in a negative stereotype that has been passed down one generation after the other. Several years ago, when SLU initially asked a gathering of young Sinhalese about their opinions of Tamils and vice versa, no one from either ethnicity had met someone from the other group on which to base their impressions. All of the negative reactions had been based on predetermined prejudices from others who also had had no personal interaction. This leaves us with the news that real change is possible and introducing these young people to each other as equals and peers is a good place to start.

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Countdown to the Conference: 22 days - Then and Now

2011-07-19T10:15:00.001-07:00

Comparing SLU’s work and processes today with its former state allows for some interesting comparisons. Two years ago, Sri Lanka Unites was preparing for its first Future Leaders Conference. No such large scale meeting of youths from the North and South had ever before occurred under the conditions that were then present, and the excitement was palpable. The frenzied atmosphere in the SLU office was proof enough of the unprecedented nature of the event as staff learned the ropes of filing the correct paperwork and laying the groundwork for a conference that was to become an annual highlight of SLU’s future work. Perhaps the strongest memory that persists is that of the core team huddled around the SLU office table discussing strategy, reminding each other of important details, and laughing over each other’s jokes as one large family.

If the 2009 SLU core team could be described as an immediate family, then its 2011 counterpart has brought aunts, uncles, and cousins along for the ride. SLU now has staff teams within several distinct departments to enable the mechanics of preparation to run as smoothly as possible. Many members of the team have now had two years experience and have streamlined their approach to managing the office. The team now has a much better idea of the types of challenges that they face on a daily basis, and they use this knowledge for the benefit of their cause. The vision remains strong, and now SLU faces the task of expanding the work that they begun in 2008. Even though many thought it impossible, the initial challenge of creating constructive contact between all parts of the island has been accomplished. Now SLU must continue their work into the long term scenario with perseverance while tending to those relationships already formed.

Tonight, there is a meeting of those involved in the school registration and relations department. For me, the evening is reminiscent of early core team gatherings of SLU. The team must begin to organize and analyze the hundreds of applications that have been submitted by students wishing to attend the conference. Spirits are high and it is encouraging to see the bond of familial cooperation has been sustained even as new members have been welcomed into the organization. If this situation foreshadows the future relationships between Sinhalese and Tamils or Hindus and Buddhists then this can only be called a good direction for the nation.

Countdown to the Conference: 22 days - Progress Report

2011-07-19T10:14:00.000-07:00

-Over 600 applications have arrived

-Processing of student applications is underway

-Recruitment for volunteers at the conference has progressed

-SLU Music video is half way completed; footage obtained from Galle and Nuwara Eliya with footage from Colombo, Batticaloa, and Jaffna yet to be taken (production pictures from Nuwara Eliya below)

-2 more int’l volunteers have arrived

-Successful fundraising has continued for the past week

-Confirmed live stream of the conference will be available

-Conference will include facebook and twitter familiarization for youth to use for social change

Countdown to the conference: 23 days - The International Element

2011-07-18T06:09:00.000-07:00

From its inception, Sri Lanka Unites has placed a strong emphasis on its relationship with the international community and the diaspora. Both previous conferences have been internationally represented with distinguished speakers and eager volunteers. SLU's social media strives to reach the Sri Lankan diaspora and give them a fresh perspective of the possibilities that exist for their native land. But why might SLU try to extend its presence abroad beyond the diaspora? Admittedly, SLU’s main goal is national reconciliation among all Sri Lankan ethnicities and religions, but the goal does not end there. For decades past, Sri Lanka has been a well-known example of a land racked by ethnic hatred and violence. The predicament was made all the more tragic since the nation held so much promise immediately after independence. SLU knows that Sri Lanka is capable of much more than its past wars and suffering would suggest and that the time has come to reverse its global image of a war torn, hopeless country.

An international presence contributes to this goal in two crucial ways. First, it lends legitimacy to the national movement for peace and reconciliation. As more foreigners and international organizations become involved in promoting the well being of Sri Lanka’s future, the youth realize that a tangible hope is being actualized around the island and that this dream has the attention of a larger world. The world is willing to support Sri Lanka in its endeavors and give it the chance to truly change into a nation envied for its peace, strength, and diversity.

Second, an international presence within SLU and the Future Leaders Conference proclaims a global message that a transition from hatred to reconciliation is achievable. As the healing in Sri Lanka progresses, we hope that this process can be substituted as an inspirational template for future youth movements across the world. When such causes arise, we want Sri Lanka to be a success story that provides motivation and practical guidelines for a better future. To this end, SLU has invited student delegates from other youth organizations in different nations to become panelists at the third annual FLC. For these reasons, SLU supports an expanded participation in the nation building of Sri Lanka today.

Countdown to the Conference: 23 days - Introduction

2011-07-18T06:04:00.000-07:00

My name is Timothy Campbell, and two years ago I had the privilege of writing and blogging for Sri Lanka Unites directly after the conclusion of its civil war to provide a window into the organization for the Sri Lankan diaspora and other interested individuals. I have been given the opportunity to return to Sri Lanka and resume my observations as SLU prepares for the 3^rd annual Future Leaders Conference. A part of this blog’s purpose will be to record SLU’s daily work as well as convey my own thoughts on the organization and its vision.

Sri Lanka Unites strives to maintain a robust international community in support of Sri Lanka’s future. This year, we hope to have up to 20 international volunteers in Sri Lanka whose skill sets can create a Future Leaders Conference that lives up to its potential. By July 25^th, we hope to know exactly who will be coming to make this dream a reality. Two volunteers, Ben Morrow and Theresa Bennett, have already been hard at work for one month in Sri Lanka. Ben has managed SLU’s video productions while Theresa has been involved with volunteer relations and the teacher’s conference to be held alongside the third FLC.

On Sunday, July 17, Katie Madison and I arrived from the U.S. after an interminable 45+ hour plane trip from the eastern seaboard of the United States. Katie will be assisting with the student applications and student relations during the conference while I will be updating SLU’s presence on its social media sites such as twitter and facebook in addition to providing a daily blog. As we rest from our long flight, both of us are very excited to work with SLU and be a part of the growing movement for national reconciliation in Sri Lanka.

Reconciliation: the global movement

2011-07-15T23:33:00.000-07:00

25 days until the FLC season 3!

We are extremely busy preparing for the conference taking in many school applications, volunteer applications, asking people to speak from the Sri Lankan and global community. SLU is impacting over 5000 youth in 25 districts after three years of active grassroots efforts for youth- led conflict transformation. We have also been able to establish SLU chapters among the Sri Lankan Diaspora in Australia, New Zealand , the United States, and Canada.

Now that it is the third year for the conference, we are expecting around 1000 participants to join this journey of youth-led reconciliation and nation building efforts. This year is also unique for many reasons. Firstly, we are inviting youth and young adult delegates from the Sri Lankan diaspora. We are also inviting delegates from other youth movements from around the world, with a desire to create a global movement and an alliance for youth-led conflict transformation. The international delegates will serve on a panel of sorts to observe the activities during the conference and learn to possibly start similar work in their own countries.

By inviting an international panel of individuals inspiring youth to be agents of change across the world, our hope is to create an atmosphere where " iron sharpens iron" . We are eager to see a creation of alliances that refines, fuels passion, and sharpens our strategies to be more effective among the youth of our respective countries and regions.

Our objectives in having global delegates at FLC:

1. For each delegate to be our guests, observers, panelists, and international representatives and part of the international affirmation for FLC

2. Meet other like-minded, diversely gifted, experienced, and influential youth from across the world

3. Brainstorm on the possibility of a youth movement coalition for YOUTH LED transformation. And imagine youth as the heart of change for social challenges.

4. Discover best and effective practices for impacting youth in a world that is rapidly exposed to globalization

5. Identify common challenges and potential solutions from each country’s experiences

6. Create a contextual, multi-faceted strategy for sustainable, effective, relevant and vibrant approaches that inspire, equip and empower youth in our nations to be agents of change

We are excited to have international youth leaders from South Africa, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Kosovo join us in Kandy to begin the global movement of change.

Do you want to be a part of the movement? Visit our website today at srilanlkaunites.org and visit the “Get Involved” . We would love to have you join our volunteer team and witness great change in the lives of Sri Lanka’s youth and other international youth. Fill out the volunteer application online and be the change!

SLU Vice President moves to Kilinochchi...

2011-07-11T23:48:00.000-07:00

...to serve the resettlement communities more effectively. The following is the SLU VP's account of his experiences so far since his move to Kilinochchi.

"In the resettlement context, even in the Kilinochchi town areas, facilities are low. Roads are dust; all the internal roads are gravel roads. People are trying to build their lives. Many shops are opened. Near the main road electricity supply is given. In my resident room, it is very hot with no fan, many mosquitoes, and no showers. It is a different experience than in the other parts of the country I have lived.

Last month, I stayed at one of my uncle’s house for two days; they are also living in temporary shelter provided by IOM. Many of the children play in the dust without proper clothing and go to school without shoes. One mother said that her son only has one uniform which was unwashed and thus cannot go to school.

This week, one disable person came to my office with a letter requesting a latrine at his place. He said that no agencies assist their village. There is no housing, no latrines, nor livelihood assistance. They still live in tents without any assistance.

I met two orphan children aged 13 and 17; their parents died during the war. They live in temporary house with no one to take care of them. There are many women who lost their husbands during the war. Some of the widows have children and are suffering with sickness, unable to feed their children. They are lonely.

It is in this area, this situation, that I am best committed to a service of working and volunteering.

I encourage my staff and friends to look in a common view of working with unity to help these people by getting projects that can provide different and more effective assistance.

Personally in the evenings, I have started English classes for school-aged children in the rural areas. I don’t have money to give them, but what I can give them is education. I am hoping to develop their education. I am also hoping to observe children while they are in school in order to observe those who have mental depression and need more tools and education. I want to get involved and help these children.

I lost my childhood at IDP camps and refugee camps. I don’t want the same thing to happen to the children in Vanni. Some good people helped me continue my studies when my studies were disturbed. I want to also help children study well and do good work in their society. They should be able to be happy and enjoy the facilities of daily life and education.

This is my commitment. Whatever the challenges I face and whatever I lose, I will go forward with the vision of serving the poor and needy people. Whatever I received in my life, all that I will give to the people. Nothing I bring into this world. Nothing I bring back. I will do my best everyday of my life."

by Kirubakaran Christin Rajah, "Christy"

BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE

29 days until FLC season 3!

Trinity College, Kandy

2011-07-08T05:44:00.000-07:00

FLC Season 3 Countdown: 33 days! Today, Prashan and Joel, SLU’s main administrator and conference operations manager, traveled up to Kandy to visit Trinity College where Prashan is speaking and to look at the grounds again. We are excited and very grateful to be able to have the Future Leaders’ Conference on Trinity’s grounds. The college’s campus is beautiful with a gorgeous view of the city on top of many hills. There are many stairs with trees and other foliage tucked in making quite a beautiful sight.

Trinity will be the first school of many to host FLC. This move to have the conference at a chapter school instead of at a conference center is the beginning of a process where the conference will rotate to different schools throughout the island each year. By having FLC at varying schools, we will be giving students an insight into different regions of Sri Lanka and teaching them to appreciate that particular region’s uniqueness in their cultural traditions, religious, and cuisine.

This year, FLC will be taking place during the Buddhist festival of Perahera. Thousands of people flock to the historic city to witness the beautiful 12 day parade of the tooth relic. SLU will be there during a busy, but wonderful time! The conference’s program committee is trying to figure out a way to transport the students so they can witness a night of the festival. We think it’s important to learn more about our neighbors’ religious practices if we are to live in a reconciled country.

Here is just one picture of a part of the parade.

We are excited to be able to witness such a historic and grand tradition. But on to more planning!

The Countdown Begins!

2011-07-06T21:07:00.000-07:00

34 days and counting until Season 3 of the Future Leaders' Conference! We at SLU cannot believe that a year has passed already since the last conference and yet we are excited for another year of great change, reconciliation, and, of course, lots of FUN!

The location has been chosen, the budget is set, the team has assembled, volunteer applications are coming in, a few international interns have already come, speakers and cricketers are being confirmed, and we are well on our way to having another phenomenal conference towards the journey for a totally reconciled Sri Lanka.

So far we have had two interns from the United States arrive and begin working. They have been here for two weeks and have been able to travel the island a little bit and see how the SLU team works. Ben just graduated from Gordon College with a degree in communications and film; he will be working on a music video with the SLU theme song and a documentary on the SLU team itself: what drives the individuals, how they came together, etc. Theresa is in her last year at Gordon and is studying international affairs and peace and conflict studies. She will be working on all volunteer relations for the conference. We are excited to have them here and are putting them both to work!

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for the FLC season 3, please visit our website and complete the volunteer application form available at http://srilankaunites.org/docs/SLUvolunteerapplicationform.pdf. Once that is completed, please email it to admin@srilankaunites.org and we'll get back to you shortly!

Here is a video from the 2009 Future Leaders' Conference. Watch here to learn more about the purpose of the conference and what we do to prepare for it.

Visit our website: srilankaunites.org to find more information

Australian AFL star Brett Kirk features SLU on his blog

2011-02-19T21:57:00.001-08:00

AFL is a big sport in Australia (possibly even bigger than cricket, we are told!), and Brett Kirk is a big star in the AFL (Sydney Swans team). In a recent visit to Sri Lanka and India with his family, Sri Lanka Unites had a chance to interact with him and share some of the work we do. He also spoke at an SLU-led seminar on 'Sportsmanship and Non-violence' for rugby and cricket players in two leading state schools in Colombo.

Brett has featured us in an article and a video on his blog - 'Captain Kirk's Odyssey 2011'.

Here's a small extract from his blog:

"Their aim is to empower the youth to be informed decision makers and help to give them a voice to create a future that they have ownership of...."
"Sri Lanka Unites targets schools at grassroots level and works to build interest and awareness by assisting the children to form their own SLU club. The club is then nurtured to create leaders no matter what the students age..."
"The impact they are having is powerful and real. It is working and it is so inspiring to have been able to be apart of even such a tiny snapshot of their great work. I was able to share some of my knowledge of leadership, the importance of values, standing for something and when the time arrives having the courage to stand up for what you believe in."

Click here to read the full article - http://brettkirk.com.au/2011/02/sri-lanka-unites/

And the video is available here - http://brettkirk.com.au/2011/02/sri-lanka-unites-2/

Check out the short film of the AFL Team visit to Sri Lanka a few months ago on their mission to promote 'Reconciliation Through Sport' - http://vimeo.com/17725685

Reflections on her FLC experience by a Canadian-Lankan SLU supporter

2011-02-07T00:25:00.000-08:00

Sheyami Jayawardena, a young SLU supporter based in Toronto, Canada, and a participant at the last Future Leaders' Conference for Reconciliation (FLC Season 2), has written about her experience to a Lankan-Canadian website. Here are some extracts from her article.....

"The conference is not just a gathering of students for 5 days. It is a life changing event. You almost have to be the 17 year old boy from Jaffna who has classmates from IDP camps, and after having attended this conference has plans to serve them. You could be the girl from Colombo who has travelled to help her brothers and sisters in other districts after being inspired by the first conference. You could be the Tamil boy who admits he had grown up to hate Sinhalese and Muslims, and explains how the conference has helped him understand and respect other cultures. You could be the student from Polonnaruwa who was inspired by a speech from the first Sri Lankan blind rower, and now believes he can overcome the challenges in his life. You could be the Sinhalese Buddhist boy from Kegalle who decided to fast with his Muslim friends as the conference ran through the holy season of Ramadan"

"Through SLUs integration of meaningful activities, and moreover through their unabiding belief that they CAN make change, I can confidently say that not one of those students left the conference without their lives having been changed in some sort of meaningful way. The conference provided a haven for dialogue and reconciliation, an opportunity to bridge the gaps and create friendships that no other organization, to this day, has been able to provide the youth of our country."

"Sri Lanka Unites has a clearly outlined vision and mission statement, booklets on conferences, and post-conference media material. All of this helps to give us an idea of what these students achieve and continue to achieve. However, I realized how much more it can mean to anyone who is there in person. The enthusiasm and the desire to create change is contagious. If you happen to be in the country at the time of the conference please do visit and see for yourself."

To read the full article visit - http://www.srilankacanada.com/sri_lanka_unites.php

Sri Lanka Unites

Chilling at Badulla

Global Press Institute on Sri Lanka Unites

Youth Lead Reconciliation Efforts in Post-Conflict Sri Lanka

The SUNDAY LEADER speaks of SLU School Relations Tour

Sri Lanka Unites – School Tour

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